Introduction
Michael Jacob Beloff, QC (born 18 April 1942) is a prominent English barrister. A member of Blackstone Chambers, he practises in a number of areas including human rights and administrative law.
Career
Beloff is the son of the historian Max Beloff, Baron Beloff, and is therefore by courtesy styled 'the Honourable'. His mother was Helen Dobrin. He was educated at the Dragon School, Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford, and was President of the Union. As President of the Union he passed a resolution in 1963 to allow women to have full membership for the first time.
He was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn, where he later became a Bencher and was the Treasurer for 2008. He is the founder of a student prize at the Inn awarded for an essay on administrative law.
The term Plate glass university stems from the title of his book "The Plateglass Universities" (1970).
Since 1995 he has been a member of the Jersey Court of Appeal and the Guernsey Court of Appeal. He sits on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which deals with disputes including doping offences on behalf of the International Olympic Committee. He has also chaired the ethics commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), including investigations into IAAF treasurer Valentin Balakhnichev and Papa Massata Diack, son of IAAF president Lamine Diack.
He served as President of Trinity College, Oxford, from 1996 to 2006 and was succeeded by Ivor Roberts. Trinity College now awards a Michael and Judith Beloff Scholarship. Trinity College's debating society also runs the annual Michael Beloff After-Dinner Speaking Competition, open to members of the college.
He represented Fulham in the Independent Arbitration Panel for the case Sheffield United v FA Premier League. On 3 July 2007, the panel dismissed the claim by Fulham F.C. and Sheffield United F.C.
Personal life
Michael Beloff married Judith Arkinstall in 1969. They have two children: Rupert (b. 1973) and Natasha (b. 1976).
The Beloffs are friends of Tony and Cherie Blair and were among their guests at Chequers.