Filipino Lawyer wins 2023 IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Raphael Lorenzo Aguiling Pangalangan from the Philippines was honored with the 2023 International Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for his commitment to human rights and criminal justice. The award, presented in Paris, recognizes his contributions in advocacy and academia.

At the IBA conference, Pangalangan highlighted the award’s significance, viewing it as an affirmation of legal professionals’ social responsibilities. He emphasized the role of lawyers as social engineers, transcending the mercenary image often portrayed in popular media.

Pangalangan’s achievements include representing victims of the Philippine drug war and challenging the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. His legal practice extends to business and human rights and environmental law, and he serves as Special Counsel at Ocampo & Suralvo Law Offices.

Internationally, Pangalangan has advised UN entities, contributing to reports on housing rights violations in Syria and Ukraine. He has also collaborated on a transnational treaty addressing terrorism and human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

In academia, Pangalangan has been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard and an Associate Dean at Jindal Global Law School. His award-winning dissertation at Oxford University critically analyzed President Duterte’s drug war under international criminal law.

The IBA Young Lawyers’ Committee annually awards a young lawyer exemplifying professional excellence and community dedication. This award, established in memory of William Reece Smith Jr and sponsored by LexisNexis, recognizes outstanding contributions in the legal field. Pangalangan expressed gratitude towards his mentors and family, committing to continued efforts in advancing legal justice.