Gretta Schumacher > Essex Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Gretta Schumacher

Position

Gretta is developing a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice in line with Chambers’ profile. Throughout her pupillage, she has worked and gained experience in a range of practice areas, including public international law, arbitration, civil fraud, banking, insurance, conflict of laws and shipping.

Gretta has specific expertise in public international law, public and administrative law, and international and domestic human rights litigation. Prior to joining Essex Court, Gretta was Senior Legal and Policy Officer for the UK-based NGO Rights and Security International (formerly Rights Watch UK), where her work focused on the international law and human rights implication of the UK’s national security, military and counter-terrorism policies. In the course of that role, she conceptualized and led on interventions on behalf of the NGO in the European Court of Human Rights, including appearing before the Grand Chamber in Hanan v Germany. Domestically, Gretta assisted and lead the NGO in domestic administrative law and judicial review proceedings, at both the High Court and Supreme Court levels. She was a lead researcher on a significant report published by the NGO as to the repatriation of European nationals detained abroad, who are associated with foreign terrorist groups. She was also involved in extensive advisory work, parliamentary and legal briefings, both domestic and international, representing the NGO at the EU and at OSCE events. Her interest in these areas of law is enduring.