Phillipa Mahal Webb (born 1978) is an Australian-born lawyer, academic and writer. In 2026, she became a King's Counsel. She is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford and Co-Founder of the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice. She has collaborated with Amal Clooney on a book about the right to a fair trial.
Phillipa Webb | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1978 (age 47–48) |
| Education | University of New South Wales et al |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Known for | King's Counsel |
Life
editWebb was born in Sydney in 1978.[1] She studied Law and Asian Studies at the University of New South Wales, where she achieved a first class degree and university medals.[2] In 2001, she worked for the United Nations in New York.[3]
Between 2006 and 2009, Webb worked as a Special Assistant and Legal Officer to Judge Rosalyn Higgins GBE QC at the International Criminal Court.[3] In 2012, she became a Professor of Public International Law at the Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London.[2]
Webb later accepted a position as a Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford.[4]
In 2021, Webb and Amal Clooney published The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law.[5]
In 2024, Webb represented the country of Tuvalu before the International Court of Justice in an advisory opinion case regarding the obligation of states to address climate change. The case was brought at the instigation of the United Nations General Assembly. Webb notably quoted Grace Malie saying "Tuvalu will not go quietly into the rising sea"[6] and said that the 11,000 inhabitants of Tuvalu would continue to have rights even if the sea consumed their lands.[7]
In August 2025, Webb and Lydia Kim co-authored a paper analysing the future of International Law amid instances of state non-compliance. The publication proposed six viewpoints evaluating alternative frameworks for the international legal system.[4]
In 2025, Webb was appointed director of the Clooney Foundation for Justice UK. She gave her nationality as British.[1] In October, Webb, the Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and the Clooney Foundation for Justice created the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice (OITJ). The new initiative intends to use Artificial intelligence to improve the delivery of justice.[8] In 2026, the OITJ utilised Webb and Amal Clooney's 2021 book to develop an AI legal chatbot. Developed alongside the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and Malawi's Women Lawyers Association, the software compiles legal remedies and protection orders in local Malawian languages.[9][5]
References
edit- 1 2 "Philippa Mahal WEBB personal appointments". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- 1 2 "Philippa Webb – European Society of International Law | Société européenne de droit international". Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- 1 2 "Interview with Philippa Webb (Part 1)". IntLawGrrls. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- 1 2 Webb, Philippa (2025-08-20). "Six Viewpoints on the Future of the International Legal Order and the Role of International Courts". EJIL: Talk!. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- 1 2 "The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law". global.oup.com. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Hearings are done: Now the wait begins for verdict on closely-watched climate case at UN's top court". The Independent. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "'We Will Not Go Quietly Into the Rising Sea,' Tuvalu Tells International Court of Justice". www.globalissues.org. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Oxford Professor Amal Clooney helps secure victory for journalist Maria Ressa". The Oxford Student. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ↑ Clooney, Amal (15 January 2026). "Why Aren't We Using AI to Advance Justice?". Time. Retrieved 3 April 2026.