Professor Sir Roy Goode CBE KC FBA, 1933-2026

The Commercial Law Centre reports with great sadness the news of the death of the Centre's Patron, Professor Sir Roy Goode CBE KC FBA.

The current and former directors of the Centre, Professor Kristin van Zwieten and Professor Louise Gullifer KC (Hon) FBA, write:

"It is difficult to overstate Professor Goode's impact on the development of the field of commercial law. His scholarship profoundly influenced the development of the law in this jurisdiction and elsewhere. His mastery of the subject matter, his ability to find solutions to the most complex problems (always with a deep sensitivity to the way in which the suggested rule would have to function in practice), and to present these with crystal clarity, were unparalleled.

Roy led very significant commercial law reform initiatives on the domestic and international plane, and advised on many others. He established research centres, including the very successful Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary, where Roy was prior to taking up his Chair in Oxford in 1990. Roy supervised, mentored and inspired many generations of doctoral students and early career researchers. He was hugely instrumental in supporting the development of many academic careers, including our own.

We record our deep gratitude to Professor Goode for all that he has given to us in support, encouragement and friendship over the years, including through his invaluable support of the Commercial Law Centre at Harris Manchester College. He will be greatly missed. We send our heartfelt condolences to Roy's beloved family".