Christopher F Forsyth

Professor Christopher F Forsyth is the Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law. He also holds the position of Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Stellenbosch and serves as an Honorary Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. As an Academic Bencher of the Inner Temple and a practicing barrister from 4-5 Gray's Inn Square, Professor Forsyth maintains an active role in legal practice alongside his academic work.

His research interests span several key areas of legal scholarship:

• Public law with focus on judicial review and the judiciary
• Administrative Law, particularly examining the legal effect of invalid acts, foundations of judicial review, and legitimate expectations
• Comparative public law, with special emphasis on Southeast Asia and Southern Africa
• Private international law, both theoretical and comparative studies
• Roman-Dutch law, especially regarding suretyship and private international law

Professor Forsyth's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on the principles of administrative justice, judicial independence, and the rule of law across various jurisdictions. His publications reveal a particular interest in the evolution of legal systems in post-colonial contexts, especially in Southern Africa and Hong Kong, where he examines how historical legal frameworks adapt to contemporary constitutional arrangements. His work on judicial review spans both theoretical foundations and practical applications across common law jurisdictions.

His notable awards and honors include:

• Recorder of the Crown Court
• Academic Bencher of the Inner Temple
• Extraordinary Professor in Public Law, University of Stellenbosch
• Honorary Member of Advisory Board, School of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Tapp Research Student, Gonville and Caius College

Professor Forsyth serves as a part-time judge, sitting as a Recorder in the Crown Court and as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Administrative Court. His significant contributions to legal scholarship include co-authoring "Administrative Law" with the late Sir William Wade QC, which has become a standard work cited by students, scholars, and judges across the common law world. He has also authored "Private International Law," a standard textbook on Roman-Dutch conflict of laws widely used in Southern Africa.

Internationally, Professor Forsyth has advised governments on constitutional developments and judicial review in several Commonwealth countries. Notably, he served as Technical Adviser on Constitutional Reform to the Law Commission of Malawi, drafting constitutional reports and amendment bills. He has conducted training for civil servants in administrative law across multiple jurisdictions, including programs for the reformed South Africa.