Graham Virgo

Graham John Virgo KC (Hon) is an English legal academic, barrister and university administrator, who is Professor of English Private Law at the University of Cambridge and Master of Downing College, Cambridge.[4][1] He is frequently cited in the English courts and those of other common law jurisdictions, and known for his contributions to the law of restitution and the teaching of law.[5] He was previously Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cambridge and assumed the role of Master of Downing College, Cambridge, on 1 October 2023.[6][7]

Graham Virgo

KC (Hon)
Virgo at an interview with Varsity Newspaper in 2020
Born
Graham John Virgo

(1966-06-08) 8 June 1966
Occupation(s)Professor of English Private Law and Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cambridge[1]
SpouseThe Rev Dr Carolyn John-Baptist Hammond [2][3]
Children2
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic work
DisciplineLawyer
Sub-disciplineLaw of restitution, unjust enrichment, law of mistake
InstitutionsDowning College, Cambridge
Main interestsLaw of restitution, Law of contract, Equity, trusts, criminal law
Notable worksThe Principles of the Law of Restitution, The Principles of Equity and Trusts, Equity & Trusts: Cases and Materials
WebsiteUniversity of Cambridge

Education

Virgo completed his secondary education at a comprehensive school in the Midlands.[8] In 1983, he applied to read law at Downing College, Cambridge, where he was interviewed by Charles Harpum, John Hopkins, and David Lloyd Jones.[8] 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.[8]

Virgo graduated from Downing College, Cambridge in 1987 with first-class honours. The following year, he graduated at the top of his class from Christ Church, Oxford with a first-class honours BCL degree, and winning the Vinerian Scholarship. Upon graduation, Virgo decided on a career at the Bar, but while at Bar school, he received a letter from Hopkins suggesting that he return to Downing College to teach, which he accepted.

Career

As an academic

In 2003, Virgo was promoted to Reader in Law.[9] In 2007, he was appointed to a personal Professorship of English Private Law at the University of Cambridge.[10][11] 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.[12] He stepped down from this role in 2014.[13]

Virgo's research interests are in criminal law, restitution, the law of contract, equity and trusts.[14] 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",[15] prompting Lord Neuberger, who had delivered the leading judgment, to lament the article as "over-the top" in his retirement lecture at Oxford.[16] 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.[17]

Virgo is credited with contributions to the growing law of restitution in the United Kingdom. In 2014, he was the Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Law Fellow at the University of Melbourne law school.[13] Virgo was the New Zealand Law Foundation's Distinguished Visiting Fellow in 2016, during which he gave lectures at various universities including the University of Auckland, University of Canterbury, University of Otago and University of Waikato.[18] In 2017, he was appointed Queen's counsel (honoris causa) in recognition of his work in restitution.[5] In 2019, he was the Jones Day Visiting Professor in Commercial Law at Singapore Management University.[19][20] His work has been frequently cited in the English courts, including in the Supreme Court, and has shaped the direction of the law of unjust enrichment, mistake, and other related areas of restitution.[21]

As a teacher and Tutor at Downing College
Virgo at a lecture in Singapore in 2019

Virgo has described his teaching and pastoral style as being influenced by his former Tutor, John Hopkins.[8] 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,[22] 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.[22] 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".[22] In 2004, he was appointed Director of Studies for Law at Downing College.[23] He stepped down as Director of Studies in 2014.[24]

In 2013, Virgo engaged in a debate with Lord Sumption at the University of Cambridge on the topic "Those Who Wish to Practise Law Should Not Study Law at University", arguing against the motion.[25] That year, Virgo was also a finalist for both the OUP Law Teacher of the Year and the LawCareers.net Law Teacher of the Year Award.[26] In 2017, when he was appointed Queen's counsel (honoris causa), the announcement celebrated his "significant contribution to the teaching of law."[5]

On 30 November 2022 Downing College announced that Virgo would succeed Alan Bookbinder as Master of the College on 1 October 2023.[27]

As a university administrator

He was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Education in 2014, with responsibility for developing education policy and strategy for the University.[26] Virgo has addressed problems of sexual misconduct within the University of Cambridge[28] and suggested that the University may phase out the traditional academic 1st/2.i/2.ii/3rd system with a US-style GPA system in an attempt to stem grade inflation.[29]

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.[30][31]

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.[32]

Personal life

He is keenly interested in drama[2] and is the Vice-Chair of the dramatic society the Gamlingay Players.[33]

Virgo is married to the Rev Dr Carolyn Hammond, Director of Studies in Theology and Dean of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.[2][3] He has two children, Elizabeth and Jonathan.[2]

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
  1. "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.
  2. "Downing College Association Newsletter 2009" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. 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.
  4. Jackson, Cordelia (29 June 2018). "Professor Graham Virgo appointed Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor". For staff. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  5. "Lord Chancellor welcomes historic promotion of talent for new silks". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  6. "Fitzwilliam College Fellow appointed new Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education". Varsity Online. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  7. "Downing elects Graham Virgo as master". Varsity Online. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  8. 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.
  9. "Downing College Association Newsletter 2003-2004" (PDF). Downing College. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  10. "CHAPTER XI : UNIVERSITY OFFICES AND GRANTS OF TITLE - SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY OFFICERS". admin.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  11. "Faculty of Law LawLink: Issue 8, Spring/Summer 2008". Issuu. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  12. "Downing College Association Newsletter 2012" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  13. "Downing College Association Newsletter" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  14. "Professor Graham Virgo | Faculty of Law". 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  15. Virgo, Graham (28 January 2016). "Restitution and Unjust Enrichment in the Supreme Court: Reflections on Bank of Cyprus UK Ltd v Menelaou". Rochester, NY. SSRN 2724024. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. 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.
  17. "Downing College Association Newsletter 2010" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  18. "*Law Foundation brings top speakers to NZ in 2016 | the Law Foundation".
  19. "SMU Jones Day Professorship Lecture 2019 Speakers" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  20. "Downing College Association Newsletter 2019" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  21. "Lord Chancellor welcomes historic promotion of talent for new silks".
  22. "Downing College Association Newsletter 2013" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  23. "Downing College Association Newsletter" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  24. "Downing College Association Newsletter" (PDF). Downing College, Cambridge. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  25. "'Those Who Wish to Practise Law Should Not Study Law at University'? | Faculty of Law".
  26. "Public lecture: Professor Graham Virgo - The University of Auckland". Archived from the original on 20 April 2017.
  27. "Downing College elects Professor Graham Virgo KC (HON) as the 19th Master". Downing College, Cambridge. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  28. "Cambridge University admits 'significant' sexual misconduct problem". BBC News. 6 February 2018.
  29. Yorke, Harry; Diver, Tony (12 January 2018). "Cambridge don claims rapid grade inflation is down to tuition fees and students working harder". The Telegraph.
  30. Turner, Camilla (9 May 2019). "Black students reluctant to apply to Cambridge University 'due to lack of Afro-Caribbean hairdressers'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  31. "Graham Virgo denies identifying 'lack of hairdressers' as a barrier to access". Varsity Online. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  32. Abulafia, David (8 July 2021). "What's behind Cambridge's anonymous reporting system? | The Spectator". spectator.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  33. "The Committee". Gamlingay Players. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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