Dr Emma J. Breeze
It is with profound sadness that Birmingham Law School shares the news of the passing of our dear colleague, Dr Emma J. Breeze.
Emma joined Birmingham Law School in 2021 as an Assistant Professor in International Criminal Law. Her association with the School, however, extends much further back. Emma completed the LLM in International Law, Crime, Justice and Human Rights at Birmingham in 2016 before undertaking a PhD under the supervision of Professor Rob Cryer and Professor Alexander Orakhelashvili. Professor Cryer described Emma as one of his finest doctoral students. She successfully completed her PhD in June 2020 while also contributing to the School as a postgraduate teaching assistant.
Throughout her academic career, Emma developed a distinctive expertise in the technological challenges facing the law of armed conflict, positioning herself at the intersection of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, technology, and intelligence studies. While she described herself as a doctrinal lawyer, her scholarship combined rigorous legal analysis with socio-legal insight and a keen awareness of practical realities, making her a truly distinctive voice in the field. Her work was highly original and increasingly influential, addressing issues of growing contemporary relevance and enabling her to translate academic research into policy-relevant advice, including on the use of drones by law enforcement agencies in England and Wales.
Emma was also a dedicated and inspirational teacher. At Birmingham, she taught across a range of subjects, including International Criminal Law and Justice, Criminal Law, Transnational Criminal Law, and International Humanitarian Law. She was approachable and deeply committed to her students. Her ability to engage students with complex and challenging issues, while encouraging critical thinking and curiosity, left a lasting impression on all those she taught.
A much-valued colleague, Emma was respected not only for her academic achievements but also for her warmth, kindness, and collegiality. Emma always prioritised people. She possessed a strong sense of justice and fairness yet was never judgmental. Open-minded, generous, enthusiastic, and unfailingly supportive, she brought out the best in those around her. At the same time, she was humble and authentic, with a sense of humour and a subtle wit that endeared her to colleagues and students alike. Emma made an enormous contribution to the life of Birmingham Law School and her loss will be felt deeply across our community and far beyond it. Her passing was untimely, with so much still to offer and enjoy.
Emma was a cherished colleague and friend and will remain a part of Birmingham Law School's story. We loved her, and we will not forget her.
Tributes to Emma for inclusion on this page can be sent to deanofbls@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Please include your name and any institutional affiliation that you would like to appear alongside your tribute.
Tributes
Deeply saddened by this news. Emma was an exceptional colleague; kind, thoughtful, warm and always generous with her time. She made a real difference to both colleagues and students, and her loss will be deeply felt across Birmingham Law School. It was a privilege to have known and worked with her. My thoughts are with her family, friends and everyone who knew her. Rest in peace, Emma.
One of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite authors is: 'No one ever truly leaves us as long as we keep on telling their story'. Emma, we will keep on telling your story and being proud of everything that you accomplished. You will be deeply missed.
Emma was a wonderful colleague. She would always stop for a chat and a laugh when we’d bump into each other. I covered her International Criminal Law seminars when she was on study leave and she was a brilliant source of reassurance, advice and good humour. She was always encouraging us to go for it, to be brave and creative when teaching. I was always in awe of her ability to inspire and hold the attention of a large group seminar. She will be missed.
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr Emma Breeze. I had the privilege of being taught by her on the International Criminal Law and Justice module at the University of Birmingham. Her expertise and passion for international law were both impressive and deeply inspiring. I truly enjoyed her lectures and always valued our conversations. Emma consistently made time for her students, showing genuine care for our academic journeys and personal wellbeing. I’m very lucky to have had her as my teacher and am disheartened that she is no longer with us. I send my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues at Birmingham Law School. Thank you for everything, may you rest in peace, Emma.
I first met Emma when she was just starting her PhD studies under the guidance of Rob Cryer, who had also been my PhD supervisor. I formed an immediate impression that she was an ideal supervisee for Rob, matching his intellectual enthusiasm and honesty and his readiness to laugh. The next time I encountered her was in much sadder circumstances, when she took a leading role in commemorating Rob following his untimely death. She was such a steadying presence, managing to be calm and collected without setting her own feelings aside. I know that she is deeply missed by her colleagues at Birmingham, a sense of loss keenly shared by the wider community of international legal scholars.
Emma was a dear colleague and friend. I will miss our long and winding telephone conversations, when often her exasperation would give way to irrepressible giggles, when we would scratch our heads and discuss our projects, when she would surprise me with her resilience, warmth, strength and integrity. Emma was a wonderful human being. Many will know Emma was instrumental in leading efforts to remember the late Robert Cryer (I am pretty sure that Emma was Rob’s last PhD student). Emma was our lodestar throughout the entire process and that edited collection now stands as a testament to her friendship, kindness and warmth. Re-reading Emma this evening, it is clear that her work on the relationship between intelligence and the duty to protect civilians under IHL was important and that she had far, far more to say in this area. Rest in Peace, Emma, we will miss your voice, but that which is written is not forgotten.
A silver lining from the necessity of organising a festschrift for Rob (Cryer) was meeting Emma, and thinking that Rob’s legacy at Birmingham was in safe hands because Emma was not only talented and energetic, but also very much Rob’s kind of person. I will miss her, and I barely knew her. I can’t begin to think what her loss will mean to her family, friends, colleagues and students – a professional as well as personal tragedy.
Emma was always engaging when I spoke with her, her work on the conference and collection was extensive and exemplary, and I shall remember her fondly. Let perpetual light shine upon her.
Emma was such a lovely, cheerful person, always ready with a laugh and an empathetic word. When she had contacted me to say she had been ill, she was full of optimism at having apparently been given the all-clear, and had plenty of confidence in a future where everything was slowly going back to normal after what had obviously been a horrendous few months for her. I had been vaguely planning to invite her to Sweden next year to deliver a guest course for our LLM students on her research about gaming and IHL. I am just devastated that it will never happen now, and that we have all lost such a very kind friend. The chapter I had the honour of co-writing with her in the Festschrift now stands as a monument to Emma, her scholarship and capacity for friendship, as much as to Rob. Indeed, the same could be said for the whole book which she shepherded so well to publication. May she rest in peace, and may her memory be a blessing.