Professor Manfred Lachs: Wise Man of International Law

This article, based on the author's presentation at the Conference "Sir Hersch Lauterpacht - Lawyer of Two Cultures", organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law of the University of Cambridge on 5-6 November 2008, aims at briefly presenting the life and achievements of Professor and Judge Manfred H. Lachs (21 April 1914-14 January 1993). During the course of his prolific career, Judge Lachs was active and excelled in four different roles; those of scholar and academic teacher, diplomat and international judge. In all these roles, with his innovative and ground-breaking ideas, he has left his mark on legal discourse and his legal thought continues to be of great influence even today.