After eleven years serving the 51³Ô¹Ï as its Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares has left his post, the Organization and New York. The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Stephen Mathias Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and 51³Ô¹Ï Legal Counsel, effective 16 September 2024. Mr. Mathias will remain Assistant-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs while he is leading the Office of Legal Affairs.