Felix Herbert

Felix Herbert is a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL) in Heidelberg, Germany, where he has been working since January 2021. He also serves as a Lecturer at the University of Heidelberg's Faculty of Law since 2024 and as Associate Editor for the Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law since 2025. In April 2025, he began a legal clerkship (Rechtsreferendariat) at the Heidelberg Regional Court as part of his German legal education path.

Herbert's research focuses primarily on the prohibition of the use of force under international law and peremptory norms (ius cogens), with significant scholarly contributions analyzing these principles in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. His dissertation project examines The Prohibition of the Use of Force as a Peremptory Norm of General International Law (ius cogens). His work demonstrates how fundamental principles of international law apply to contemporary conflicts and challenges in global security.

Herbert's publications reveal a strong emphasis on the practical application of international legal principles to current geopolitical conflicts, particularly examining the Russia-Ukraine war through the lens of ius cogens. His scholarship bridges theoretical international law with pressing real-world security challenges, contributing significantly to ongoing debates about the enforcement of fundamental legal norms during armed conflicts.

• Otto Schmidt Prize for the Promotion of the Europeanization and Internationalization of Law (2nd Prize, December 2024) for his contribution on ius cogens and Russia's war against Ukraine

As an educator, Herbert has taught Working Groups on International Law at the University of Heidelberg since the Winter Semester 2021/22 and has served as a coach for the Heidelberg Jessup Moot Court teams. He has also been a judge for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition since 2022. Additionally, he serves as the Environmental Officer for the MPIL, focusing on sustainability initiatives within the institute's operations.