Ian Brownlie, CBE, QC's most recent appointment

Ian Brownlie, CBE, QC's most recent appointment 31 Jul 07 Ian Brownlie, CBE, QC has recently been elected Chairman of the International Law Commission of the United Nations by his fellow members of the Commission. Membership of the ILC is a highly prestigious appointment and Ian Brownlie is the latest in a line of distinguished members of these Chambers who have filled this post and have made a major contribution to the work of the Commission. This appointment also underlines Blackstone Chambers' place as a major force in the practice of international law worldwide. The ILC is the United Nations body charged with the "codification and progressive development" of public international law. Since the foundation of the UN, the ILC has made a major contribution to the development of international law, in such areas as the law of the sea, treaties, diplomatic and consular relations, state responsibility and many other topics. The 34 members of the Commission are elected by the General Assembly from amongst those possessing a "recognized competence in international law" for five-year terms (renewable). They serve in an individual capacity, not as government representatives, meeting once a year for a session of about 10 weeks. Ian Brownlie was re-elected in 2006 for his third term which commenced on 1st January 2007.