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.
Public international law in
London Bar
3 Verulam Buildings
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.’
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
3 Verulam Buildings
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.’
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.’