CURRICULUM VITAE
ROBIN MACLEAN WEBSTER
MBE RD BA(Cantab) FCIArb
Chief Justice of Tonga, 2004 - 2006
Course Director, Commonwealth Secretariat Caribbean Course for Legislative Drafters, Guyana, 2007 & 2008
b. 22.4.1940; m., Janice Helen Reid; 2 daughters.
Education: Fettes College, Edinburgh;
Christ's College, Cambridge University (BA (Nat Sciences) 2:1).
Solicitor (Scotland), 1966; Notary Public, 1970;
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, 1992.
Honours Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE), 1992,
for services to the judiciary in Tonga;
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (RD).
Partner, Haddow & McLay, Solicitors, Glasgow, 1968-70;
Deputy Secretary, Law Society of Scotland. 1970-76;
Secretary, Scottish Lawyers' European Group, 1971-77;
Office of the Solicitor to Secretary of State for Scotland, 1976-88
drafting statutory instruments, Civil Service SI Drafting Course;
seconded as Legal Draftsman, Seychelles Government 1980-82
i/c full-time legislative drafting of all types of legislation;
Assistant Parliamentary Draftsman, Lord Advocate's Department, 1982-83
full-time drafting of Scottish statutes at Westminster &
legal advice work for Lord Advocate (then Lord Mackay of Clashfern);
Senior Parliamentary Counsel, Kenya Government, 1985-86
full-time legislative drafting for Kenya Parliament;
Attorney-General, Tuvalu, South Pacific, 1986-88
including drafting legislation & drafting Tuvalu Trust Fund Treaty;
Judge of the Supreme Court of Tonga, South Pacific, 1988-91
including constitutional cases.
Temporary Sheriff, Scotland, 1991-96;
Part-time Industrial Tribunal Chairman, 1991-94;
Legal Consultant, Overseas Development Administration, 1992-95.
Full-time Employment Tribunal Chairman, Edinburgh, 1994-2003;
Part-time Employment Tribunal Chairman, Edinburgh 2003-4;
Chief Justice of Tonga, 2004 - 2006
including several constitutional cases (eg Taione v Kingdom of Tonga [2004] TOSC 4, [2005] 4LRC 661) & advice on drafting in Law Committee.
Course Director, Commonwealth Secretariat Caribbean Course for Legislative Drafters, Guyana, 2007 & 2008
setting up, running, teaching & tutoring a 12-week course for young lawyers
Languages: English; French, workable (but not fluent) (we have a house in France); some knowledge of Swahili & Polynesian.
Publication Professional Ethics & Practice for Scottish Solicitors (1976,-84,-96)
Other activities:
Royal Naval Reserve, 1962-90; Lt Commander (Rtd); Ship Command Cert 1973;
Chairman, Queensferry and District Unit Sea Cadet Corps, 1994-2000.
Hon. Secretary, Royal Scottish Pipers' Society, 1973-76.
Recreations: bagpipe playing and piobaireachd; Scottish dancing; reading; walking; France.
Address:
Fernbrae
Dryside Road
Glenlomond
Kinross
KY13 9ND
Scotland UK
e-mail: rmwebster@btinternet.com
phone: 0044 (0)1592 840 118
27 April 2009