Office of the Legal Adviser

The Office of the Legal Adviser reports directly to the Office of the Director-General. The main responsibilities of the Office are:

• Implementation and interpretation of the CWC. To provide legal advice to the Director-General, units within the Technical Secretariat and the policy-making organs on matters related to the implementation and interpretation of the CWC, the Rules of Procedure of the Policy-Making Organs and relevant decisions adopted by the Conference of the States Parties and/or the Executive Council.
  
  
• OPCW internal legislation. To provide legal advice to the Director-General and units within the Technical Secretariat regarding the interpretation of the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, the OPCW Financial Regulations and Rules, and administrative directives adopted thereunder.
  
  
• Personnel cases. To prepare the Organisation’s Responses and Replies in respect of appeals brought by staff members in cases before the Appeals Council or the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT).
  
  
• International Agreements. To provide legal advice to the Director-General and units within the Technical Secretariat in the negotiation, preparation, conclusion and interpretation of international agreements relating to verification activities (facility agreements), and also of relationship agreements with other international organisations, privileges and immunities agreements with States Parties, the Headquarters Agreement and any other enabling legal instruments.
  
  
• Procurement of goods and services. To provide advice within the Technical Secretariat with regard to OPCW’s commercial matters, including procurement of goods and services.
  
  
• To support the Director-General and units within the Technical Secretariat on other matters, as required.

For questions or further information you may contact the Office of the Legal Adviser by e-mail at legal@opcw.org, by telephone at: +31 70 416 3779, or by fax at: +31 70 416 3824.