Dr Christopher Staker > Chambers of Charlie Cory-Wright KC and Richard Harwood KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
39 Essex Chambers Offices
39 Essex Chambers
81 CHANCERY LANE
LONDON
WC2A 1DD
England
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Dr Christopher Staker
Position
Barrister specialising in public international law, arbitration, administrative and public law, international criminal law, immigration and asylum, EU law and human rights. Regularly appears before courts and tribunals in England and Wales. At international level, has appeared as counsel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), European Court of Human Rights, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Has acted as counsel assisting annulment committees in ICSID international investment treaty arbitrations. Fee paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) since 2009. Treasury C panel 2010; treasury B panel 2013; treasury public international law B panel 2014. Counsel in a number of prominent cases before the High Court of Australia (the highest Australian court) and other Australian courts involving issues of constitutional law, administrative law and public international law.
Career
Qualified 1987, Australian Capital Territory; called to the Bar of England and Wales 2003, Middle Temple. Barrister in London since 2003. Trained as a diplomat, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs 1986. Positions formerly held include Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (2005-08); Principal Legal Secretary (head of legal department), International Court of Justice; Senior Appeals Counsel, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; Counsel Assisting the Solicitor General of Australia; counsel, Office of International Law, Australian Attorney General’s Department. Publications of note: the section on ‘Decisions of British Courts Involving Questions of Public International Law’ in the ‘British Yearbook of International Law’, 1990-95 (volumes 61-66); the section on ‘Australian Cases Involving Questions of Public International Law’ in the ‘Australian Yearbook of International Law’, 1992-95 (volumes 14-15, 17); contributor to Triffterer (editor) The Rome Statute of the ICC; articles in various journals on public international law, constitutional law and EU law.
Languages
Fluent French and German, passive Dutch.
Memberships
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb); London Court of International Arbitration; member of the executive committee Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law 2003-05; European Circuit; Bar European Group; Human Rights Lawyers Association; Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association; Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers.
Education
University of Adelaide (1984 BA; 1986 LLB Hons First Class); Australian National University (1987 professional legal training course); Oxford University (1992 DPhil); Queen Mary University of London (Postgrad Dip International Commercial Arbitration).
Leisure
Private pilot, bridge.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Immigration (including business immigration)
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4Christopher Staker –39 Essex Chambers ‘His advice has always been very on point, clear, well-researched, constructive and helpful. No weaknesses to report.’
London Bar > Administrative law and human rights
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4Christopher Staker – 39 Essex Chambers ‘His advice has always been very on point, clear, well-researched, constructive and helpful.’
London Bar > Public international law
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2London Bar > European Union law
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Christopher Staker – 39 Essex Chambers ‘A very experienced junior with meticulous knowledge of EU law.’
39 Essex Chambers‘ members continue to act across a broad spectrum of complex EU law matters. Timothy Lyons KC is ‘a go-to person on EU law issues, particularly in a tax context‘, and Deok Joo Rhee KC is well known for handling EU law cases involving trade agreement matters and procurement issues. Christopher Staker‘s ‘advice has always been very on point, clear, well-researched, constructive and helpful‘. Newly appointed silk Katherine Apps KC ‘has every detail of a case at her fingertips, and can persuasively and masterfully deploy it with ease‘.