Law Council of Australia

International Law Section

About the Section

The International Law Section provides a focal point for lawyers and others interested in transnational and international law matters, trade and business practice, migration and human rights issues. Lawyers and others are able to discuss current issues and contribute to the development of international legal practice and policy. The Section’s Chapters provide an opportunity for Australian trained lawyers based overseas to meet, network and filter back issues of concern.

The International Law Section:

Section Executive


Dr Wolfgang Babeck, Chair

Dr Wolfgang Babeck was re-elected Chair of the ILS in November 2024. This follows on from his tenue as Chair since 2023 and prior to this between 2016 to 2019. Wolfgang has been a member of the ILS since 2006. 

For some 20 years Wolfgang has been a commercial solicitor in Sydney, now with Hall & Wilcox and German firm BUSE. Wolfgang is an honorary adjunct professor at Bond University where he has taught international contracts and for the past five years ESG as part of an LLM in Enterprise Governance. 

Another of Wolfgang’s passions is international comparative constitutional law. The second volume of “Writing Constitutions” which assists countries in re-writing their constitution was published in 2024. It contains a comparison of about 70 different human rights. 

As Chair he strives to further modernise the ILS and to increase its visibility with the support of its many friends and supporters and to advance it as a member-driven organisation.


Professor Catherine Renshaw, Deputy Chair

Professor Catherine Renshaw is the Dean of Law at Western Sydney University, which is situated in one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse parts of Australia. As an educator and a scholar of international human rights law, Catherine is deeply committed to promoting the principles of international law in her work and teaching. Catherine is the Co-Chair of the International Human Rights Law chapter of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law, Director of the Network for Law and Human Rights and a member of the Advisory Committee of Rights of Older Persons Australia (ROPA). 

Before entering academia, Catherine practiced law for approximately 10 years, including as an anti-discrimination lawyer for the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales, and for the law firms Allens and Sparke Helmore. As an academic, her research focuses on the legitimacy and effectiveness of international human rights law, domestically and across the Indo-Pacific. Before the coup d’état in Myanmar in 2021, Catherine spent a considerable amount of time in Myanmar, working with civil society groups and pro-democracy activists on attempts to consolidate the country’s transition to democracy. Her teaching focuses on the critical early-year learning of law students, and on the pedagogical practices that deepen authentic learning and the ethical orientation of law students.


Dr Martyn Taylor, Treasurer 

Dr Martyn Taylor is a senior partner and Australian board member at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. He co-leads the competition & trade group and telecoms & media group in the region and is also a member of the global antitrust leadership team. He is a corporate & commercial lawyer and a leading telecoms/media/technology (TMT), infrastructure/utilities, competition & regulatory specialist. Martyn’s practice is very heavily international, including currently advising on matters across Asia, North America, Europe and Africa.

He has won many awards, including from the World Bank for economy-changing TMT infrastructure deployments in developing countries. He has been recognised as one of the top-10 legal advisors on TMT in Asia. 

Martyn has a passion for international law and the Rule of Law and a deep interest in global geopolitics and trade relations. He has been involved in developments in United Nations institutions, international trade and competition law, human rights and war crimes, international environmental law, space and satellite law, e-commerce and the Internet, trade disputes, global sanctions, global media freedoms and global diplomacy. He brings that passion and interest to his work on the International Law Section (ILS) executive. 

Martyn has been an active member of the ILS executive for some 14 years, including the last 10 years as Treasurer. He is also a member of the Media and Communications Law Committee and the Competition and Consumer Law Committees of the Law Council. In these various roles, he is an active contributor to Law Council interactions with government to improve the quality and coherence of Australian law for the legal profession, including this year on the merger control reforms, cyber security reforms, scams code framework, and the proposed regulation of artificial intelligence.  

Martyn is the author of the book International Competition Law and he has published extensively. He has been the President of the Communications & Media Law Association (CAMLA) in Australia and is currently Vice-President.  

Executive Members

Committees of the International Law Section
 

Chapter Engagement Committee

International Dispute Resolution Committee

International Trade and Business 

Publications Committee

Public International Law Committee

South Pacific Issues Committee

Young Members Committee

Contact

Ben Roberton
Administrative Coordinator
T. 02 6246 3728
E. ben.roberton@lawcouncil.au
 

Disclaimer

The Law Council is the peak body representing the interests of the legal profession at the national level. The Law Council does not offer advice on individual cases. If you do require legal advice, please contact your local law society or legal aid.
 

Last Updated on 12/02/2025

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