When former President Rodrigo Duterte needed a top-tier lawyer to defend him against crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), his team turned to Nicholas Kaufman—a veteran international lawyer known for handling high-profile cases.
But who is Kaufman, and how might his legal background influence the defense strategy for one of the Philippines’ most controversial leaders?
Born in Liverpool and raised in Birmingham, Kaufman pursued law at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1989. He later completed his legal training at the Inns of Court School of Law in 1991. His career started in the UK as a defense lawyer before he moved to Israel, where he took on key roles in both military and criminal law. As part of the Military Advocate General’s Office in the Israel Defense Forces, he worked on peace agreements and international law matters. Later, he became a prosecutor for the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office, handling serious crimes such as murder, rape, and terrorism.
In 2003, Kaufman made history as Israel’s first prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He played a crucial role in securing convictions against Serbian and Montenegrin generals for war crimes linked to the 1991 attack on Dubrovnik.
Over the years, Kaufman transitioned to defense work, representing prominent figures at the ICC. His past clients include Jean-Pierre Bemba, former Vice President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ayesha Gaddafi, daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi; and Mokom Gawaka, a militia leader from the Central African Republic.
In March 2025, Kaufman stepped in as Duterte’s lead defense counsel. Expressing confidence in his approach, he stated, “I’m very confident about the strongest defense, and I’m very confident [Duterte would] be acquitted indeed, even at the earliest stage.”
With a wealth of experience in both prosecution and defense, Kaufman has built a strong reputation in international law. Now, he faces one of his most high-profile challenges yet—defending Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC.
