Contributors and Collaborators Behind the Project
The initiative is led by scholars working across various fields of international law. Our contributors bring diverse and interdisciplinary academic perspectives to support ongoing public events, research initiatives, and publications that advance understanding of double standards in international legal practice.
David Hughes
(Project Co-Lead)
Is a Lecturer in Ethics, Society & Law at Trinity College, University of Toronto. His research examines the theory and politics of international law, with a particular focus on legal hypocrisy, double standards, persuasion, and the strategic use of legal argumentation in global governance. He has written on issues and legal debates concerning international humanitarian law, the use of force, the law of occupation, and business and human rights. He has held academic appointments at the Canadian Forces College, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Grotius Research Scholar.
David’s scholarship has appeared in leading journals, including the Harvard International Law Journal, European Journal of International Law, Melbourne Journal of International Law, and the Michigan Journal of International Law. Beyond academia, he has contributed to international legal reform initiatives, served as a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and worked with organizations in Europe and the Middle East on issues related to occupation law, human rights, and forced displacement. He holds a PhD in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, an LL.M. from University College London, and an LL.B. from the University of Leicester.
David Hughes
(Project Co-Lead)
Is a Lecturer in Ethics, Society & Law at Trinity College, University of Toronto. His research examines the theory and politics of international law, with a particular focus on legal hypocrisy, double standards, persuasion, and the strategic use of legal argumentation in global governance. He has written on issues and legal debates concerning international humanitarian law, the use of force, the law of occupation, and business and human rights. He has held academic appointments at the Canadian Forces College, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Grotius Research Scholar.
David’s scholarship has appeared in leading journals, including the Harvard International Law Journal, European Journal of International Law, Melbourne Journal of International Law, and the Michigan Journal of International Law. Beyond academia, he has contributed to international legal reform initiatives, served as a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and worked with organizations in Europe and the Middle East on issues related to occupation law, human rights, and forced displacement. He holds a PhD in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, an LL.M. from University College London, and an LL.B. from the University of Leicester.
David Hughes
(Project Co-Lead)
Is a Lecturer in Ethics, Society & Law at Trinity College, University of Toronto. His research examines the theory and politics of international law, with a particular focus on legal hypocrisy, double standards, persuasion, and the strategic use of legal argumentation in global governance. He has written on issues and legal debates concerning international humanitarian law, the use of force, the law of occupation, and business and human rights. He has held academic appointments at the Canadian Forces College, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Grotius Research Scholar.
David’s scholarship has appeared in leading journals, including the Harvard International Law Journal, European Journal of International Law, Melbourne Journal of International Law, and the Michigan Journal of International Law. Beyond academia, he has contributed to international legal reform initiatives, served as a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and worked with organizations in Europe and the Middle East on issues related to occupation law, human rights, and forced displacement. He holds a PhD in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, an LL.M. from University College London, and an LL.B. from the University of Leicester.
Patryk I. Labuda
(Project Co-Lead)
Is an assistant professor of international law and international relations at Central European University in Vienna. He works at the intersection of international law, peace and security studies, and global history. Dr. Labuda earned a PhD from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and he has held positions inter alia at the Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Amsterdam, New York University School of Law, and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
Dr. Labuda supports rule-of-law initiatives and promotes exchanges between the Global South(s) and Global East(s), drawing on over ten years of experience in Africa, with a focus on the law, politics and history of DR Congo, Central African Republic, and the Sudans. His scholarship includes an award-winning book with Oxford University Press (2024 ABILA Best Book for a First-Time Author) and an award-winning article in the Yale Journal of International Law (2025 ASIL International Criminal Law Scholarship Prize). Dr. Labuda's work has also featured in the Leiden Journal of International Law, European Journal of International Law, Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, Journal of International Criminal Justice, Journal of Conflict and Security Law, and Journal on the Use of Force and International Law.
Patryk I. Labuda
(Project Co-Lead)
Is an assistant professor of international law and international relations at Central European University in Vienna. He works at the intersection of international law, peace and security studies, and global history. Dr. Labuda earned a PhD from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and he has held positions inter alia at the Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Amsterdam, New York University School of Law, and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
Dr. Labuda supports rule-of-law initiatives and promotes exchanges between the Global South(s) and Global East(s), drawing on over ten years of experience in Africa, with a focus on the law, politics and history of DR Congo, Central African Republic, and the Sudans. His scholarship includes an award-winning book with Oxford University Press (2024 ABILA Best Book for a First-Time Author) and an award-winning article in the Yale Journal of International Law (2025 ASIL International Criminal Law Scholarship Prize). Dr. Labuda's work has also featured in the Leiden Journal of International Law, European Journal of International Law, Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, Journal of International Criminal Justice, Journal of Conflict and Security Law, and Journal on the Use of Force and International Law.
Patryk I. Labuda
(Project Co-Lead)
Is an assistant professor of international law and international relations at Central European University in Vienna. He works at the intersection of international law, peace and security studies, and global history. Dr. Labuda earned a PhD from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and he has held positions inter alia at the Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Amsterdam, New York University School of Law, and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
Dr. Labuda supports rule-of-law initiatives and promotes exchanges between the Global South(s) and Global East(s), drawing on over ten years of experience in Africa, with a focus on the law, politics and history of DR Congo, Central African Republic, and the Sudans. His scholarship includes an award-winning book with Oxford University Press (2024 ABILA Best Book for a First-Time Author) and an award-winning article in the Yale Journal of International Law (2025 ASIL International Criminal Law Scholarship Prize). Dr. Labuda's work has also featured in the Leiden Journal of International Law, European Journal of International Law, Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, Journal of International Criminal Justice, Journal of Conflict and Security Law, and Journal on the Use of Force and International Law.
Harshad Pathak
(Project Co-Lead)
Is an international dispute settlement practitioner and researcher with a focus on international economic law, investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), and commercial arbitration. He is a Consultant with Mayer Brown Paris, acting as counsel in ISDS proceedings, and a Visiting Faculty at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore for international investment law and arbitration. He also consults with policy organizations, governments, and arbitral institutions on varied projects relating to international investment law, sustainable development, and arbitral best-practices. His ongoing doctoral research at the University of Geneva explores the relationship between international investment law and colonialism through the lens of Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), aiming to bridge the regime's historical, political, and doctrinal dimensions.
Harshad holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Graduate Institute and the University of Geneva, and a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law University, Delhi. His scholarship has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of International Dispute Settlement, Asian Journal of Comparative Law, Journal of International Arbitration, Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, and Indian Law Review.
Harshad Pathak
(Project Co-Lead)
Is an international dispute settlement practitioner and researcher with a focus on international economic law, investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), and commercial arbitration. He is a Consultant with Mayer Brown Paris, acting as counsel in ISDS proceedings, and a Visiting Faculty at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore for international investment law and arbitration. He also consults with policy organizations, governments, and arbitral institutions on varied projects relating to international investment law, sustainable development, and arbitral best-practices. His ongoing doctoral research at the University of Geneva explores the relationship between international investment law and colonialism through the lens of Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), aiming to bridge the regime's historical, political, and doctrinal dimensions.
Harshad holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Graduate Institute and the University of Geneva, and a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law University, Delhi. His scholarship has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of International Dispute Settlement, Asian Journal of Comparative Law, Journal of International Arbitration, Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, and Indian Law Review.
Harshad Pathak
(Project Co-Lead)
Is an international dispute settlement practitioner and researcher with a focus on international economic law, investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), and commercial arbitration. He is a Consultant with Mayer Brown Paris, acting as counsel in ISDS proceedings, and a Visiting Faculty at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore for international investment law and arbitration. He also consults with policy organizations, governments, and arbitral institutions on varied projects relating to international investment law, sustainable development, and arbitral best-practices. His ongoing doctoral research at the University of Geneva explores the relationship between international investment law and colonialism through the lens of Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), aiming to bridge the regime's historical, political, and doctrinal dimensions.
Harshad holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Graduate Institute and the University of Geneva, and a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law University, Delhi. His scholarship has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of International Dispute Settlement, Asian Journal of Comparative Law, Journal of International Arbitration, Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, and Indian Law Review.
Puhiza Shemsedini
(Researcher)
Studies Political, Legal, and Governmental Studies at Central European University (CEU). Her research interests include international humanitarian law, gender and conflict, transitional justice, and peacebuilding, with a particular focus on the Western Balkans. Her work has been published in, among others, Al Jazeera and the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo. Prior to joining CEU, Puhiza was actively involved in civil society work in Kosovo, leading a national youth advocacy group and contributing to Save the Children’s projects on inclusive governance.
Puhiza Shemsedini
(Researcher)
Studies Political, Legal, and Governmental Studies at Central European University (CEU). Her research interests include international humanitarian law, gender and conflict, transitional justice, and peacebuilding, with a particular focus on the Western Balkans. Her work has been published in, among others, Al Jazeera and the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo. Prior to joining CEU, Puhiza was actively involved in civil society work in Kosovo, leading a national youth advocacy group and contributing to Save the Children’s projects on inclusive governance.
Puhiza Shemsedini
(Researcher)
Studies Political, Legal, and Governmental Studies at Central European University (CEU). Her research interests include international humanitarian law, gender and conflict, transitional justice, and peacebuilding, with a particular focus on the Western Balkans. Her work has been published in, among others, Al Jazeera and the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo. Prior to joining CEU, Puhiza was actively involved in civil society work in Kosovo, leading a national youth advocacy group and contributing to Save the Children’s projects on inclusive governance.