Never another like you - Obituary for Professor James E. Byrne
There will never be another like you
Never another like you, never
Dan Turèll
Yesterday I received the shocking news that Professor James E. Byrne (Jim, as he was known to most) died 1 July 2018. Jim had been valiantly battling cancer in recent months.
It is very hard to underestimate Jim’s impact on the international banking community. Jim was – and will always be remembered as – a true Trade Finance legend.Personally, I had the privilege of his friendship and know Jim as a kind and caring person always with a witty and sharp remark. And no doubt the most intelligent person I have ever known. When arguing with him (about a Trade Finance issue of course) one should get up early to follow the pace.
It is very hard to underestimate Jim’s impact of the international banking community. The work that he is leaving behind for the rest of us is massive – almost not-human.
You only need to take his book “UCP600 – an Analytical Commentary” in your hands to understand this. It is a crazy piece of work. 1462 pages – with a very small font. When writing it Jim contacted me, asking me to comment on Chapter 20. When I received the draft document, I almost replied: “Why did you send the whole book” … only to realize that it was “only” Chapter 20 – the size of a “normal book”. I still fail to find a UCP 600 question not addressed in this book. It is in many ways the bible of Documentary Credits, and I do not see anyone else in the world that could have written this book.
Or – you only need to look at his traveling schedule. Each year he travelled the world with the IIBLP Surveys. I attended those many times; and have made two basic observations. 1) That it was (is) always a great experience to participate; always new knowledge – great information and new interesting angles. 2) That I do not really understand that it is possible to travel this much – and keep the energy. I would never be able to do that. Jim just did it.
Or – you only need to look at ISP98; the standby letter of credit rules. The best rules for standbys ever drafted.
However, what really impressed me with Jim, was his reach. He had a traditional old-school legal background: He was involved in the UCC revision of Article 5 in the US as well as a chair of the American Bar Association Letter of Credit Subcommittee for many years. At the same time his knowledge about the Trade Finance instruments (DCs, Guarantees, Collections and Standbys) was beyond comparison; and he was involved in the drafting of numerous ICC rules. However, it surely did not stop there: Jim also had a visionary look into the future. For example, he was co-drafter to the “ICC Guide to the eUCP”. And he surely had the finger on the pulse in respect of the “hot topics” in the Trade Finance world. For example, Sanctions Compliance was recently added to the Surveys, and the IIBLP published the “Trade Based Financial Crime Compliance” – co-written by Jim.
It should be mentioned also that the IIBLP is the publisher of my book “UCP 600 Transport Documents”. It surely is a great honor to be published by the IIBLP and Jim. I am very proud of that.
The opening – and title – of this obituary is my translation of a poem by the Danish poet and writer Dan Turèll. Dan Turèll also died of cancer. That of course, is not the reason for choosing this quote. The reason is simple: There will never be another Jim, never another Jim. There will be other great Trade Finance experts. There will be other Trade Finance legends. There will be written other great Trade Finance books. But, there will never ever be another James E. Byrne. Never.
And I will miss him for the rest of my life.
Thank you, Jim, for everything. Thank you for taking care of the LC. The baton has been passed on. The rest of us must do our best to continue the work.
Kim Sindberg
3 July 2018