Exeter College fellow Professor Philippa Webb appointed King’s Counsel
Exeter College Fellow by Special Election, Professor Philippa Webb, has been appointed King’s Counsel (KC), the highest professional distinction a lawyer can receive in the UK. The appointment was announced on 23 January 2026, with Professor Webb among 96 new King’s Counsel appointed nationally.
The award of King’s Counsel recognises senior lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding excellence in advocacy, professional integrity, and a sustained contribution to the law. Appointments are made following a rigorous and independent selection process overseen by the King’s Counsel Appointments panel and are widely regarded as a hallmark of distinction within the legal profession.
Professor Webb is a leading authority in public international law, combining an internationally recognised academic career with legal practice. Her work spans international courts and tribunals, state responsibility, immunity and human rights, and she is widely respected for her ability to bridge academic research and practical legal advocacy.
In practice, Professor Webb is a member of Twenty Essex, one of the UK’s leading sets of barristers’ chambers specialising in public international law. Her appointment as KC has been welcomed by the chambers and reflects her standing as one of the foremost practitioners in her field. The honour follows a series of notable achievements, including the recent launch of the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice, an interdisciplinary initiative exploring the how to harness Artificial Intelligence to advance justice, an interdisciplinary initiative exploring the impact of emerging technologies on law and justice.
Exeter College is pleased to celebrate Professor Webb’s appointment and to recognise her continued contributions to legal scholarship and practice. Further information about the 2026 King’s Counsel appointments is available via the KC Appointments website, and details of Professor Webb’s work can be found on her Exeter College profile.
