Philippe Sands' new book Torture Team: Cruelty, Deception and the Compromise of Law is published on 1 May 2008. Further details can be found by following this link. It has also been the subject of articles in the May 2008 issue of Vanity Fair and The Guardian.
Over recent years, Philippe has developed a practice in general international law, covering a wide range of subjects.
Areas in which he currently advises and litigates include:
- foreign investment disputes under bilateral investment treaties and NAFTA, acting for claimants and respondents;
- maritime boundary disputes in the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans;
- international claims relating to natural resources, pollution and environmental assessment;
- international trade disputes, including agricultural preferences and genetically modified organisms;
- issues relating to the immunity of serving and former heads of state from the jurisdiction of national and international courts;
- international claims relating to the use of force and allegations of torture and genocide and other violations of fundamental human rights;
- cases relating to individual violations of international criminal laws.
He has appeared before many international courts, including the European Court of Justice; the International Court of Justice; the World Trade Organisation dispute settlement organs; the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; and the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He has appeared in arbitrations under the rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Chamber of Commerce; the World Bank Inspection Panel; and the Special Court for Sierra Leone). Philippe also appears regularly before the English courts.
His publications include From Nuremberg to The Hague (CUP, 2003), Principles of International Environmental Law (CUP, 2003), Bowett's Law of International Institutions (Sweet & Maxwell, 2001) and Butterworths’ Manual of International Courts and Tribunals (1999).
Philippe co-directs the Project on International Courts and Tribunals (PICT) at London University and New York University. He has served as Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology and has been nominated to the list of arbitrators in the field of natural resources and the environment maintained by the Secretary General to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Philippe is a designated Member of the Panel of Arbitrators established by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes. Having accepted an appointment as ICSID arbitrator, from July 2007 he will not accept new instructions to act as counsel in proceedings brought pursuant to Article 36 of the ICSID Convention.
For details of Philippe Sands' case law practice, please see Notable Cases.
For a printable version (.pdf) of Philippe Sands' CV, please download from here.
If you would like any further information regarding Philippe Sands' practice, please contact his Practice Team, or call +44 (0)20 7404 3447.
Related Links
European Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
World Trade Organisation
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Special Court for Sierra Leone
International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes
Permanent Court of Arbitration
International Chamber of Commerce
World Bank Inspection Panel
House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology
