Matrix Chambers has a ‘very well-regarded extradition team’, and members of the chambers have been instructed in prominent and complex extradition proceedings complicated by human rights concerns. With ’incomparable depth of knowledge of extradition law’ Mark Summers KC led for the CPS in a Supreme Court appeal United States v El-Khouri, a case concerning the dual criminality test. Alex Bailin KC has particular strength in defendant-side proceedings in cases concerning charges of fraud or financial crime, with recent work including leading in the case of a man who faced drug trafficking charges in the US. James Stansfeld ‘possesses comprehensive knowledge of the relevant statutory frameworks’ and recently acted in an appeal in the Divisional Court for the requested person in a case concerning Indian charges of fraud and money laundering.
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Mentions
Profile
Position
James has a broad practice encompassing extradition, crime, public and administrative law, human rights, immigration, actions against the police, and international criminal and public law. He is recognised as a leading junior in both extradition and public law. James acts for individuals, Governments, claimants and respondents. He brings that extensive and varied experience to bear on each case in which he is instructed. He is noted for his formidable advocacy and his ability to quickly grasp and develop technical points of law.
Career
James specialises in extradition, human rights and public law. In extradition he is regularly instructed to act for both requested persons and Governments in complex cases, having appeared in courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. James has significant expertise in Part 2 requests, having appeared for the Turkish, Albanian and Norwegian Governments and represented individuals sought by countries including the Russian Federation, Falkland Islands, United States, Turkey and the Ukraine. James also has particular expertise in arguments regarding the validity of requests and he has acted in the majority of the lead cases on prison conditions in Part 1 territories, including Portugal, Lithuania, Romania, Hungary and Greece.
In public law, James is frequently instructed to act in leading public law cases with national security and/or criminal features. He has appeared for the Government as junior before the Supreme Court, High Court and SIAC. James has acted in TPIM (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011) proceedings and was instructed as junior in the first ever Temporary Exclusion Order (under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015) imposed on a returnee from ISIL-controlled territory. He acts in judicial reviews against immigration decisions, damage claims and inquests.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Chambers support their members and are an equal partner in the case team. Always prompt with support and requests.'
- 'Matrix have a small but very well regarded extradition team.'