International Assistance Missions

1991 -1995                   FRANCE, Law Studies at the Sorbonne University, Paris, France. I graduated (´Licence´), with honors, emphasis on Private International Law.

1991                            GERMANY, Military Service with 6th Armed Recon Battalion, Eutin.

1986 – 1988                  GERMANY, Business Economics Studies at the Bochum Ruhr Universität, Bochum

1985                            GERMANY, ABITUR at KONRAD ADENAUER GYMNASIUM, BONN, (~Junior College) (Average 2. 1 = A-)

John Michael Voss
Resume / C. V.

-Disponible en Français sur demande-
-Auf Wunsch auf Deutsch verfügbar-

Contact Information:
+49 151 55276233
E-mail: [email protected] (With Underscores)

• U.S. & German Citizenship
• SORBONNE Law Degree
• Over 20 years in various Law-related functions overseas
• Confirmed Negotiator with local Office Holders
• Outstanding Record of Capacity Building in Developing Countries
• Conversant in several languages: Native German and English, fluent French, some Arabic including writing
• Expert Contracts Drafting and Translation
• Profound Experience of living and working in Muslim countries
• Extensive Overseas and Expatriation Experience

2018 – 2021 Legal Advisor CTSAMVM South Sudan

This is a Ceasefire Monitoring Organisation, internationally staffed with members from Africa, U.S. and other areas. I work as a Legal Advisor. Examples of my work include:

• Analysing the revitalised Peace Agreement of 2018 and other Peace Treaties which the warring factions concluded at different times, and providing advice to Mission Members.
• Drafting and Review of Contracts, Letters, Notices and more for the Mission.
• Working extensively on National Staff Issues, including Taxation.
• Meeting with counterparts, external advisors, South Sudan office holders.
• Advising the Mission Leadership on contractual and legal issues.
• Research of applicable South Sudanese and International Law.
• Elaborating documents to be presented at CTSAMVM conferences, and organising and attending same.

The term Legal Advisor is to be broadly construed and my functions range from appreciating legal questions not always adequately addressed in the treaties, to working with Civil Society Groups in view of spreading the knowledge about this and other peace instruments, and many other items. Strong emphasis on solving issues of internal administration of CTSAMVM

2016-2018
ACOTA Human Rights & Administrative Subject Matter Specialist, West Africa

A series of short-term assignments in which Human Rights and related matters are taught to soldiers of African nations who will shortly depart to a UN Mission. I made presentations and taught the subject matter to the soldiers, but the main purpose is to identify and bring to standard national military personnel as future trainers. In addition, extensive logistics and administrative tasks within the mission.

2011-Present
Translation and Consultancy, Freelance Service Provider

Freelance activity with legal and technical translation, with a number of good clients of renown. The legal part includes, for example:

• Calls for Tender
• Invitation Letters to Shareholders
• Sentences & Court Procedure
• Loan Agreements
• Insurance Policies

The technical part includes, for example:

• Instruction Manuals
• Letters to Dealer Network
• Technical Marketing Material
• Software & Hardware Descriptions
• PATENTS

Assorted clients such as a well-known luxury car manufacturer in UK and several worldwide operating Law Firms. Other activities include industrial audits and forensic legal work.

2009– 2011
AFGHANISTAN, EUPOL HERAT and KABUL, Legal Advisor

• Worked with Police and Prosecution
• Provided Training on local Law and Human Rights issues
• Advice to the Anti-Corruption Cell
• Support to the Afghan National Police and Anti Corruption unit
• Project Work and Situational Assessments
• Wrote Training Programmes and presentations and had those accredited by the relevant unit in Ministry of Interior (MOI).

2009
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, GOMA.

From January until October 2009, EUPOL Legal Expert Human
Rights and Child Protection in the Great Lakes Region between RDC
and Rwanda.

• Advisor to local Police and Army (FARDC)
• Support of efforts to fight Sexual Violence
• Help to demobilise underage soldiers
• Train Leadership of Police and Army in local Law and Human Rights
• Situational Assessment
• Represented the mission in the group of international agencies present in GOMA
• Built up and maintained the GOMA sub office

2007 – 2008 AFGHANISTAN, EUPOL Kabul.
From October 2007, Legal Advisor to the Head of Mission.

• Negotiation and Drafting of Contracts (Life Support, Office Space Rental, Employment of National Staff)
• Questions of Mandate and Immunity
• Disciplinary Issues
• Legal aspects of the day-to-day running
• Weapons Permits and damages to local population
• Negotiating preferential conditions for hotel accommodation
• Land and Buildings lease and maintenance
• Compatibility of Mission actions with local Law
• Tax questions
• Training of the Mission in legal aspects

2007 UNSOC UN Staff Officer Course by German Military Academy in Hamburg.

2006 IRAQ, Working with the Ministry of Interior for the Department for Foreign and International Development (DFID), UK.

• Capacity Building project with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior
• Legal and organisational aspects
• Analyzing the existing Legal Framework for the Ministry of Interior
• Contributed to the drafting of the new Structure Law
• Assisted the Legal Office MOI
• Some material support
• Legal library

2003 – 2005 BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, EUPM Legal
Advisor (European Union Police Mission) in Brcko, Bosnia, and later
in Sarajevo

• Advised the Chief Co-Locator (Head of Office)
• Analyzed legality of Police measures
• Continued and in-deep knowledge of Local Laws
• Prepared briefings on matters of importance in the Legal field
• In June 2004 promoted to Federation Area Legal Advisor
• In charge of all the Law – related developments in the Cantons (Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina)
• Greatly increased responsibility and supervisory duties
• Managed a separate unit and supervised up to 13 members, international and local.
• Provided legal advice for the whole territory of the Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Federation level, Cantonal level and also Brcko (Special District)

2002 KOSOVO, Election Observation with Council of Europe (Long-Term Observer). MANAGEMENT of Short-Term Observers, LOGISTICS

2001 KOSOVO, Rule of Law Officer in the Rule of Law Department of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) in PRIZREN.

• Training and material supply to emerging new structures of the legal administration system (judges, lawyers and others)
• Reporting on the situation in this area, where Albanians have replaced the more experienced Serb professionals.
• Worked with International and Local police and Judges.

2000 KOSOVO, Elections, Long Term Observation in Pristina Region, Kosovo, for the Council of Europe, in connection with the Municipal Elections.

1999 KOSOVO, Verification Mission (KVM). This was a rather military reporting and observation task in a difficult security surrounding.

1998 BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, International Trainer for OSCE. I trained and managed up to 17 International Observers / Registration Supervisors.

1997 BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, Elections, Registration Supervisor for OSCE, Mission to Bosnia.

1996 CROATIA, Second Tour of Duty as a Reservist with IFOR (“Implementation Force”) in the Balkans. Acquired substantial CROATIAN skills in this and the following deployments.

1995-1996 GERMANY, Worked for Wollenhaupt & Co. a Tea and Spices Importer, based near Hamburg, managed a daughter company DAMMANN & Cie. in Marseille, France

1993-1994 SOMALIA, Army Reserve Exercise in Somalia (UN Forces).

1991 -1995 FRANCE, Law Studies at the Sorbonne University, Paris, France. I graduated (´Licence´), with honours, emphasis on Private International Law.

1991 GERMANY, Military Service with 6th Armed Recon Battalion, Eutin.

1986 – 1988 GERMANY, Business Economics Studies at the Bochum Ruhr Universität, Bochum, terminated with a 2-year-degree (´Vordiplom´).

1985 GERMANY, ABITUR at KONRAD ADENAUER GYMNASIUM, BONN, (~Junior College) (Average 2. 1 = A-) HUMANISTISCHES GYMNASIUM, Kiel, Germany, a rather well-known Public School. Courses included Latin and Greek.

1965 Born in Offenbach / Main, Germany

References upon request

• SORBONNE Law Degree
• Negotiation
• Capacity Building
• Languages
• German
• French
• some Arabic
• Contracts
• Translation
• Middle East Experience
• Africa Experience

Administration Logistics, capacity building, Cooperation with local Officials, Foreign Assistance, High Security Assignments, Justice, Military, Negotiations, police, Prosecutors, Rule of Law, Training

Arabic (intermediate), Croatian, English, French, German, Italian