Ms Helin Laufer

Education

• PhD in Law at the University of Cambridge (Gonville & Caius College) (2022 – )
• Visiting Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (2023)
• Hague Academy of International Law – Winter Courses in Public and Private International Law, Directed Studies (2020)
• Legal Practice Course at BPP University – Distinction (2016 – 2017)
• LLM in International Dispute Resolution at King’s College London – Distinction (2015 – 2016)
• LLB Hons at King’s College London – Upper Second Class Honours (2012 – 2015)

Select scholarships and awards

• AHRC Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership Award to undertake a PhD at the University of Cambridge (2022 – )
• W. M. Tapp Studentship to undertake a PhD as part of Gonville & Caius College (2022 – )
• Max Planck Fellowship (2023)
• Nominated by King’s College London for the Georg Schwarzenberger International Law Prize (2016)
• Best dissertation on the International Dispute Resolution LLM pathway at King’s College London (2016)
• KCL Masters’ Support Scheme Award to undertake an LLM at King’s College London (2015 – 2016)
• King’s College London Experience Research Award for outstanding research assistance (2015)

Professional qualifications

• Admitted as a Solicitor Advocate with Higher Rights of Audience (Civil Advocacy) in England and Wales (2022)
• Qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales (2019)

Relevant professional work experience

• Van Bael & Bellis, London – Associate (full-time), International Arbitration and Public International Law (April 2022 – October 2022)
• Herbert Smith Freehills, London – Associate (full-time), International Arbitration and Public International Law (September 2019 – April 2022)
• BP plc, London – Trainee Solicitor (full-time) (March 2019 – August 2019)
• Herbert Smith Freehills, London – Trainee Solicitor (full-time) in the following groups: International Arbitration and Public International Law; Competition, Regulation and Trade; and Corporate Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources (August 2017 – March 2019)
• UNHCR – MADE51 (during employment at Herbert Smith Freehills) – Pro Bono Legal Adviser (March 2018 – April 2022)
• See also relevant research experience.

Relevant research experience

• Research Assistant to Dr Silvia Borelli, King’s College London (2016 – 2021)
• Research Assistant, Peace Brigades International (2018)
• Research Assistant to Professor Eva Pils, King’s College London (2016)
• Research Assistant to Professor Florian Grisel, University of Oxford (2014 – 2017)
• Research Assistant to Dr Cian Murphy, King’s College London (2014)

Teaching and academic activities

• Graduate Teaching Assistant (LLB Paper 38 International Law; LLM Paper 29 International Investment Law, Graduate Workshop), University of Cambridge (2022 – )
• Cambridge International Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief (2023 – 2024), Managing Editor (2022 – 2023)
• Research Affiliate and International Law and War Reading Group Convenor, King’s College London (2015 – 2019)

Language skills

• Romanian (native); German (native); English (fluent); French (fluent); Spanish (fluent); Portuguese (advanced)