After eleven years serving the United Nations as its Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares has left his post, the Organization and New York.聽 The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Stephen Mathias Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, effective 16 September 2024.聽 Mr. Mathias will remain Assistant-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs while he is leading the Office of Legal Affairs.