Public International Law

Leading Silks

Zachary Douglas KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘First-rate expertise in public international law, including international investment law. Despite his relatively young age, he has become an authority in the field.’

Sir Daniel Bethlehem KCMG KC –Twenty Essex ‘Nobody combines heavyweight legal skill with political and diplomatic insight like Daniel. He is an extraordinary lawyer and blessed with remarkable gifts of advocacy, intellect and charm.’

Vaughan Lowe KC –Essex Court Chambers

Maurice Mendelson KC –Blackstone Chambers

Timothy Otty KC –Blackstone Chambers ‘One of the strongest public international barristers in the country, and one of the few who can traverse different areas of the field with equal facility, experience and ease.’

Toby Landau KC – Chambers of Toby Landau KC ‘Toby is among the most able barristers of his generation and remains rightly very in demand and very effective.’

Rodney Dixon KC –Temple Garden Chambers ‘Rodney is praised for his technical knowledge.’

Christopher Harris KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Diligent, highly intelligent and thoroughly charming. Amongst the very best currently operating from the English and Welsh Bar.’

Sir Jeffrey Jowell KC –Blackstone Chambers ‘Sir Jeffrey is a highly respected and senior barrister. He undertakes his work with consummate professionalism.’

Ben Juratowitch KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Ben is fast becoming a go-to silk for both commercial arbitration and public international law; he combines razor-sharp advocacy, with uncommon collegiality and client handling.’

Sir Michael Wood KCMG KC (Hon) –Twenty Essex

Alison Macdonald KC –Essex Court Chambers 'Alison is an outstanding international law advocate. She has a strategic approach and an expert understanding of international human rights law, international criminal law and public international law - a real pleasure to work with.'

Wendy Miles KC –Twenty Essex

Philippe Sands KC – 11KBW

Malcolm Shaw KC –Essex Court Chambers 'Very considered and knowledgeable. One of the leading minds in his field. Very user friendly. Excellent and concise written opinions.'

Lord Verdirame KC –Twenty Essex ‘A natural leader at the Bar for public international law - Guglielmo is rigorous, analytical and impressive, an effective cross-examiner and knows just how to calibrate submissions for the tribunal and context.’

Sam Wordsworth KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘Absolutely rigorous in his application of the salient authorities to the most cogent points and comes across as eminently reasonable while taking on and marginalising the other sides’ arguments.’

Mohinderpal Sethi KC – Littleton Chambers

Henry Forbes Smith KC – One Essex Court

Alex Bailin KC –Matrix Chambers

Lucas Bastin KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘Lucas is a fantastic and very persuasive advocate. His knowledge of public international law and state immunity is excellent, and he is able to combine his pure public international law knowledge with his practice at the commercial Bar to the advantage of his clients.’

Graham Dunning KC –Essex Court Chambers 'Smart but commercially savvy.'

Shaheed Fatima KC –Blackstone Chambers

Paul Key KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘Paul's is the first number to call for a Public International law issue. He’s a world authority - and a delight to work with.’

Maya Lester KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Maya's commitment to issues is impressive. She is obviously a master of her subject areas, but she will also think around the case or issue at hand – whether legal or practical issues – to work through all possible options. Her advocacy is always well thought through and compelling.’

Dan Sarooshi KC –Essex Court Chambers 'Highly experienced before the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals, with the academic credentials and knowledge to inform strong litigation skills and persuasive ability.'

Sudhanshu Swaroop KC –Twenty Essex ‘Sudhanshu knows his subject matter and brings to every case he works outstanding attention to detail and precise and concise legal drafting. On his feet he is clear and elegant. Impressive in all respects.’

2023 Silks

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC –Matrix Chambers ‘Blinne is a very impressive, intelligent, talented and fearless barrister. She learns the details of the issues very quickly and shows very impressive knowledge of the law. Her advice is clear, detailed and provides a clear outline of the potential courses of action and the benefits and risks.’

Leading Juniors

Sean Aughey –Essex Court Chambers

Amal Clooney –Doughty Street Chambers

Penelope Nevill –Twenty Essex ‘Penelope is an outstanding junior - very good drafting skills and great at getting on top of a volume of materials in a short space of time.’

Kate Parlett –Twenty Essex ‘Few junior barristers can match her knowledge of public international law. She also has a great litigation judgement and is very effective advocate, popular with clients and held in high esteem by judges and arbitrators.’

Amy Sander –Essex Court Chambers ‘She is very thorough and reliable, and excellent at drafting while paying attention to details.’

Philippa Webb –Twenty Essex ‘Philippa is an absolute star - the go-to person for sovereign immunity issues. A leader in the field. She is an excellent communicator and advocate, solutions-oriented, user-friendly, and an absolute joy to work with.'

Can Yeginsu – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Can is a star in the field. He is equally at home advising on complicated points of state practice or pragmatic guidance in investment arbitration. Can never gets ruffled in his advocacy, handling submissions and cross-examination with aplomb.’

Paolo Busco – Twenty Essex ‘Paolo is a great team player. Thorough, creative, and easy to work with. He keeps the client’s objectives in laser focus.’

Michelle Butler –Matrix Chambers ‘Michelle is one of the very few to have done a witness examination before the ICJ, and she does it extremely brilliantly. She is outstanding.’

Edward Craven –Matrix Chambers ‘Eddie digs deep into factual issues and his writing is very clear.’

Matthieu Gregoire – Essex Court Chambers ‘A strategic thinker, very commercial, a great advocate who is very calm and articulate and has the ear of the tribunal while remaining very user-friendly. Definitely one of the best of his generation.’

Naomi Hart – Essex Court Chambers ‘Naomi is highly reliable, diligent, and competent. She has outstanding drafting skills and pays close attention to details. An invaluable member of the legal team.’

Edward Ho – Brick Court Chambers ‘Ed is excellent at cross examination and at distilling complex and highly technical issues into easily digestible points for the tribunal.’

Paul Luckhurst –Blackstone Chambers ‘Fiercely bright, very thorough and an impressive attention to detail.’

Robert McCorquodale –Brick Court Chambers ‘Robert is an exceptional intellect and international lawyer. His academic knowledge and experience in public international law is unparalleled. He has an excellent manner with client and is brilliant in court. He is a joy to work with.’

Belinda McRae –Twenty Essex ‘Belinda is one of the best juniors at the Bar. A great intellect and adopting a helpful collegial approach to all aspects of a case.’

Cameron Miles –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Incisive advocate with outstanding written skills and compelling oral advocacy. He is getting noticed by governments around the world for his creative thinking, legal knowledge and ability to deliver results.’

Jason Pobjoy –Blackstone Chambers ‘Jason is a first-rate advocate: highly persuasive and always engaging.’

Christopher Staker –39 Essex Chambers ‘Chris is an immensely talented advocate. He is highly skilled and has a first-class legal mind. In voluminous and complex cases he shows a masterful grasp of the law and facts. His pleadings are of a very high standard and arguments are presented fluently, carefully and persuasively and reflect his exemplary preparation.’

Mark Wassouf –3 Verulam Buildings ‘An advocate operating way above his call year - a true masterclass in the perfect cross-examination technique.’

Paul Wee – Essex Court Chambers

Lucian Ilie – Outer Temple Chambers

Ali Al-Karim – Brick Court Chambers ‘Ali is an excellent attorney, creative in his thinking, strategic in his decisions and writing, and an eloquent writer. He has in-depth knowledge about virtually all aspects of public international law and is committed to pushing the boundaries towards expanding it to include more areas of human rights.’

Zahra Al-Rikabi – Brick Court Chambers 'Zahra establishes solid relationships, and is seeking to expand in this area.'

Tariq Baloch - Essex Court Chambers

Alan Boyle –Essex Court Chambers

Monica Feria-Tinta –Twenty Essex 'She is a diligent, talented lawyer, with excellent oratory skills.'

Emilie Gonin – Brick Court Chambers 'She is a very effective cross-examiner combining law and fact.'

Courtney Grafton – Twenty Essex ‘Courtney is a star. She is one of the next generation of public international law practitioners at the Bar. Her drafting is exceptional, as is her knowledge of public international law. She pairs excellent advice with brilliant instincts and judgement. She is undoubtedly a go-to junior in public international law disputes.’

Jessica Jones – Matrix Chambers

Jackie McArthur – Essex Court Chambers 'First class - exceptional attention to detail, seriously impressive command of her field and first-rate team member.'

Calum Mulderrig – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Calum is very adept at getting across the law. He has a clear legal mind, reads widely and drafts in a natural and convincing way. A very strong junior on any case involving public international law.’

Simon Olleson –Twenty Essex ‘As a junior, Simon is peerless in the field of international law. Encyclopedic, refined and impactful, Simon brings class and quality to everything he does.’

Naina Patel –Blackstone Chambers ‘Naina is very well prepared and an excellent advocate. In conference with clients, she manages to explain difficult legal areas with great clarity and is completely on top of the law and the facts. She is particularly impressive against leading counsel on the other side in court.’

Remi Reichhold – 11KBW ‘Fantastically knowledgeable and committed – he is really dynamic in progressing a case.’

Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers ‘One of the most insightful minds at the Bar in my view. Enormously intelligent but wears it lightly. Diligent, super smart and an all-round class act.’

Tom Stewart Coats – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Tom is a superstar – he is exceptionally bright, creative and his drafting skills are second to none. He is unfazed appearing in court against much senior opponents and silks – his submissions are compelling and clear. He is a superstar.’

Luke Tattersall – Essex Court Chambers

Manuel Casas – Twenty Essex ‘Manuel has an excellent and comprehensive grasp of public international law, combined with superb case management skills. He takes to any task set - research, legal drafting or dealing with witnesses and evidence etc. - with acumen and energy.’

Rishab Gupta – Twenty Essex

Peter Webster – Essex Court Chambers ‘Resourceful, bright, hard-working.’

Jonathan Worboys –4 New Square ‘Jonathan has an encyclopedic knowledge for public international law including facts, figures and precedent. As an advocate Jonathan possesses terrier-like qualities and he champions his clients and their causes with relentless passion both in and out of court. He is a thoroughly modern lawyer and a star in the making.’

Public international law in London Bar

Tier 1 sets

3 Verulam Buildings

Clients praise 3 Verulam Buildings as having ‘transformed from an international investment arbitration set to an international law powerhouse’, where members receive instructions in a range of high-profile cases concerning state immunity, boundary disputes and state obligations, while continuing to excel in high-profile investment treaty disputes. Members of the set frequently appear before the international courts, with examples including Cameron Miles, who has recently acted on behalf of Latvia in the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change before the ICJ. Mark Wassouf continues to practice across a broad range of public international law matters, including state immunity issues and investment treaty work, as does Zachary Douglas KC who is praised for his ‘first-rate expertise in public international law’. Christopher Harris KC acted in ICSID arbitration case Viaduct d.o.o. Portorož, Zevnik and Goljevšček v Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dispute over a hydropower dam project in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Les références

‘Stuart Pullum is excellent, and Rob Croke is easy to deal with and efficient.’

‘The clerks are they are personable, commercially minded and responsive.’

‘They have always been very efficient and polite.’

Principaux dossiers

Essex Court Chambers

Essex Court Chambers is experienced in inter-state disputes, investor state proceedings and advisory opinions concerning public international law, where the set’s barristers have been instructed in numerous cases before the international courts and tribunals, namely the ICJ, ECHR and ITLOS. Among the sets work highlights is the Climate Change advisory proceedings before ITLOS and before the ICJ in which Ben Juratowitch is acting on behalf of the UK and leads Amy Sander before ITLOS regarding questions of state obligations to curb climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Further members of the chambers involved in the ICJ case are Dan Sarooshi KC who represents the UAE and Sam Wordsworth KC who is acting on behalf of the government of Belize, leading Sean Aughey and Naomi Hart. Vaughan Lowe KC is part of a team representing South Africa, and Malcolm Shaw KC is part of a team representing Israel, in the South Africa v Israel ICJ case, in which South Africa alleges that aspects of Israel’s military response to the October 7th 2023 attack on it by Hamas amount to genocide. Tariq Baloch joined from 3 Verulam Buildings in October 2024.

Les références

‘Excellent clerks, particularly Ben Perry.’

‘The clerking team are responsive and helpful. Joe Ferrigno is a class above.’

‘Ben Perry is well-experienced clerking PIL practitioners who understands the particular demands of that field.’

Principaux dossiers

Twenty Essex

Twenty Essex remains reputed across the full spectrum of public international law, including but not limited to expertise in state versus state disputes and investor versus state disputes, as well as sovereign and state immunity cases. The chambers are described as housing ‘some of the best PIL practitioners on the globe’ with multiple members of the set regularly involved in the landmark cases in the area. Daniel Bethlehem KC continues to lead in high-profile international arbitrations and state immunity cases, including the Hedges v Al Naqbi case in the English courts, acting for the government of the UAE on the question of state immunity of behalf of state officials, where he leads Paolo Busco, among others. Bethlehem KC is also leading Philippa Webb in representing Pakistan in an arbitration against India concerning the Indus Waters Treaty's division of water between the two states.

Les références

‘Very good. Anthony Carroll is very user friendly and responsive.’

‘Exceptional clerking team. Highly responsive, understand the task at hand, and provide solutions. Ant Carroll is a star.’

‘The service is generally efficient and professional. The clerks are responsive and knowledgeable, particularly the senior clerks who demonstrate significant expertise in managing case logistics.’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 2 sets

Brick Court Chambers

Described as ‘a strong set for PIL’, Brick Court Chambers' barristers continue to be active across a broad range of public international law litigation and investment treaty disputes, while also offering advisory opinions on high profile matters in this area. Ali Al-Karim represents the Monégasque government in The Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change advisory case before ICJ, relating to states' obligations to reduce the impacts of climate change. Emilie Gonin and Edward Ho contribute expertise in investment treaty disputes - Zahra Al-Rikabi is representing Al Jazeera, the Qatari state-backed broadcaster, in a politically sensitive investor-state claim regarding Egypt's closure of its news operation there, including the arrest and detention of its employees and attempts to jam its broadcasts.

Les références

‘The clerks are professional, pragmatic and very responsive.’

‘Very impressive. The clerks are very easy to work with.’

‘Very good.’

Principaux dossiers

Blackstone Chambers

Members of Blackstone Chambers are highly regarded for expertise in international boundary disputes, cases of state immunity and international protection of human rights, frequently appearing before the highest international courts. Paul Luckhurst and Timothy Otty KC acted in de Borbón y Borbón v Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn on behalf of the former king of Spain, arguing that a claim for harassment brought by his former mistress is blocked by personal immunity under the State Immunity Act 1978.

Les références

‘Billy Brian is fantastic – very can-do, personable and effective.’

‘Danny Compton communicates well and is very professional.’

‘Excellent.’

Principaux dossiers

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers is notable for its work in state versus state disputes before the ICJ, maritime and boundary disputes, investment arbitration and state immunity cases, while also covering public international law issues in a domestic setting. Edward Craven continues to act for Guyana in Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v Venezuela), regarding Venezuela’s claim that the land boundary between the two states as decided in 1899 is void, granting it two thirds of Guyana's territory including valuable oilfields. Toby Fisher and Jessica Jones act on behalf of the Pew Charitable Trust in relation to the legality of the arising environmental impacts of undersea mining of rare earth metals.

Les références

‘The clerks were very responsive and oriented to solve problems and respond promptly to any query or need.’

Classements par PratiqueLondon Bar