About our guests
Philippe Sands
Philippe Sands is an acclaimed Franco-British writer and an expert in international law. He is Professor of Law and Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London. He has appeared as counsel before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, and the International Criminal Court.
Sands’ literary career began with East West Street (2016), a gripping blend of history, memoir, and legal thriller that traces the origins of international law through his own family history. Winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize and translated into over twenty languages, it was followed by The Ratline (2020), an investigation into high-ranking Nazi Otto Wächter and the secret escape networks of war criminals. His 2022 bestseller, The Last Colony, exposes the British government’s role in the forced exile of the Chagos Islanders. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2018 Prix du Livre Européen, a 2020 Fellowship at the Royal Society of Literature, and a 2023 Honorary Fellowship at the British Academy.
Bruno Patino
Bruno Patino is a journalist, media executive, and author. Since 2020, he has served as President of Arte France’s executive board, a European public service channel dedicated to culture. Formerly Dean of the Sciences Po School of Journalism, he began his career as a journalist for Le Monde in Chile and later held top management roles at Le Monde (1999–2008), Radio France (2008–2010), and France Télévisions (2010–2015).
He holds a PhD in Political Science from the IEP (Institute of Political Studies) in Paris, a degree from ESSEC Business School, and a master's in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of several books, including Pinochet s’en va (2000), and Rire avec le diable (Grasset, 2024).
