(NEWS) WMU Welcomes Lord Justice Hamblen

May

2019

WMU Welcomes Lord Justice Hamblen

On 27 May, President Doumbia-Henry welcomed to WMU the Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Hamblen QC, PC, Lord Justice of Appeal for the United Kingdom.

WMU students had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Lord Justice Hamblen, entitled "The Interpretation of Contracts under English Law" that explained the English Courts’ well-established principles of interpretation that govern commercial contracts. Analysis of the recent developments of English case law were presented including the impact of the judgments Arnold v Britton, Wood v Capita Insurance Services and National Bank of Kazakhstan v The Bank of New York Mellon AS/NV, London Branch.

Lord Justice Hamblen was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1981 and practised at the Commercial Bar from 1982-2008. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997, an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000. He was appointed to sit as a Justice in the High Court in November 2008 and was a nominated Commercial Court Judge. In February 2016 he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal and, subsequently, appointed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

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My research explored the theoretical foundations of governance, placing a particular emphasis on maritime governance. Going beyond mere theoretical frameworks, the study conducted a comprehensive examination of a crucial aspect within maritime governance—specifically, the implementation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments, exploring the contextual factors that affect the implementation process. Applying the grounded theory methodology, the research aimed to understand these theoretical underpinnings, as well as firmly anchor insights in the practical context of maritime governance; unveiling the intricacies and challenges associated with the effective implementation of IMO instruments in the maritime domain. The selection of this topic was motivated by a personal interest that was cultivated during my Master’s studies in maritime law and policy. Furthermore, it was driven by the recognition of a scarcity of scientific research on this specific topic. This gap in the existing body of knowledge served as a catalyst for my exploration, underscoring the significance of contributing valuable insights to an area of maritime governance that has been relatively underrepresented in scholarly research.

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Embarking on my professional path, my foremost aim is to establish myself as an authority in the field of maritime governance. I aspire to leave a significant and enduring mark on the global maritime landscape. Beyond the academic sphere, my drive is fuelled by a passionate interest in pursuing diverse opportunities within the maritime domain and the broader educational sector and contributing significantly to positive transformations in the global maritime sector.

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