Dr Reece Lewis
PhD (Bristol), LLM (Bristol), LLB (Cardiff)
Senior Lecturer in Law
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Dr Lewis' research interests include all aspects of Public International Law. He is currently focussed on the law of the sea and international legal theory. He is the author of Legal Fictions in International Law (Edward Elgar 2021). He has recently co-authored Islands, Law and Context: The Treatment of Islands in International Law (Edward Elgar 2023) with Professor Sir Malcolm D. Evans. Reece served as the Specialist Adviser to the UK House of Lords International Relations and Defence Select Committee on its inquiry into "Whether the United Nations Conventions of the Law of the Sea is fit for purpose in the 21st Century". The Report was published 1 March 2022. Reece has had a number of other contributions published and is also a peer-reviewer. He is a member of the American Society of International Law, the European Society of International Law and the International Law Association (and is currently a committee member of the Committee for the Protection of People at Sea).
Reece is also an Academic Fellow of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
Dr Lewis joined Cardiff University School of Law and Politics as a Lecturer in Law in September 2019. His teaching includes being the module leader of two undergraduate optional modules relating to public international law. He has also taught core law subjects. Reece regularly supervises undergratuate and postgraduate dissertations. He is an accredited Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Reece is a PhD Supervisor.
Prior to joining Cardiff University, Reece completed my doctoral studies (from 2016 to 2019) at the University of Bristol under the primary supervision of Professor Sir Malcolm D. Evans KCMG OBE (Professor Eirik Bjorge served as the second supervisor). Reece's doctoral thesis was nominated for the prize of "outstanding excellence in a doctoral dissertation in social sciences". Reece served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Bristol alongside the three years spent completing his thesis.
Publication
2024
- Lewis, R. and Evans, M. 2024. The law of the sea. In: Evans, M. ed. International Law (6th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 629-666.
2023
- Lewis, R. 2023. Islands and International Law by Donald R Rothwell [Book Review]. International and Comparative Law Quarterly 72(2), pp. 565-566. (10.1017/S0020589323000015)
- Evans, M. D. and Lewis, R. eds. 2023. Islands, law and context: The treatment of islands in international law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
- Lewis, R. 2023. Science, technology and the law of the sea: Reflections on a relationship of dependency and construction. In: Leucci, P. and Vianello, I. eds. ASCOMARE Yearbook on the Law of the Sea: Maritime Security, New Technology and Ethics., Vol. 3. Luglio Editore, pp. 89-111.
2022
- Lewis, R. 2022. Maritime humanitarian corridors in Ukraine (Part 1). [Online]. Human Rights at Sea. Available at: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-humanitarian-corridors-ukraine-part-1
- Lewis, R. 2022. UK House of Lords UNCLOS inquiry: a significant intervention. [Online]. http://opiniojuris.org: Opinio Juris. Available at: http://opiniojuris.org/2022/03/17/uk-house-of-lords-unclos-inquiry-a-significant-intervention/
- Lewis, R. 2022. Maritime humanitarian corridors in Ukraine (Part 2). [Online]. Human Rights at Sea. Available at: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-humanitarian-corridors-ukraine-part-2
2021
- Lewis, R. 2021. International legal fictions: lessons from the South China Sea Award. Asian Journal of International Law 11(1), pp. 261-280. (10.1017/S204425132100014X)
- Lewis, R. 2021. Legal fictions in international law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Lewis, R. 2021. The artificial construction and modification of maritime features: piling Pelion on Ossa. Ocean Development and International Law 52(3), pp. 239-259. (10.1080/00908320.2021.1917099)
- Lewis, R. 2021. How can consultations be fair during the Covid-19 pandemic?. Judicial Review 26(2), pp. 108-113. (10.1080/10854681.2021.1964865)
2020
- Evans, M. D. and Lewis, R. 2020. The regime of islands. In: Jensen, ?. ed. The Development of the Law of the Sea Convention: The Role of International Courts and Tribunal. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 14-47.
- Lewis, R. 2020. The doctrine of constructive presence and the Arctic Sunrise Award (2015): The emergence of the “scheme theory”. Ocean Development and International Law 51, pp. 19-34. (10.1080/00908320.2019.1617927)
2019
- Lewis, R. 2019. Examining whether natural features can become artificial features. Presented at: ABLOS 10th Conference: Opportunities and Challenges in the Governance of the Planet Ocean, Monaco, 8-9 October 2019ABLOS 10th Conference: Opportunities and Challenges in the Governance of the Planet Ocean. Monaco: pp. -.
2017
- Lewis, R. 2017. Status of insular features: the perpetuation of legal fiction. Presented at: ABLOS 9th Conference: 'Pushing the limits of UNCLOS', Monaco, Monaco, 10-11 Oct 2017.
Articles
- Lewis, R. 2023. Islands and International Law by Donald R Rothwell [Book Review]. International and Comparative Law Quarterly 72(2), pp. 565-566. (10.1017/S0020589323000015)
- Lewis, R. 2021. International legal fictions: lessons from the South China Sea Award. Asian Journal of International Law 11(1), pp. 261-280. (10.1017/S204425132100014X)
- Lewis, R. 2021. The artificial construction and modification of maritime features: piling Pelion on Ossa. Ocean Development and International Law 52(3), pp. 239-259. (10.1080/00908320.2021.1917099)
- Lewis, R. 2021. How can consultations be fair during the Covid-19 pandemic?. Judicial Review 26(2), pp. 108-113. (10.1080/10854681.2021.1964865)
- Lewis, R. 2020. The doctrine of constructive presence and the Arctic Sunrise Award (2015): The emergence of the “scheme theory”. Ocean Development and International Law 51, pp. 19-34. (10.1080/00908320.2019.1617927)
Book sections
- Lewis, R. and Evans, M. 2024. The law of the sea. In: Evans, M. ed. International Law (6th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 629-666.
- Lewis, R. 2023. Science, technology and the law of the sea: Reflections on a relationship of dependency and construction. In: Leucci, P. and Vianello, I. eds. ASCOMARE Yearbook on the Law of the Sea: Maritime Security, New Technology and Ethics., Vol. 3. Luglio Editore, pp. 89-111.
- Evans, M. D. and Lewis, R. 2020. The regime of islands. In: Jensen, ?. ed. The Development of the Law of the Sea Convention: The Role of International Courts and Tribunal. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 14-47.
Books
- Evans, M. D. and Lewis, R. eds. 2023. Islands, law and context: The treatment of islands in international law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
- Lewis, R. 2021. Legal fictions in international law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Conferences
- Lewis, R. 2019. Examining whether natural features can become artificial features. Presented at: ABLOS 10th Conference: Opportunities and Challenges in the Governance of the Planet Ocean, Monaco, 8-9 October 2019ABLOS 10th Conference: Opportunities and Challenges in the Governance of the Planet Ocean. Monaco: pp. -.
- Lewis, R. 2017. Status of insular features: the perpetuation of legal fiction. Presented at: ABLOS 9th Conference: 'Pushing the limits of UNCLOS', Monaco, Monaco, 10-11 Oct 2017.
Websites
- Lewis, R. 2022. Maritime humanitarian corridors in Ukraine (Part 1). [Online]. Human Rights at Sea. Available at: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-humanitarian-corridors-ukraine-part-1
- Lewis, R. 2022. UK House of Lords UNCLOS inquiry: a significant intervention. [Online]. http://opiniojuris.org: Opinio Juris. Available at: http://opiniojuris.org/2022/03/17/uk-house-of-lords-unclos-inquiry-a-significant-intervention/
- Lewis, R. 2022. Maritime humanitarian corridors in Ukraine (Part 2). [Online]. Human Rights at Sea. Available at: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-humanitarian-corridors-ukraine-part-2
Research
Publications (as of June 2024):
Books
-
Human Rights and the Law of the Sea (co-authored with Malcolm D Evans and Sofia Galani), Edward Elgar, forthcoming
- Islands, Law and Context: The Treatment of Islands in International Law (2023 Edward Elgar) (with MD Evans) https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.
- Ch 1: The 'regime of islands' in international law https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.00004.
- Ch 2: Contrasting islands with other maritime features https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.00005.
- Ch 3: Definitional elements of an island https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.00006.
-
Ch 4: Islands and the delimitation of maritime zones https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.00007.
- Ch 5: The contextual approach to islands https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.00008.
- Ch 6: Conclusion https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207637.00009.
- Legal Fictions in International Law (2021 Edward Elgar) https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.
- Ch 1: Introduction: examining international legal fictions https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00006.
- Ch 2: Legal fictions https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00007.
- Ch 3: International legal fictions https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00008.
- Ch 4: The evaluation of international legal fictions https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00009.
- Ch 5: Effective elements of international legal fictions https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00010.
- Ch 6: Detrimental elements of international legal fictions https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00011.
- Ch 7: Implications and reflections https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00012.
- Ch 8: Conclusion https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379145.00013.
Chapters
- 'Law of the Sea' in M.D. Evans, International Law (6th edition, OUP 2024) (with M.D. Evans)
- ‘The Regime of Islands’ in Øystein Jensen (ed.), The Development of the Law of the Sea Convention: The Role of International Courts and Tribunals (Edward Elgar 2020) 14-47. (with M.D. Evans) https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839104268.00009.
Journal Articles
- Science, technology and the law of the sea: Reflections on a relationship of deendancy and construction (2024) Vol 3 ASCOMARE Yearbook 89-111. Available at https://ascomare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ascomare_2023.pdf
- ‘Islands and International Law by Donald R Rothwell (Book Review)' (2023) 72(2) International & Comparative Law Quarterly 565-566. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020589323000015
- ‘The Artificial Construction and Modification of Maritime Features: piling Pelion on Ossa’ (2021) 52(3) Ocean Development and International Law (published by Routledge) 239-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2021.1917099.
- International legal fictions: lessons from the South China Sea Award’ (2021) 11(2) Asian Journal of International Law (published by Cambridge University Press) 261-280. https://doi.org/10.1017/S204425132100014X.
- ‘How can consultations be fair during the Covid-19 pandemic?’ (2021) 26(2) Judicial Review (published by Routledge) 108-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/10854681.2021.1964865.
- ‘The Doctrine of Constructive Presence and the Arctic Sunrise Award: The Emergence of the “Scheme Theory”’ (2020) 51(1) Ocean Development and International Law (published by Routledge) 19-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2019.1617927.
Other published work
- Maritime humanitarian corridors in Ukraine (Part 1). (16 June 2022) [Online]. Human Rights at Sea. Available at: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-humanitarian-corridors-ukraine-part-1.
- Maritime humanitarian corridors in Ukraine (Part 2). (23 June 2022) [Online]. Human Rights at Sea. Available at: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-humanitarian-corridors-ukraine-part-2/
- ‘UK House of Lords UNCLOS Inquiry: A Significant Intervention’ (Opinio Juris.org) (17 March 2022) available at: https://opiniojuris.org/2022/03/17/uk-house-of-lords-unclos-inquiry-a-significant-intervention/.
- “Can naturally formed features ever be artificial?” (2019) Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea [ABLOS], Monaco, 10th Conference: “Opportunities and Challenges in the Governance of Planet Ocean”. Available at: http://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/130064.
- “The Status of Maritime Features: A Legal Fiction?” (2017) Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea [ABLOS], Monaco, 9th Conference: “Pushing the limits of UNCLOS”. Available at: http://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/130063.
Teaching
Undergraduate
- Public International Law (Module Leader)
- International Law and Transnational Challenges (Module Leader)
- Equity and Trusts
- Undergraduate Dissertation
Postgraduate
- Law of the Sea
- Dissertation Supervision
- PGR Supervision
I have previously taught Jurisprudence to undergraduates and the Law of the Use of Force to postgraduate taught students.
I am accredited as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Biography
Employment
- Cardiff University:
Senior Lecturer in Law, 2024-
Lecturer in Law, 2019-2024. - University of Bristol: Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2016-2019.
External Appointments
- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple: Academic Fellow, since 2021
- UK House of Lords International Relations and Defence Select Committee: Specialist Adviser, 2021-2022.
Research and Editorial Assistance
- Malcolm D Evans and Sofia Galani (eds), Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea: Help or Hindrance? (Edward Elgar Publishing 2019)
- Patrick Capps and Henrik Palmer Olsen (eds), Legal Authority beyond the State (CUP 2018)
- Assistant Editor, Maritime Safety and Security Law Journal (2018).
- Eirik Bjorge and Cameron Miles (eds), Landmark Cases in Public International Law (Hart Publishing 2017)
Education
- PhD, University of Bristol (2019): Legal Fictions in International Law: Lessons from the Law of the Sea, supervised by Professor Sir Malcolm D. Evans KCMG OBE and Professor Eirik Bjorge. My thesis was examined by Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice (Queen Mary University London) and my internal examiner was Professor Patrick Capps.
- LLM International Law, University of Bristol (2016): Distinction
- LLB Law, Cardiff University (2015), First Class.
Honours and awards
Teaching Awards
- Personal Tutor of the Year Nominee - Enhancing Student Life Awards (2023)
- Most Engaging Staff Member of the Year Nominee - Enhancing Student Life Awards (2023)
- Most Innovative Staff Member of the Year Nominee - Enhancing Student Life Awards (2022)
Education Honours
- Prize Nominee for Outstanding Excellence in a Doctoral Dissertation (2019)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship to undertake my Doctoral Research (2016-19)
- Best Performance Overall in the LLM, Best Performance in International Law LLM and Postgraduate LLM Dissertation (2016)
- Graduated Top of Class in the LLB (2015)
Professional memberships
- Academic Fellow of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- International Law Association UK Branch (ILA)
- Society of Legal Scholars
Academic positions
- 2019 - present: Lecturer in Law, Cardiff University
- 2016 - 2019: Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Bristol
Speaking engagements
Recent Speaking Engagements
- "Islands and the Law of the Sea" - University of Colombo, Faculty of Law, Sri Lanka (26 April 2023)
- "The UK House of Lords UNCLOS Inquiry" - Maharashta National Law University Mumbai, India (10 December 2022)
- "The Constitutionality of the 'Constitution of the Oceans': An examination of the consequences of the claim that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea is a constitution" - Australia National University, New Horizons: The Future of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (9-10 December 2022)
Committees and reviewing
- Serve as a peer-reveiwer for a number of academic journals and publishers, including inter alia: Oxford University Press (OUP); International and Comparative Law Quarterly (ICLQ), Ocean Development & International Law (ODIL), Marine Policy, and Asia-Pacific Journal of Ocean Law and Policy.
- Committee Member of the ILA Protection of People At Sea.
- Editorial Assistant for the following: Malcolm D. Evans and Sofia Galani (eds), Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea: Help or Hindrance? (Edward Elgar Publishing 2019); Assistant Editor, Maritime Safety and Security Law Journal (2018); Eirik Bjorge and Cameron Miles (eds), Landmark Cases in Public International Law (Hart Publishing 2017)
Supervisions
I welcome research proposals in areas relating to my research interests including: the international law of the sea; international legal theory and general public international law.
Current supervision
Cihan Burak Sancak
Research student
Ayten Selin Dogan
PhD Researcher
Hamoud Alotaibi
Research student
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Public international law
- Law of the sea
- Human rights law
- International dispute settlement