We are immeasurably saddened by the news of the passing of our colleague and friend Karen Knop. Karen’s long association with Cambridge and the Lauterpacht Centre began with her doctoral work under the supervision of James Crawford. In May this year, Karen joined us in Cambridge for the memorial conference that marked one year of James’s own untimely passing. On that occasion as on so many others, she floored us with her questing intelligence, warmth, vibrance and camaraderie. We shared both laughter and tears and looked forward to meeting again.
Karen was to deliver the 2025 Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lectures. We will find an appropriate way to dedicate those lectures to her memory. The passage of time will allow us to meet in the spirit of scholarly engagement and celebration of her work, but it will not lessen the loss that we are feeling today, together with her colleagues, students, and other friends all around the world. Our deepest condolences to her partner Ralph, and to all who loved her.
Dear Karen, you were the best of us. We will always miss you.
Image courtesy of the University of Toronto