A History of Law and Lawyers in the Gatt/Wto

How did a treaty that emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War, and barely survived its early years, evolve into one of the most influential organisations in international law? This unique book brings together original contributions from an unprecedented number of eminent current and former GATT and WTO staff members, including many current and former Appellate Body members, to trace the history of law and lawyers in the GATT/WTO and explore how the nature of legal work has evolved over the institution's sixty-year history. In doing so, it paints a fascinating portrait of the development of the rule of law in the multilateral trading system, and allows some of the most important personalities in GATT and WTO history to share their stories and reflect on the WTO's remarkable journey from a 'provisionally applied treaty' to an international organisation defined by its commitment to the rule of law.
How have GATT/WTO staff and Appellate Body members contributed to the evolution of the rule of law in the multilateral trading system?
Gabrielle Marceau is a counsellor in the Legal Affairs Division of the WTO Secretariat. Her main function is to advise panellists in WTO disputes, the Director-General's Office, the Secretariat and WTO members on WTO-related matters. Dr Marceau is also Associate Professor at the Law Faculty of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and has published extensively on WTO matters.
'It is (the) insiders' perspective that makes this book particularly remarkable ... The authors represent an impressive array of experience, in the temporal sense - with recollections spanning from 1950s service to the present - but also in terms of the depth and breadth of their firsthand knowledge. ... This review has barely scratched the surface of all the valuable contributions contained within this volume. I have already cited nine different chapters in my current research projects, and have discovered dozens of useful references in the footnotes. I highly recommend this book, particularly to those who are already familiar with the contours of the GATT/WTO system.' Meredith Kolsky Lewis, American Journal of International Law
'... a fascinating and coherent story, which combines contributions of a technical nature with genuine and captivating personal memories of the main actors in the evolution of the GATT/WTO ... The editor, in particular, should be commended for the terrific work done in putting together a wealth of contributions by experts that have left an important mark on the evolution of WTO law as we know it now.' Carlo Maria Cantore and Jonathan Chevry, Legal Issues of Economic Integration