Matthew Happold

About/Bio

Matthew Happold is Professor of Public International law at the University of Luxembourg. A general public international lawyer, his publications include ‘Economic Sanctions and International Law’ (co-editor with Paul Eden) (Hart: 2016) and ‘The Settlement of Investment Disputes under the Energy Charter Treaty’ (co-author with Thomas Roe) (CUP: 1st edition 2011, 2nd edition in preparation). Matthew also practises as a barrister from 3 Hare Court, London and sits as a recorder (civil and criminal) on the North Eastern Circuit.

Recently Published

Belgium asks European Court of Justice to opine on compatibility of Energy Charter Treaty’s investor-State arbitration provisions with EU law

On 3 December 2020, the Government of Belgium announced that it was submitting a request to the Court of Justice of the European Union for an opinion on ‘the compatibility of the intra-European application of the arbitration provisions of the future modernised Energy Charter Treaty with the European Treaties.’ This is major news, potentially sounding the death knell…

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Diplomatic Immunity Trumps Children’s Rights, the English High Court Reluctantly Concludes: A Comment on A Local Authority v AG [2020] EWFC 18

This case concerned proceedings brought by a local authority to protect three children, specifically seeking a care order under Part IV of the Children Act 1989. There were credible allegations that the children had been physically abused by both their parents. On the evidence before him, Mostyn J thought it ‘extremely unlikely’ that the parents ‘would be…

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Julian Assange and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

We should have known. Once Julian Assange publically stated that he would surrender to the UK authorities if the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found against him, it was obvious that the Working Group had done no such thing. And its opinion was released today, to widespread derision among the legal community (at…

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