MANILA — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has appointed international criminal law expert Peter Haynes as his new lead counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC), replacing lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.
In a document released Tuesday, the ICC said Kaufman formally informed Trial Chamber III that Haynes would immediately assume Duterte’s legal representation in the proceedings before the tribunal.
Kaufman said he had already spoken with Haynes, who confirmed that he was prepared to take over the role and had agreed to the terms of engagement.
He also noted that Haynes had been updated on the pending deadlines and was expected to participate in the status conference scheduled on May 27, 2026.
Based on his profile with St. Philips Barristers, Haynes has handled high-profile international criminal and humanitarian law cases before various tribunals, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the ICC, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Among the notable cases he handled was the defense of General Vinko Pandurević in proceedings connected to the Srebrenica massacre.
Haynes also appeared before the ICC for former Democratic Republic of Congo official Jean-Pierre Bemba, whose conviction was later overturned on appeal, resulting in his acquittal.
In 2024, the ICC appointed Haynes to represent Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony during the court’s first in absentia hearings.
He previously served as president of the International Criminal Court Bar Association from 2019 to 2021 and became the first official to secure re-election to the position.
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