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  1. Public international law – Leading Sets
  2. Public international law – Leading Silks
  3. Public international law – New Silks
  4. Public international law – Leading Juniors

Public international law – New Silks

Considered by many to be the ‘pre-eminent’ set for public international law, Blackstone Chambers’ commitment to the area was reinforced by the arrival of the ‘great’ Timothy Otty QC from Doughty Street Chambers in 2010. Another of the set’s leading silks is Maurice Mendelson QC, and Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC’s expertise in the area was reflected when he was knighted for services to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. Among the juniors, Guy Goodwin-Gill has an excellent reputation, and the ‘extremely bright’ Shaheed Fatima is also praised as leaving ‘no stone unturned’ and as ‘a tenacious advocate and clear-thinking tactician’.

Essex Court Chambers ‘remains a leader in the field on all counts’, is a ‘standout set for PIL’, and is commended for its ‘exceptionally efficient clerking’. The set has an impressive roster of QCs, including Sir Frank Berman KCMG QC, the ‘excellent’ Vaughan Lowe QC and Malcolm Shaw QC, ‘one of the true experts on public international law’, who ‘in addition to being brilliant, is organised, industrious, considerate, reliable and spirited’. For investment treaty arbitrations, the ‘exceptionally bright’ Toby Landau QC is praised. Tim Eicke QC, who recently took silk, is considered an ‘outstanding practitioner in this field. His knowledge of the law is excellent, so too is his ability to use it in a practical setting’. Among the juniors, Alan Boyle is particularly well regarded for environmental-related matters; he ‘inspires confidence and can meet any challenge put with a robust and persuasive line of argument’. Sam Wordsworth is ‘excellent’, and Dan Sarooshi is a ‘first-rate international lawyer who is building up a very good practice’, particularly in WTO and international economic law.

Matrix Chambers ‘clearly has a very strong presence in public international law’ and houses some ‘excellent’ practitioners. James Crawford SC is a ‘well-known leader in the field of public international law’, who ‘has had a profound influence on the development of international law in the context of applying the US Alien Tort Statute to allegations of international crimes’. The ‘excellent’ Philippe Sands QC is also extremely well regarded, and Alex Bailin QC is ‘easy to work with’, delivers ‘high quality work on time-sensitive issues’ and is well known for international criminal matters. Zachary Douglas is ‘the leading lawyer of his generation in foreign investment law’, and Alison Macdonald is also highly recommended.

20 Essex Street is praised for its ‘helpful and efficient clerks’, who are good at ‘facilitating effective communications’ with the set’s highly rated PIL experts. ‘The very thorough, perceptive and supportive’ Sudhanshu Swaroop is praised for his ‘excellent written submissions’ and as being ‘responsive and efficient’ and ‘demonstrating a clear understanding of bilateral investment treaties’. The ‘very able, academically inclined’ Guglielmo Verdirame has ‘a deep knowledge of public international law’.

Other recommendations include the ‘extremely persuasive and effective’ Khawar Qureshi QC at Serle Court, and ‘the clear, eloquent and focused’ Rodney Dixon of Temple Garden Chambers, who ‘is one of the best counsel who appears before the ICC’. Richard Hermer QC at Doughty Street Chambers is ‘a great strategist’ and ‘a pleasure to work with’.

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