Back to United Kingdom - The Bar

Leading Silks

Zachary Douglas KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is the finest public international law lawyer. His analysis of BITs and his incisive discussion of evidentiary issues place him above all others.'
Sir Daniel Bethlehem KCMG KCTwenty Essex ‘Daniel is the Erling Haaland of his field - ahead of the pack and with a dazzling array of skills. He is quite simply at the top of his game and having him on your team confers an immediate advantage - Grand Master level.’
Maurice Mendelson KCBlackstone Chambers ‘He has very strong advocacy skills, his in-depth understanding and approach to matters is commendable.'
Timothy Otty KCBlackstone Chambers ‘Tim is undoubtedly one of the leading barristers for complex public international cases. He is the complete package - super bright, with a calm, measured style of advocacy, uncommonly client friendly, and a superlative team player.’
Toby Landau KCChambers of Toby Landau KC ‘Toby is a delight to work with. Clever, client-friendly and a super-smooth advocate.’
Rodney Dixon KCTemple Garden ChambersRodney is a standout public international law silk, with a practice that has a truly global reach. He is demand around the world, in some of the most complicated cases, and this is very much a reflection of his ability.’
Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCBlackstone Chambers ‘Sir Jeffrey is the elder statesman of PIL. His judgement is impeccable, he has fantastic charm, his name on a pleading adds incalculable weight and gravitas.’
Ben Juratowitch KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Ben is a super silk in the making. He combines dedicated PIL expertise, with outstanding advocacy as well as excellent touch with clients.’
Sir Michael Wood KCMG KC (Hon)Twenty Essex ‘Michael has a deeper knowledge of more fields of public international law than practically anyone at the English Bar. He is also tactically very astute, and knows how international courts and tribunals think and work pretty much more than anyone. He is a first-rate advocate and, despite his seniority, a great team player.’
Lord Verdirame KCTwenty Essex ‘Guglielmo is one of the leading public international lawyers in the country with vast knowledge in the field which he combines with a forensic approach to cases that is both rare and highly valuable. Hugely respected by judges – he does a first class job.’
Sam Wordsworth KCEssex Court Chambers 'A recognised leader in public international law.'
Shaheed Fatima KCBlackstone Chambers ‘Shaheed is truly exceptional. She is commercially astute, deeply in touch with developing legal trends, and extremely user-friendly.’
Sudhanshu Swaroop KCTwenty Essex ‘On his feet, Sudhanshu is calm, clear and commands great respect. He also listens and works collaboratively.'

2022 Silks

Lucas Bastin KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Lucas has developed an important practice in investment treaty arbitration, in which he has long practiced and has built up all the right skills and tools. He knows all the cases (he also teaches) and is an excellent advocate. His mastery of quantum issues is another plus that makes him stand out.’

2023 Silks

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KCMatrix Chambers ‘The depth of her knowledge on tactics, procedure and the substantive issues of the case, both legal and factual is frankly staggering. She has a brilliant mind but it is not just that, she works extremely hard for her clients and brings real commitment to the case. She is also very good in court.’

Leading Juniors

Sean AugheyEssex Court Chambers 'A junior with a clear analytical eye.'
Amal ClooneyDoughty Street Chambers  ‘Amal has long been performing at the level of Silk. Her command of granular legal detail and facts is combined with an astute strategic mind and compelling advocacy style. She is the master of having a complete strategy for her clients and advancing the law one case at a time, always with the bigger picture in mind.’
Penelope NevillTwenty Essex ‘She is undoubtedly one of the talents in the field. She is knowledgeable, diligent, and fluent, both orally and in writing, with an unusually astute facility for grasping the essential policy context of international issues.’
Kate ParlettTwenty Essex ‘She is fantastic, excellent strategic and pragmatic mind. She has is a legal heavyweight, with the ability to deliver on a human and sensitive level that clients can understand and brilliant drafting skills.’
Amy SanderEssex Court Chambers 'Amy's knowledge is first-rate and she is fast in mastering details of complex cases.'
Philippa WebbTwenty Essex 'Philippa is a superb barrister, with excellent analytical skills and unsurpassed knowledge in certain areas (most obviously sovereign immunity). She is a pleasure to work with and is a safe pair of hands who consistently displays excellent judgement and produces the highest quality work.’ 
Can Yeginsu – 3 Verulam Buildings 'Can is currently the PIL superstar junior at the London Bar. His academic credentials are superb, a first-rate advocate combining the gravitas of the university professor with the crisp presentation of a London Silk - there is no area he does not have an encyclopaedic knowledge of - whether on issues of state immunity, consular law, investment treaties, or international human rights.’
Michelle ButlerMatrix ChambersMichelle 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 CravenMatrix Chambers ‘Brilliant - Edward is a fabulous junior and his knowledge of public international law is unparalleled. He brings buckets of enthusiasm, wit and intelligence to every case he does.’
Edward HoBrick Court Chambers ‘Edward is simply sublime. The brightest of his generation.’
Paul LuckhurstBlackstone Chambers ‘Paul is a very high quality junior, surely destined for silk. He has laser-sharp intelligence.’
Robert McCorquodaleBrick Court Chambers 'An articulate and diligent junior.'
Belinda McRaeTwenty Essex ‘A fantastic can-do attitude, always ready to roll her sleeves up. Belinda has a formidable intellect which she combines with excellent litigation skills and instincts – a real star.’ 
Cameron Miles3 Verulam Buildings ‘Amazing work ethic, complete grasp of the facts with almost perfect recall, extensive knowledge of public international law, boundless enthusiasm.’
Jason PobjoyBlackstone Chambers 'Jason is exceptionally clever, works extremely well under pressure and is capable of managing large teams in difficult circumstances. He has excellent people skills as well as impressive legal expertise and can cut through complexity to provide clear and concise advice.’ 
Mark Wassouf3 Verulam Buildings ‘Mark has an impressive understanding of public international law as well as clear and persuasive drafting. He is an affable person to work with and his advice, particularly on state immunity issues, is spot on – a charming and clever barrister who will go far.’
Paul WeeEssex Court Chambers 'Paul is exceedingly bright. His attention to detail is outstanding and his analysis is rigorous and forensic. He demonstrates mature judgement.'
Tariq Baloch3 Verulam Buildings ‘Tariq is a thoughtful and persuasive advocate. He is good at thinking outside the box and adopts an innovative approach. He is also collegial and client-focused in his delivery.’ 
Tatyana EatwellDoughty Street Chambers ‘Tatyana is an excellent lawyer who combines a wealth of expertise in international law and human rights with a hard-working attitude and an excellent attention to detail. She is compassionate in an area of law which is often complex and difficult to navigate – fantastic knowledge and technical skills, combined with excellent client care and broader understanding of strategy, an asset to any legal team.’
Monica Feria-TintaTwenty Essex ‘Monica is burning for her clients - she is definitely going the extra mile. She thinks outside the square to achieve the best solutions. She is a persuasive advocate.’ 
Naomi HartEssex Court Chambers ‘Naomi is a star – ferociously bright, very hard-working, a great team player and her analytical skills are exceptional. Her practice in PIL is growing quickly, she is excellent in the investor state dispute field, as well as in pure state-versus-state cases.’ 
Simon OllesonTwenty 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 PatelBlackstone Chambers ‘Naina is an excellent junior who works very hard and engages fully with all issues. She is very impressive in court and completely on top of the case with excellent client skills.’ 
Jennifer Robinson  – Doughty Street Chambers 'Jennifer is a superb barrister: a persuasive and eloquent advocate, intelligent, knowledgeable, able to think through a range of legal strategies and very hard working. She is also a delight to work with in a legal team.’
Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers ‘Best barrister in the market when it comes to international trade, but also a first-rate PIL generalist – in terms of both analytical and strategic thinking, he is one of the best senior juniors in PIL.’
Manuel CasasTwenty Essex ‘Manuel’s international law expertise is first class. He has a deep understanding of the subject matter and is strong on strategy and tactics. He is also very personable and pleasant to deal with.’ 
Rishab Gupta – Twenty Essex ‘Rishab is a very hard working highly intelligent lawyer with clarity of thinking and expression and his attention to detail is first-class. A consummate lawyer and clever tactician who is always prepared to roll his sleeves up and work with the team – phenomenal.’  
Paolo BuscoTwenty Essex ‘Paolo is an extremely bright lawyer, a resourceful advocate, and an excellent scholar. He impresses with the width of his legal knowledge, spanning the whole spectrum of public international law – including, the law of the sea, jurisdictional immunities, human rights, humanitarian law, and general dispute resolution.’
Jonathan Worboys4 New Square ‘Jonathan is highly sought after practitioner for international law matters for good reason: he has a wonderful ability to see to the heart of the matter and to explain the key questions clearly. He is also excellent at bringing the team and the ultimate client together in agreeing upon important strategic points.’ 

Public international law in London Bar

3 Verulam Buildings


With the arrival of Zachary Douglas KC and Can Yeginsu, 3 Verulam Buildings ‘has really moved up from being a strong set for public international law to one of the two or three top sets in London’, with ‘unrivalled bench strength’ and outstanding capabilities in international investment treaty disputes, in which Tariq Baloch is particularly sought after. Yeginsu acts for states, international organisations, including the UN, and non-governmental bodies, advising on investment treaty arbitration, international claims commissions and reparations, and matters of diplomatic and state immunity. He currently acts as lead counsel to international media outlet Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty in its challenge to the Russian Federation’s designation of the organisation as a “foreign agent”. Christopher Harris KC maintains a busy practice with significant instructions as lead counsel in a variety of major international investment disputes as well as in complex enforcement proceedings. Cameron Miles, with particular expertise in investment treaty arbitration and state immunity questions arising in English courts, is advancing into the inter-state arena with high-level instructions in the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the ICJ.

Testimonials

‘Very good. Stuart Pullum and Steve Penson really understand the market – excellent clerks.’

‘Great clerks – especially Samantha Jones and Stuart Pullum.’

‘Stuart Pullum understands the PIL market and the clerking room has brilliant leaders in the team, including Steven Penson and Lucy Burrows.’

‘3VB has risen to the status of a top London set in public international law with some top senior recruitment in this area  and some very strong juniors rising through the ranks (Cameron Miles and Mark Wassouf).’

‘This is no longer a set that views public international law as an extension of its investment arbitration offering. It is a full-service magic circle set for public international law.’

‘3VB has a number of PIL superstars.’

‘They put out top quality legal advocacy, both written and oral.’

Work highlights














Essex Court Chambers


With ‘ the perfect combination of expertise and commercial awareness‘, pre-eminent public international law set Essex Court Chambers fields an outstanding portfolio of commercial and academically accomplished barristers who are highly adept at handling the full spectrum of public international law matters with particular expertise in state-versus-state disputes, land and sea territorial disputes, international trade and investment arbitrations, and state immunity issues. Alison Macdonald KC who was recently asked by the Ukrainian government to join a high-profile working group on the seizure of Russian assets to provide reparations following Russia’s 2022 invasion. Ben Juratowitch KC is representing the Gabonese government in its dispute with Equatorial Guinea in its boundary dispute over three islands. On the junior end, Amy Sander, Naomi Hart and Jackie McArthur stand out, forming parts of counsel teams in state-versus-state disputes. Thomas Sebastian, joined from Monckton Chambers in July 2023, bringing with him expertise on WTO matters.

 

Testimonials

‘Essex Court is an excellent Chambers for public international law.’

‘Probably the strongest London set in public international law.’

‘Really outstanding.’

Work highlights














Twenty Essex


Twenty Essex ‘is excellent on public international law, with a very deep bench of specialists at all levels of seniority’ and has bolstered its offering with Baiju Vasani and Rishab Gupta joining in May and November 2022, respectively, as well as several silk appointments including Sir Michael Wood KCMG KC’s appointment to honorary silk in March 2023. Members of chambers are acting at the forefront of groundbreaking matters at the highest level across the whole range of public international law. Highlights include the UK’s intervention on behalf of Ukraine in its claim against Russia before the ICJ based on allegations of genocide, in which Philippa Webb is instructed on; Kate Parlett is instructed on Australia’s intervention. In UN human rights committee proceedings Torres Strait Islanders v Australia, Monica Feria-Tinta and Sudhanshu Swaroop KC acted on behalf of a group of Torres Strait Islanders, indigenous people resident on an archipelago off the coast of mainland Queensland, who argue that Australia’s policies and laws regarding climate change are in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

 

Testimonials

‘The clerks are professional and efficient.’

‘The clerks are very commercial and user friendly—always looking to help.’

‘This is one of the more active chambers, both in terms of holding events and in keeping regular contact with instructing solicitors. They have a particularly strong clerk team, with Anthony Carroll and Rachael Osborne being particular stand-outs.’

‘Excellent set for public international law.’

‘Quality counsel at all levels of seniority.’

‘Excellent talent at all levels with exceptional experience.’

‘A, if not the, leading international law set.’

Work highlights














Brick Court Chambers


Brick Court Chambers offers a broad international law practice including advisory work, in particular in relation to state and diplomatic immunity, domestic litigation raising issues of public international law, and investment treaty arbitration. Robert McCorquodale acts on behalf of the claimant in R (Bancoult (No 5)) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, a case arising out of the dispute over the ownership of the Chagos Archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, between Mauritius and the UK, and specifically if a decision by the ICJ as to whether the right to self-determination can be applied as part of common law. Zahra Al-Rikabi continues to act on behalf of Qatari government-backed broadcaster Al-Jazeera in its ongoing claim against Egypt pertaining to the alleged destruction of its media business in that jurisdiction, raising novel points about human rights issues in the context of investment treaty arbitration.

Testimonials

Superb chambers.’

Excellent set.’

Work highlights














Blackstone Chambers


Blackstone Chambers ‘has an extraordinary depth of experience and talent, from its silks to its juniors to its clerks.’ Sir Jeffrey Jowell KC and Timothy Otty KC lead chambers’ international law group which comprises ‘high calibre advocates’ who regularly appear before the ICJ, international arbitration tribunals and before domestic courts in cases involving issues of public international law with particular experience in international boundary disputes, state and diplomatic immunity intersecting with international protection of human rights. Paul Luckhurst  also acted for the Government in Western Sahara Campaign v Secretary of State for International Trade to defend the lawfulness of the UK’s international trade agreement with Morocco, which was opposed by the claimants, a campaign group campaigning for independence for the territory, which is fully claimed and partially occupied by Morocco. Jason Pobjoy maintains a busy practice advising the Foreign Office on state and diplomatic immunity, foreign act of state, and potential seizure of foreign assets.

Testimonials

‘Gary Oliver is the star. He knows the business and the market by heart. He is very positive and commercially always open to new ideas and flexible. He is also great person. It is a pleasure to work and chat with him.’

‘Blackstone Chambers is one of the go-to sets for international law.’

‘Blackstone Chambers is one of the go to sets for sanctions advice.’

‘Blackstone is one of the top sets, with fantastic strength in depth, and some of the most respected silks and juniors in the fields of state immunity and public international law.’

‘Blackstone is a go-to set for ECtHR work.’

‘The clerks are an outstanding asset for Blackstone Chambers.’

‘ Professional and easy to work with.’

Work highlights














Matrix Chambers


Members of Matrix Chambers are active across the whole range of public international law including investment treaty claims, state-versus-state disputes as well as cases before the ICJ and are frequently called upon to advise on international legal issues arising in the UK litigation context. The set was bolstered in March 2023 with Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC taking silk. On the junior end, Toby Fisher joined in September 2022 from an in-house role in the New Zealand government – he was instructed to act on behalf of New Zealand to intervene in the ICJ proceedings brought by Ukraine against Russia under the Genocide Convention. In a high-profile ICJ case concerning the status and location of the land boundary between Venezuela and Guyana, Edward Craven represented Guyana in its high-profile ICJ dispute with the government of Venezuela, which claims more than half of Guyana’s territory by rejecting an 1899 arbitral award. Michelle Butler, led by Antony White KC, is instructed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to contest jurisdiction in the claim of Ghanem Al-Masarir, represented by Richard Hermer KC, on the basis of sovereign immunity – the Saudi dissident claims damages in the London courts for the alleged hacking of his mobile phone using Pegasus spyware.

Testimonials

‘Matrix Chambers retains a strong profile in international law – high degree of expertise in that area.’

 

 

Work highlights