Rachel Barnes KC > Chambers of James Lewis KC & Hugo Keith KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Three Raymond Buildings Offices
Three Raymond Buildings
3 RAYMOND BUILDINGS, GRAY'S INN
LONDON
WC1R 5BH
England
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Rachel Barnes KC
Position
A dual-qualified US attorney and English barrister, Rachel has a niche fraud, corruption and sanctions practice at the juncture of civil and criminal litigation, in both domestic and international cases. Appointed to various government panels of counsel (see below), Rachel is also known for her strategic approach in dealing with regulators and other third parties. Clients value her US background and knowledge of US sanctions, as well as her wider practice in cross-border criminal and asset restraint investigations, extradition and MLA, public law and commercial cases. She is well versed in issues of jurisdiction and state immunities and human rights. Rachel advises and represents corporations, governments, individuals and NGOs. She prosecutes and defends in all criminal courts and acts in judicial review and civil cases, appearing in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Rachel is a co-editor of The Guide to Sanctions (GIR 2020, 2021) and has taught law at the London School of Economics and Cambridge University. She holds a PhD (Cantab) in public international law and an LL.M (Harv. Law School).
Career
Call 2004; Silk 2022
Attorney General’s Public International Law Counsel to the Crown (B Panel); SFO Prosecution Counsel and PoCA Counsel (A Panels); CPS specialist panels of POCA and Extradition Counsel (Grade 4)
Judicial Appointments Commission Advisory Group
Inquiry for the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict, legal panel
Memberships
The Fair Trials International Legal Experts Advisory Panel.
Education
Cambridge University (MA Hons Law); Harvard (LLM); Cambridge University (PhD International Criminal Law: ‘The UN Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Programme: Addressing Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues’).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Rachel Barnes KC –Three Raymond Buildings ‘She provides very high-level written work and advice on strategy and is extremely hard working and accessible. She has encyclopaedic knowledge of this area, delivers focused cross-examination and has good negotiating skills.’
London Bar > International crime and extradition
(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1 (2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Rachel Barnes KC –Three Raymond Buildings ‘Rachel may be a junior silk, but underestimate her at your peril. Behind the effortless front lie hours of diligent legwork, meaning that she knows the case better than those around her.’
(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Rachel Barnes KC –Three Raymond Buildings ‘Rachel may be a junior silk, but underestimate her at your peril. Behind the effortless front lie hours of diligent legwork, meaning that she knows the case better than those around her.’
Remaining a pre-eminent set in the extradition space, Three Raymond Buildings regularly advises and represents requesting judicial authorities, foreign governments, and requested individuals. Helen Malcolm KC is acting for the CPS on behalf of the government of Azerbaijan in high-profile extradition proceedings concerning Zamira Hajiyeva, wife of the former chairman of the International Bank of Azerbaijan and subject of the UK’s first Unexplained Wealth Order. Rachel Barnes KC was instructed by the Kuwaiti government in Kuwait v Badie, a case concerning the first proposed extradition under UK-Kuwait treaty, raising questions about human rights standards in that jurisdiction, while Rachel Scott was led by James Lewis KC as junior counsel for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the Privy Council appeal of former FIFA president Jack Warner against the order for his extradition to the USA on corruption charges.
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Rachel Barnes KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘ An amazing ability to digest and analyse complex facts into a clear narrative summary. Rachel is an expert in issues of admissibility of evidence; she keeps her eye on how best to present a large quantity of technical financial evidence to the court. ’
(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Rachel Barnes KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Rachel knows her area inside out and can draw on a wide experience of dealing with the NCA and other agencies, which is of great comfort to clients. She is a strong technical lawyer. She works very hard and is a pleasure to work with, in what can be extremely challenging circumstances.‘
London Bar > Fraud: crime
(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Rachel Barnes KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Rachel is fiercely intelligent and has a forensic eye for detail. Her advocacy is always impressive and she inspires confidence in clients and solicitors alike.’