Waleed Mahmoud ElFarrs LL.M.

Profile

Waleed Mahmoud ElFarrs is an FWO doctoral researcher at Ghent University's Rolin-Jaequemyns International Law Institute (GRILI) and a visiting fellow at the T.M.C. Asser Institute. His doctoral research examines the international legal implications for third states and private corporations engaging in trade and economic activities in occupied, illegally annexed, or otherwise unlawfully administered territories, with a particular focus on Western Sahara. At Asser, his work contributes to the research strand 'In the Public Interest: Accountability of the State and the Prosecution of Crimes', with a focus on corporate criminal responsibility for war crimes (i.e., pillage) and crimes against humanity (i.e., economic persecution) in Western Sahara. His analysis considers recent jurisprudential developments in universal jurisdiction and the historical prosecution of corporate actors under international criminal law since Nuremberg. The aim is to assess the existence and viability of a legally binding international criminal law (ICL) framework for corporations, one that they would be required to adhere to or consider in their due diligence processes when engaging in activities in or related to occupied and illegally annexed territories of peoples.

Mahmoud holds a legal research master’s degree in international law (PIL, IHL, ICL, IHRL, Security Law) from Utrecht University (2020), a master's degree in international trade law (2015), and an LL.B. from Ain Shams University in Cairo (2013). Prior to joining Ghent, he was a research and teaching associate at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden University, where he supervised clinical projects in international criminal law and consulted for international organizations. Additionally, he serves as a pro bono academic consultant for the Faculty of Law at the British University in Egypt (BUE), where he authors moot court cases and delivers online lectures on IHL and ICL. His work builds on years of guest lecturing, mentoring, coaching, and presenting at Ain Shams University, Assiut University, the American University in Cairo, and other prominent institutions such as MPL Legal Academy.

Mahmoud has also been a licensed trial lawyer in Egypt since 2013 and an appellate criminal defense lawyer since 2021. He has interned with the defense team of Mr. Al Hassan before the International Criminal Court and has advised the Sudanese Ministry of Justice on international criminal law and alleged crimes against humanity. He is also an experienced coach and advocate for international clinical legal education. He has been coaching UGent’s team for the Frits Kalshoven IHL Competition since 2021 and has coached teams to multiple first-place finishes since 2015. He founded The Legalist, an award-winning legal platform for societal impact followed by thousands of legal professionals in the Middle East.