The College of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently announced two Honorary Fellows: The Right Honorable Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, President of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC), and Sir William Blair, Chairman of the Regulatory Tribunal of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).  

Both Lord Thomas and Sir William bring to the role of Honorary Fellow extensive judicial experience and life-long service to the legal profession. Further, they have been active supporters of HBKU’s College of Law and of the development of commercial law in Qatar. 

Announcing the appointments, the College of Law’s Dean Susan L. Karamanian said: “Lord Thomas and Sir William Blair have generously participated in, and even helped organize, several of our conferences, workshops, and webinars under our current Memorandum of Understanding with the QICDRC. As our initial Honorary Fellows, they will provide invaluable guidance and insights to the benefit of our students and faculty and ultimately the legal system in Qatar.”  

Emphasizing the importance of the QICDRC’s ties to the college, Mr. Faisal Rashid Al-Sahouti, the Chief Executive Officer of the QICDRC, stated: “We are pleased with the announcement of Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd and Sir William Blair as Honorary Fellows of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Law. Our long-standing partnership has resulted in important webinars and events that formed an active contribution to the development of Qatar’s legal system. We look forward to furthering our collaboration with this prestigious academic institution in the future.”

In addition to serving as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Thomas was a High Court Judge and Lord Justice of Appeal in the United Kingdom. He is Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee and the Chancellor of Aberystwyth University. A graduate of Cambridge University, Lord Thomas is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and a Fellow of the Universities of Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Swansea, and Bangor and an Honorary Doctor of Law of the Universities of South Wales, the West of England, Wales, and of Cardiff Metropolitan University. He is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.

Responding to the announcement, Lord Thomas said: “HBKU College of Law, as well as HBKU more broadly, performs an invaluable role in promoting and developing education in Qatar. It is an honor to now be formally affiliated with such an impressive institution.”

Sir William was a High Court Judge in England and Wales, Chairman of the Commercial Bar Association, President of the Board of Appeal of the European Supervisory Authorities, and Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court. He is a member of London’s Financial Markets Law Committee. A graduate of Oxford University, he is a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics, Peking University, and East China University of Political Science and Law, and a Professor of Financial Law and Ethics at Queen Mary University of London. He is Chair of the Bank of England’s new Enforcement Decision Making Committee.

Sir William said: “The QICDRC has enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, a warm relationship with HBKU’s College of Law, most notably through the MoU between the two institutions. I am delighted to be able to further that relationship having now been appointed an honorary fellow.”

To learn more about the College of Law, its activities, and events, visit cl.hbku.edu.qa.