Legal Practice

International

Law Practice

For more than 20 years, Howard Mann was the Senior International Law Advisor to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Through his work at IISD, Howard pioneered new thinking on international investment law and policy. He advised more than 75 governments around the world on these matters.


 Howard is also an international arbitrator, appointed in 2017 to an investment treaty arbitration under the World Bank' International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). As an arbitrator, Howard brings experience working in government, advising governments, and a deep understanding of the legal dimensions of sustainable development. Over the last decade, he has also built up significant expertise in the natural resources sector, including related international tax and stabilization issues.


Howard began his legal career with the Department of Justice, Canada, and then spent five years in private practice providing advice to governments and other international actors before beginning his work with IISD. 


  • Legal Practice Affiliations
    • 1993-present: Private practice, now specializing in international investment law and arbitration.
    • 1999-2020: Senior International Law Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Canada (founding manager of Investment and Sustainable Development program, 2003 to 2009)
    • 1988-1993: Counsel, Department of Justice, Government of Canada, Ottawa (Counsel, International and Constitutional Law Section; Counsel, Legal Services, Environment Canada; lead lawyer, international environmental negotiations for Environment Canada).
    • 1983-1988: Assistant to Prof. Roslyn Higgins, Professor of International Law, London School of Economics, London, U.K.
  • Related appointments and experience
    • 2019-present: Adjunct Professor, International Economic Law, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
    • 2017-present, Appointed as international arbitrator, Saint Patrick Properties v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB/16/40
    • 2016-2020: OECD, member of the drafting group of the OECD Guiding Principles for Durable Extractive Contracts, 2020.
    • 2012-2015: University of Dundee, Honorary Associate, Graduate School of Natural Resources Law, Policy and Management, Centre for Energy Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, appointment of the University Senate.
    • 2015: The E15 Initiative: Strengthening the global trade and investment system for sustainable development, Task Force on Investment Policy, a combined project of the World Economic Forum and International Centre Trade and Sustainable Development, Geneva, 2015
    • 2008-2011: International Bar Association, Mining Law Committee, member of the Administrative Committee for the development of the Model Mining Development Agreement for use in developing countries.
    • 2008-2011: Advisor to legal drafters, Prof John Ruggie, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations on Business and Human Rights 
    • 2006-2008: International Commission of Jurists, member of the ICJ Expert Panel on Corporate Complicity in International Crimes.
    • 2003-2004: Member, Government of Canada Ad-Hoc Expert Advisory Group on international investment law, leading to the preparation of the 2004 Model Canadian Bilateral Investment Treaty.
    • 1997-1999: Member, Government of Canada Special Advisory Committee on international trade law and the environment.

  • Education
    • 1988: London School of Economics, London, U.K., Ph.D., joint degree in international relations and international law.
    • 1984: London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom, Master of International Law.
    • 1983: Call to the Bar, Province of Quebec.
    • 1982: McGill University, Faculty of Law, Montreal, Canada, Bachelor of Civil Law.
    • 1978: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, Bachelor of Arts, Cum laude.
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