International Law Workshop for Early-Career Researchers in honour of Sir Ian Brownlie QC

On 18 June 2026, Oxford University Faculty of Law, All Souls College, and Wadham College hosted an international law workshop honouring Sir Ian Brownlie QC at All Souls College, Oxford, where he was a Chichele Professor of Public International Law (1980-1999), Emeritus Fellow (1999-2004), and Distinguished Fellow (2004-2010). The workshop brought together former students of Professor Brownlie and early-career scholars to reflect on his significant contributions to international law practice and scholarship.

The workshop began with Dr Miles Jackson and Professor Dapo Akande, Chichele Professor of Public International Law, welcoming participants from around the world, including Lady Christine Brownlie, widow of Sir Ian. Dapo said:

"Sir Ian was, of course, one of the great scholars of Public International Law – a jurist whose writings shaped generations of students, academics, advocates and judges across the world. I want to thank Lady Christine Brownlie for her extraordinary generosity, vision, and commitment to advancing public international law at Oxford."

The welcoming remarks were followed by Professor Stefan Talmon, a former doctoral supervisee of Professor Brownlie, who paid tribute to Sir Ian, reflecting on his life as an academic, practitioner, and mentor, as well as his contributions to international law.

The workshop consisted of four thematic sessions, in which the early-career researchers presented, and senior researchers commented on topics broadly related to three areas of Sir Ian’s pre-eminent contributions to scholarship and practice in international law: the law of State responsibility, the use of force in international law, and territorial boundaries. The workshop was followed by dinner at Wadham College, where Professor Brownlie was a Fellow and Tutor in Law from 1963 to 1976.

The workshop was a great success – the highlight of the international law calendar at Oxford.