Professor Sir Jeffrey Jowell to stand down as Bingham Centre Director
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) today announced that Professor Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC, the founding Director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, has decided to stand down from his role when his current term comes to an end in October 2015.
Sir Franklin Berman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees said:
"Jeffrey Jowell's departure will be a great loss, but the Board entirely understands his reasons for not wanting to seek another five-year term. The Board takes the greatest satisfaction from the striking success achieved by the Bingham Centre in the period since its foundation, under Jeffrey Jowell's leadership, as a fitting tribute to the memory of Tom Bingham, who was BIICL's President at the time of his death. Jeffrey Jowell's personal contribution to this unique venture is highly valued not just within BIICL itself but more widely, amongst the many individuals, law firms, foundations and organisations that have generously given the Bingham Centre their financial support or have been associated with, or benefited from, its ground-breaking work. Plans are in hand to celebrate these achievements in due course."
Sir Jeffrey said:
"It has been an enormous privilege to have been the inaugural Director of the Bingham Centre and to work with gifted and committed colleagues in the Centre and BIICL".
Arrangements will now be put in place for the recruitment of a successor to Sir Jeffrey. The post will shortly be advertised.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Professor Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC has been the Director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law since its launch in December 2010. He is responsible for the Centre's strategic development and has led the Centre from its inception to its current position as a unique international body that promotes the rule of law. Jeffrey is a practising lawyer at Blackstone Chambers. He is Emeritus Professor of Public Law at University College London (where he was twice Dean of the Law Faculty and a Vice Provost). He was knighted (KCMG) in the Queen's Honours List 2011 "for services to human rights, democracy and the rule of law".
2. The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) provides informed, independent and practical legal ideas for a global community. Its high quality and respected work involves analysis and debate about contemporary issues on every continent, from its base in the heart of London's energetic and multicultural legal network. (Registered Charity No. 209425. Company Registration 615025). For more information visit www.biicl.org
3. The Bingham Centre was launched in December 2010 to honour the work and career of Lord Bingham of Cornhill, a great judge and passionate advocate of the rule of law. It is the only international centre of excellence solely dedicated to the study, promotion and enhancement of the rule of law worldwide. It does this by defining the rule of law as a universal and practical concept; highlighting threats to the rule of law; promoting high quality studies and training, and supporting capacity-building on the rule of law which enhances economic development and political stability. For more information visit www.binghamcentre.biicl.org
