Career
Pierre d’Argent is a full Professor at the University of Louvain, Belgium, a Member of the Institute of International Law and the past President of the European Society of International Law. He represents States in interstate disputes, in particular before the International Court of Justice which he served previously as First Secretary.
Pierre's advisory and litigation experience cover land and maritime disputes, genocide, war reparation, human rights, aviation disputes, investment arbitration, State contracts, environmental claims, natural resources, immunities of States and of international organizations.
Pierre is the author of over 110 published articles and book chapters, an award-winning book, a published course at The Hague Academy of International Law, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on www.edx.org and courses on the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. He is a member of the editorial boards of the Annuaire français de droit international, the Revue belge de droit international and the European Journal of International Law. In 2027, he will teach a general course at The Hague Academy of International Law.
A member of the Bar of Brussels, Pierre argues international law cases before domestic courts and international tribunals. In particular, he has extensive experience before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He has also experience in interstate arbitration, investment arbitration and in human rights litigation, both before the European Court of Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In addition to assisting and representing States, Pierre also represents international organizations before domestic courts and in arbitration proceedings.
Pierre has been selected by the European Union as potential arbitrator under the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU (reserve list). He is also retained by the EU as a potential arbitrator or a potential trade and sustainable development expert for dispute settlement panels under trade agreements to which the EU is a party.
Work Highlights
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
A. As UN civil servant
First Secretary (P5) of the Court (2009-2011)
B. As Counsel /Advocate
- Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 (DRC v. Belgium): counsel and advocate for the DRC (oral pleadings: CR 2001/5, pp. 38-50, CR 2001/6, pp. 6-22; CR 2001/10, pp. 17-25)
- Appeal relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates v. Qatar): counsel for Qatar
- Appeal relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council under Article II, Section 2, of the 1944 International Air Services Transit Agreement (Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates v. Qatar): counsel for Qatar
- Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates): counsel for Qatar
- Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda): counsel and advocate for Uganda (oral pleadings: CR 2021/7, pp. 29-40; CR 2021/12, pp. 48-58)
- Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela): counsel and advocate for Guyana (oral pleadings: CR 2022/22, pp. 15-25; CR 2022/24, pp. 10-14)
- Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar): counsel and advocate for The Gambia (oral pleadings: CR 2019/18, pp. 50-56; CR 2019/20, pp. 23-29; CR 2022/2, pp. 29-39)
- Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea): counsel and advocate for Equatorial Guinea (oral pleadings: CR 2024/29, pp. 25-36; CR 2024/33, pp. 10-17)
- Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan): counsel and advocate for Armenia (oral pleadings: CR 2021/20, pp. 44-55; CR 2021/22, pp. 28-32; CR 2023/1, pp. 55-63; CR 2023/21, pp. 59-67; CR 2024/18, pp. 25-34; CR 2024/20, pp. 15-20)
- Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia): counsel and advocate for Armenia (oral pleadings: CR 2021/25, pp. 42-54; CR 2021/27, pp. 22-26; CR 2023/4, pp. 38-46; CR 2024/21, pp. 31-42; CR 2024/23, pp. 18-23)
- Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation): counsel for Lithuania, intervener.
PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION
- Confidential ad hoc arbitration between a state-owned enterprise and a state in the oil sector
- Arbitration pursuant to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (The State of Qatar v. The Kingdom of Bahrain): counsel and advocate for Qatar
- Arbitration pursuant to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (The State of Qatar v. The Arab Republic of Egypt): counsel and advocate for Qatar
- Arbitration pursuant to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (The State of Qatar v. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia): counsel and advocate for Qatar
- Arbitration pursuant to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (The State of Qatar v. The United Arab Emirates): counsel and advocate for Qatar
- Arbitration pursuant to Article 27 of the Energy Charter Treaty (Republic of Azerbaijan v. Republic of Armenia): counsel and advocate for Armenia
- Bern Convention Arbitration (The Republic of Azerbaijan v. The Republic of Armenia): counsel and advocate for Armenia.
AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
- Mohammed Abdullah Saleh Al-Asad v. The Republic of Djibouti: counsel and advocate for Djibouti
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF INVESTMENT DISPUTES (ICSID)
- Ping An v. Belgium (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/29): counsel and advocate for Belgium
- Djamel Ben Ferha v. Kingdom of Belgium (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/15): lead counsel and advocate for Belgium
UNCITRAL AD HOC ARBITRATION
- Ralph Humphrey et al. (12 claimants) v. NATO: counsel and advocate for NATO
BELGIAN COURTS
- El Hamidi & Chlih v. NATO (Belgium intervening) (civil claims relating to the 2011 war in Libya, Appeals Judgment in 2017; immunities): counsel and advocate for Belgium on behalf of NATO
- Jefara v. NATO (Belgium intervening), (civil claim relating to the 2011 war in Libya, First instance judgment in 2013; immunities): counsel and advocate for Belgium on behalf of NATO
- Sipos v. NATO & Belgium (labour dispute; immunities): counsel and advocate for NATO
FRENCH AND LUXEMBOURG COURTS
- Sinequanon v. Ukraine (vulture fund claim; immunities and legal effect of UNSC Chapter VII resolutions): counsel and advocate for Ukraine.
POTENTIAL ROLE AS ARBITRATOR AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION EXPERT
- Arbitration panels established under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement
Member of the EU reserve list
- Arbitration panels established under trade agreements to which the EU is a party
Member of the EU pool of Arbitrators
- Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) dispute settlement panels under trade agreements to which the EU is a party
Member of the EU pool of TSD Experts
ADVISORY WORK AND EXPERT OPINIONS
- Adviser to the Belgian government during the negotiation of the Amsterdam treaty on the EU (legal aspects of the reform of the Common and Foreign Security Policy, including its military aspects)
- Adviser to a West African country on maritime delimitation
- Member of the academic group advising the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on international law issues, including on the UN International Law Commission’s annual reports (since 2005)
- Expert auditioned by the Belgian Parliament on the Global Compact for Migrations (2018)
- Expert auditioned by the Special enquiry commission of the Belgian Parliament on the Belgian colonial past (2022)
- Member of the Privileges and Immunities Advisory Group of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Geneva)
- Pro bono Counsel for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on legal aspects of the Mediterranean migrant crisis (summers of 2016, 2017 and 2018)
- Expert opinions for private corporations and legal entities on matters of international law (State succession, termination of treaties, law of the sea, belligerent occupation…).
