Legal Counsel to the Administration

The WTO and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which preceded it are known for their strong tradition of pragmatism and results-oriented management. These are concepts that trade diplomats do not automatically associate with law and lawyers. As a matter of fact, there are few domains where lawyers have traditionally been less welcome than in the housekeeping of the WTO. This is why, in order to promote the rule of law in the management of the Secretariat, the Legal Adviser to the WTO Administration has had to avoid talking, acting and even thinking like a lawyer.