Director

Akbar Khan assumed the position of Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division (LCAD) in October 2009. He is the Secretary-General’s principal legal adviser and is responsible for managing the Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat that promotes the rule of law in support of the Commonwealth’s mandate to enhance democracy, good governance and development in member countries.

The work of the Division is multi-faceted covering both today’s pressing issues and emerging topics including essential work with member countries on questions related to legal structures and constitutional reform such as policy programmes aimed at adoption of modern and effective laws, strengthening justice institutions and processes, enhancing capacity to combat crime both domestic and international, and assisting governments in developing more effective regulatory frameworks that foster private sector development.

He is a British Diplomat and a member of the Legal Adviser’s Division of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK. During his term at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr Khan will be on a leave of absence. Prior to joining the Commonwealth Secretariat, he served in substantive overseas positions as Head of the International Law Section, British Embassy, The Hague, (The Netherlands) and in various legal capacities in the United Nations Organisation based in Geneva and the Palestinian Territories. He has considerable experience in participating in and conducting multilateral negotiations and discussions. He is a qualified Barrister-at-Law called to the English Bar by Middle Temple, London and also admitted at the New York Bar as an Attorney-at law. Mr Khan completed his training at the Chambers of Sir Godfrey Le Quesne QC, Inner Temple, London and was in private practice for several years prior to joining the United Nations Organisation and subsequently the British Diplomatic Service. He graduated from the Universities of Cambridge, Reading and Strasbourg and is specialised at post-graduate level in Public International law and International Human Rights law. He is a Colombos Public International Law Prize Winner of Middle Temple Inn of Court. He has published on these areas in various legal journals. Mr Khan is also a former ad hoc member of the Bar Council International Relations Committee of England and Wales and is an accredited advocacy trainer of the Law Society of England and Wales. He is married with one son.

Contact:

Tel: +44(0)20 7747 6410
Email: a.khan@commonwealth.int