‘A set full of heavyweights in this field’, Doughty Street Chambers remain at the forefront of the largest and most complex international human rights and criminal cases, and members of the set regularly appear in front of an array of European and international courts and tribunals. The set’s international human rights specialists include Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who continues to act for the BBC World Service in appeals to the UN concerning harassment of journalists by the Iranian government; Amal Clooney, who is representing over eight hundred clients in Murad v Lafarge, a case in the US courts brought by Yazidis alleging that the cement company paid off and supplied concrete to Islamic State. Kirsty Brimelow KC, an ‘excellent ambassador for the profession’, recently included acting as an independent observer to the trial in Colombia of Santiago Uribe Vélez - brother of former president Alvaro Uribe - who was acquitted on charges concerning his alleged membership of a paramilitary group. Aarif Abraham advised the Lithuanian government on a state referral to the ICC concerning actions Belarusian military and political leaders.
International human rights and criminal law in
London Bar
Doughty Street Chambers
Les références
‘The clerks are exceptional. Incredibly responsive and forthcoming.’
‘Doughty Street Chambers are the go-to set for human rights cases. they have a huge range of barristers who are top of their respective fields. The clerks are extremely responsive and provide a first-rate service.’
‘Chambers are excellent with a strong clerking team.’
Principaux dossiers
9BR
A ‘leading international criminal law set’, 9BR Chambers has a wealth of experience in international criminal courts and tribunals and can count major global political bodies as leading clients. ‘Respected by governments worldwide’, Steven Kay KC and Gillian Higgins continue to represent the Government of South Sudan in war crimes proceedings before the ICC and in international peace negotiations in Libya, which concern historic human rights abuses under the Gaddafi regime and the recovery of seized state assets under sanctions. Joshua Kern continues to act for the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists concerning arrest warrants issued for leading individuals in the Israeli government, and the Joe Holmes represented Alfred Yekatom in the ICC against charges of crimes against humanity concerning events in the Central African Republic Civil War.
Les références
‘Set is businesslike , efficient and sensibly priced.’
‘Chambers has a strong international law profile.’
‘9BR is a set at the forefront of international criminal law and extradition.’
Principaux dossiers
Matrix Chambers
With an established tradition of human rights expertise, Matrix Chambers ‘combines intellectual heft and sector-based knowledge with approachable and communicative barristers’ to represent vulnerable clients in prominent international criminal and human rights proceedings. Praised for her ‘utterly brilliant written work and advocacy’, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC represents South Africa in its International Court of Justice case against Israel, which it accuses of genocide regarding the war in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7th attack in 2023; Michelle Butler continues to represent the families of Israeli victims of physical and sexual violence as part of October 7th. Edward Craven KC took silk in 2025 and has ongoing involvement for the claimant in Abu Zubaydah v Home Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office, which concerns allegations of international human rights abuses against UK and US authorities. Joanna Buckley was recently instructed to act before the UN’s Committee against Torture on behalf of Yazidi victims of slavery and torture, a case which raised complex cross-border conflict questions regarding non-state actors.
Les références
‘Clerks are good, especially Paul Venables.’
‘Paul Venables must be highlighted for particular praise and credit. He knows the market in public international law better than any other clerk, and is highly effective at protecting the interests of the barristers with whom he works.’
‘Good depth in senior and junior areas in this area of law.’
Principaux dossiers
Temple Garden Chambers
‘One of the chambers at the forefront of this area’, members of Temple Garden Chambers represent clients ranging from states to victims of human rights abuses across a range of international courts. ‘A first-rate technical lawyer’, Rodney Dixon KC continues to act for the self-styled East Turkestan Government in Exile concerning allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity, with a number of appearances before the United Nations, and Kathryn Howarth appeared in a judicial review concerning the obligations of the UK Government relating to arms exports and breaches of international human rights law in the conflict in Palestine. At the junior level, prominent members of the set include the ‘extremely thorough’ Aidan Ellis, who recently defended former acting president of Kosovo Jakup Krasniqi in Kosovo Specialist Chambers proceedings concerning allegations of wartime misconduct.
Les références
‘It is one of the chambers at the forefront of this area.’
‘This is a well known set for outstanding domestic and international criminal and humanitarian law practitioners. Recognised world wide.’
‘Temple Garden chambers have a wide variety of barristers, working in different practice areas. A number of the market leaders in the in the field of International Criminal Law are based at Temple Garden.’
Principaux dossiers
Doughty Street Chambers
Les références
‘The clerks are exceptional. Incredibly responsive and forthcoming.’
‘Doughty Street Chambers are the go-to set for human rights cases. they have a huge range of barristers who are top of their respective fields. The clerks are extremely responsive and provide a first-rate service.’
‘Chambers are excellent with a strong clerking team.’
Principaux dossiers
9BR
A ‘leading international criminal law set’, 9BR Chambers has a wealth of experience in international criminal courts and tribunals and can count major global political bodies as leading clients. ‘Respected by governments worldwide’, Steven Kay KC and Gillian Higgins continue to represent the Government of South Sudan in war crimes proceedings before the ICC and in international peace negotiations in Libya, which concern historic human rights abuses under the Gaddafi regime and the recovery of seized state assets under sanctions. Joshua Kern continues to act for the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists concerning arrest warrants issued for leading individuals in the Israeli government, and the Joe Holmes represented Alfred Yekatom in the ICC against charges of crimes against humanity concerning events in the Central African Republic Civil War.
Les références
‘Set is businesslike , efficient and sensibly priced.’
‘Chambers has a strong international law profile.’
‘9BR is a set at the forefront of international criminal law and extradition.’
Principaux dossiers
Matrix Chambers
With an established tradition of human rights expertise, Matrix Chambers ‘combines intellectual heft and sector-based knowledge with approachable and communicative barristers’ to represent vulnerable clients in prominent international criminal and human rights proceedings. Praised for her ‘utterly brilliant written work and advocacy’, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC represents South Africa in its International Court of Justice case against Israel, which it accuses of genocide regarding the war in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7th attack in 2023; Michelle Butler continues to represent the families of Israeli victims of physical and sexual violence as part of October 7th. Edward Craven KC took silk in 2025 and has ongoing involvement for the claimant in Abu Zubaydah v Home Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office, which concerns allegations of international human rights abuses against UK and US authorities. Joanna Buckley was recently instructed to act before the UN’s Committee against Torture on behalf of Yazidi victims of slavery and torture, a case which raised complex cross-border conflict questions regarding non-state actors.
Les références
‘Clerks are good, especially Paul Venables.’
‘Paul Venables must be highlighted for particular praise and credit. He knows the market in public international law better than any other clerk, and is highly effective at protecting the interests of the barristers with whom he works.’
‘Good depth in senior and junior areas in this area of law.’
Principaux dossiers
Temple Garden Chambers
‘One of the chambers at the forefront of this area’, members of Temple Garden Chambers represent clients ranging from states to victims of human rights abuses across a range of international courts. ‘A first-rate technical lawyer’, Rodney Dixon KC continues to act for the self-styled East Turkestan Government in Exile concerning allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity, with a number of appearances before the United Nations, and Kathryn Howarth appeared in a judicial review concerning the obligations of the UK Government relating to arms exports and breaches of international human rights law in the conflict in Palestine. At the junior level, prominent members of the set include the ‘extremely thorough’ Aidan Ellis, who recently defended former acting president of Kosovo Jakup Krasniqi in Kosovo Specialist Chambers proceedings concerning allegations of wartime misconduct.
Les références
‘It is one of the chambers at the forefront of this area.’
‘This is a well known set for outstanding domestic and international criminal and humanitarian law practitioners. Recognised world wide.’
‘Temple Garden chambers have a wide variety of barristers, working in different practice areas. A number of the market leaders in the in the field of International Criminal Law are based at Temple Garden.’