| Michael Wood | |
|---|---|
| Principal Legal Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office | |
| In office 1999-2006 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1947-02-05) 5 February 1947 (age 77) |
| Education | Trinity Hall, Cambridge |
Sir Michael Charles Wood KCMG KC (born 5 February 1947) is a member of the International Law Commission. He was the principal Legal Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office between 1999 and 2006. During 35 years as a lawyer in the FCO, he attended many international conferences, including the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. He now practices as a barrister from chambers at 20 Essex Street, in London.
Biography
Wood gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry in November 2009 and in January 2010, in which he stated that he advised Jack Straw, then Foreign Secretary, that the invasion of Iraq was illegal without a second United Nations resolution.
In 2012, Wood was appointed as Special Rapporteur for the International Law Commission regarding the topic of the "Formation and evidence of customary international law" by the United Nations General Assembly. In 2018, the International Law Commission concluded the "Draft conclusions on identification of customary international law" under his supervision, which the General Assembly acknowledged by resolution 73/203 of 20 December 2018 and brought them to the attention of States.
Wood was Principal Legal Advisor at International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence. In March 2023, he was appointed a King's Counsel.
References
- "Sir Michael Wood". Twenty Essex Street Chambers. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- Townsend, Mark; Helm, Toby; Syal, Rajeev (24 January 2010). "Iraq war was illegal, top lawyer will tell Chilcot inquiry". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- "International Law Commission". legal.un.org. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- "ODS HOME PAGE" (PDF). documents-dds-ny.un.org. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- "Crown Office". London Gazette. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
External links
- Lecture by Sir Michael Wood on International Law and the Use of Force: What Happens in Practice? in the Lecture Series of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Lecture by Sir Michael Wood on The Interpretation of Security Council Resolutions in the Lecture Series of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Introductory note by Sir Michael Wood on the Statute of the International Law Commission in the Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Introductory note by Sir Michael Wood on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, in the Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Introductory note by Sir Michael Wood on the Convention on Special Missions in the Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law
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- 1947 births
- Living people
- British civil servants
- Members of Gray's Inn
- Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
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- English King's Counsel
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- Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge
- British law biography stubs