Graham Virgo
Graham Virgo KC (Hon) | |
---|---|
![]() Virgo at an interview with Varsity Newspaper in 2020 | |
Born | Graham John Virgo 8 June 1966 |
Occupation(s) | Professor of English Private Law and Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cambridge[3] |
Spouse | The Rev Dr Carolyn John-Baptist Hammond [1][2] |
Children | 2 |
Academic background | |
Alma mater | |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Lawyer |
Sub-discipline | Law of restitution, unjust enrichment, law of mistake |
Institutions | Downing College, Cambridge |
Main interests | Law of restitution, Law of contract, Equity, trusts, criminal law |
Notable works | The Principles of the Law of Restitution, The Principles of Equity and Trusts, Equity & Trusts: Cases and Materials |
Website | University of Cambridge |
Graham John Virgo
Education
Virgo completed his secondary education at John Cleveland College (now The Hinckley School), a comprehensive school in Hinckley, Leicestershire.[8][9] In 1983, he applied to read law at Downing College, Cambridge, where he was interviewed by Charles Harpum, John Hopkins, and David Lloyd Jones.[9] Later, Hopkins suggested that Virgo consider Coward Chance (which in 1987 merged with Clifford Turner to form Clifford Chance) as a firm to work for.[9]
Virgo graduated from Cambridge in 1987 with
Career
As an academic
In 2003, Virgo was promoted to Reader in Law.[10] In 2007, he was appointed to a personal Professorship of English Private Law at the University of Cambridge.[11][12] In 2008, he was elected an Academic Bencher at Lincoln's Inn. In 2012, he was appointed Deputy Chair of the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge.[13] He stepped down from this role in 2014.[14]
Virgo's research interests are in criminal law, restitution, the law of contract, equity and trusts.[15] He described the decision of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in Bank of Cyprus UK Ltd v Menelaou as "the worst decision in the history of the Supreme Court, betraying such ignorance of the law and legal principle and such confusion about the nature of judging",[16] prompting Lord Neuberger, who had delivered the leading judgment, to lament the article as "over-the top" in his retirement lecture at Oxford.[17] In 2009, he delivered a paper at the Law Society of England and Wales titled The Law of Unjust Enrichment in the House of Lords: Judging the Judges.[18]
Virgo is credited with contributions to the growing
As a teacher and Tutor at Downing College
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Graham_Virgo.jpg/220px-Graham_Virgo.jpg)
Virgo has described his teaching and pastoral style as being influenced by his former Tutor, John Hopkins.[9] In particular, he describes having learnt how to interview, supervise, and develop a genuine fondness for his students from him. In 2002, he was awarded the Pilkington Prize from the University of Cambridge in recognition of outstanding teaching in Law. On 1 April 2003, he was appointed Senior Tutor of Downing College,[23] a role which gave him responsibility over both educational matters and the overall well-being of the students at the College. He stayed in this role until 2013.[23] When he stepped down as Senior Tutor, he described the students of Downing College as having made his time as Senior Tutor "the happiest of [his] life".[23] In 2004, he was appointed Director of Studies for Law at Downing College.[14] He stepped down as Director of Studies in 2014.[14]
In 2013, Virgo engaged in a debate with
On 30 November 2022 Downing College announced that Virgo would succeed Alan Bookbinder as Master of the College on 1 October 2023.[26]
As a university administrator
He was appointed
In 2019, Virgo was criticised after he was reported to have said that the lack of Afro-Caribbean hairdressers in Cambridge led to fewer black students to apply to the University, although he later said his remarks had been misunderstood.[29][30]
In 2021, Virgo was criticized by Professor David Abulafia, emeritus professor of Mediterranean history at the University of Cambridge, for his support of the "Report+Support" university reporting system, which allowed users to anonymously report members of the University for 'micro-aggressions' before it was withdrawn by the University.[31]
Personal life
He is keenly interested in drama[1] and is the Vice-Chair of the dramatic society the Gamlingay Players.[32]
Virgo is married to the Rev Dr Carolyn Hammond, Director of Studies in Theology and Dean of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.[1][2] He has two children, Elizabeth and Jonathan.[1]
Selected publications
- Graham Virgo, The Principles of Equity and Trusts (2012)
- Graham Virgo and Paul Davies, Equity & Trusts: Cases and Materials (2013)
- Graham Virgo, The Principles of the Law of Restitution (3rd ed, 2015)
References
- ^ a b c d "Downing College Association Newsletter 2009" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b QC (Hon), Graham Virgo (31 March 2018). "Very proud of my wife who officiated at Stephen Hawking's funeral today.pic.twitter.com/EqMdSV1vAb". @grahamvirgo. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Professor Graham Virgo QC". Vice-Chancellor's Office, University of Cambridge. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Jackson, Cordelia (29 June 2018). "Professor Graham Virgo appointed Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor". For staff. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Lord Chancellor welcomes historic promotion of talent for new silks". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Fitzwilliam College Fellow appointed new Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education". Varsity Online. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Downing elects Graham Virgo as master". Varsity Online. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "VIRGO, Prof. Graham John". Who's Who. Vol. 2024 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d Virgo, Graham. "John Hopkins: A Tribute from Professor Graham Virgo QC (Hon)" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Downing College Association Newsletter 2003-2004" (PDF). Downing College. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "CHAPTER XI : UNIVERSITY OFFICES AND GRANTS OF TITLE - SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY OFFICERS". admin.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Faculty of Law LawLink: Issue 8, Spring/Summer 2008". Issuu. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Downing College Association Newsletter 2012" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Downing College Association Newsletter" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Professor Graham Virgo | Faculty of Law". 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- )
- ^ Neuberger, David (10 February 2017). "Neill Lecture 2017, Twenty Years a Judge: Reflections and Refractions, Oxford Law Faculty" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Downing College Association Newsletter 2010" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "*Law Foundation brings top speakers to NZ in 2016 | the Law Foundation".
- ^ "SMU Jones Day Professorship Lecture 2019 Speakers" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Downing College Association Newsletter 2019" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Lord Chancellor welcomes historic promotion of talent for new silks".
- ^ a b c "Downing College Association Newsletter 2013" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "'Those Who Wish to Practise Law Should Not Study Law at University'? | Faculty of Law".
- ^ a b "Public lecture: Professor Graham Virgo - The University of Auckland". Archived from the original on 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Downing College elects Professor Graham Virgo KC (HON) as the 19th Master". Downing College, Cambridge. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Cambridge University admits 'significant' sexual misconduct problem". BBC News. 6 February 2018.
- ^ Yorke, Harry; Diver, Tony (12 January 2018). "Cambridge don claims rapid grade inflation is down to tuition fees and students working harder". The Telegraph.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Graham Virgo denies identifying 'lack of hairdressers' as a barrier to access". Varsity Online. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ Abulafia, David (8 July 2021). "What's behind Cambridge's anonymous reporting system? | The Spectator". spectator.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "The Committee". Gamlingay Players. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.