Professor Alan Boyle

Professional practice

Professor Alan Boyle is a specialist in public international law, especially international environmental law, law of the sea, international law-making and international litigation. He has worked regularly as a consultant or as counsel for various governments, international organisations and NGOs on general international law, international environmental law and law of the sea, including maritime boundary delimitation, fisheries conservation and access disputes, jurisdiction over ships, marine pollution and protection of the marine environment, freedom of navigation at sea, international rivers, transboundary environmental impact assessment and environmental damage, state responsibility and liability, and international dispute settlement.

Inter alia he has appeared as counsel in eight cases or pending cases under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He is one of the leading practitioners in that field and in international environmental litigation, where he has been counsel in many of the leading cases.

He is an arbitrator on the PCA’s environmental arbitration list and a special arbitrator under Annex VIII of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

What others say

“He is outstanding, particularly in fields relating to international environmental law and the Law of the Sea.” – Chambers & Partners 2023

“He is top notch in relation to Law of the Sea issues.” “He is a leader in the area of international environmental law.” – Chambers & Partners 2022

“A notable and prominent scholar-practitioner in the field.” Legal 500 2014

“He’s very creative. He’s always got lots of ideas and knows the field and the case law.” Legal 500 2014 Public International Law

Notable cases

Swordfish Case, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 2000. Counsel for the EU.
MOX Plant Arbitration, Permanent Court of Arbitration, 2002. Counsel for the UK
Pulp Mills Case, Interim Measures No’s 1&2, International Court of Justice 2006. Counsel for Uruguay
Pulp Mills Case, Merits, International Court of Justice, 2009. Counsel for Uruguay
Bay of Bengal Case, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 2011. Counsel for Bangladesh.
Whaling Case, International Court of Justice, 2013. Counsel for Japan.
Aerial Spraying Case, International Court of Justice, 2013. Counsel for Ecuador.
Maritime Boundary Case (Bangladesh v India), Permanent Court of Arbitration, 2013. Counsel for Bangladesh.
British Indian Ocean Territory Case, Permanent Court of Arbitration, 2011 (arbitral challenge) & 2014 (jurisdiction and merits). Counsel for the UK.
South China Sea Case (Philippines v China), Permanent Court of Arbitration, pending 2015. Counsel for the Philippines.
Silala Waters Case, ICJ2019-22, Counsel for Chile
Mauritius/Maldives Maritime Boundary Case, ITLOS Chamber, (2019-2022 counsel for Maldives