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05/2012 - News release
Lord Phillips to take on two international judicial roles
09 May 2012
The first President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is expected to take up two senior judicial roles in international courts following his retirement this autumn.
Lord Phillips, who announced last October that he will retire on 30 September 2012, spent this weekend participating in the Qatar Law Forum, a conference exploring the challenges of achieving a global understanding and commitment to the rule of law at a time of significant international change. During the conference it was announced that Lord Phillips would succeed the Rt Hon Lord Woolf of Barnes as President of the Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre from September 2012.
The court was established by His Highness The Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani in 2009 to provide a specialist court with international expertise in dispute resolution. A Regulatory Tribunal was also established to act as an appeal body from decisions of the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority.
Lord Woolf preceded Lord Phillips as both Master of the Rolls (1996 - 2000) and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (2000 - 2005), roles undertaken by Lord Phillips between 2000 - 2005 and 2005 - 2008 respectively.
Lord Phillips has also been recommended by Hong Kong's Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission for the role of non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, after his retirement from the Supreme Court. Lord Phillips' appointment is expected to be referred to Hong Kong's Legislative Council for endorsement shortly.
Currently, there are six non-permanent Hong Kong judges and 13 non-permanent common law judges. The maximum number of non-permanent judges is 30. In hearing and determining an appeal, the Court of Final Appeal is constituted by five judges - the Chief Justice, three permanent judges and one non-permanent judge either from Hong Kong or from another common law jurisdiction.
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