Back to rankings
England - London Bar
1

Extradition

Mary Westcott

Mary Westcott

More information
Doughty Street Chambers logo

Doughty Street Chambers

‘The go-to set for this area’, Doughty Street Chambers has a track record of success in the most prominent extradition cases, with members integrating experience in domestic and international human rights law to lead on the most challenging and novel proceedings on the side of defendants. Edward Fitzgerald KC remains a leading figure on the extradition Bar, and in 2024 achieved major success acting for Julian Assange in obtaining permission from the High Court to appeal his extradition order, which eventually resulted in a plea deal and Assange’s return to Australia without serving a custodial sentence in the US. A silk ’steeped in experience in extradition law’, Ben Cooper KC achieved success in the Supreme Court in Merticariu vs Romania, a test case on the right to retrial under the Extradition Act 2003, where he led junior counsel Mary Westcott and the ‘incisive, brave and dedicated’ Malcolm Hawkes. Peter Caldwell KC took silk in 2o25, and his recent work includes obtaining bail for a person who faced charges of running a drug trafficking operation in India.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Phone
020 7404 1313
Email
[email protected]
Profile
doughtystreet.co.uk

Profile

Work Department

ExtraditionCriminal Law and AppealsAnti-Trafficking

Position

Mary is an extradition barrister with a first-rate reputation for her specialist knowledge, advocacy and drafting. She works almost exclusively in extradition, predominantly defending with an excellent track record. She often acts in grave and complex matters, and lectures on extradition and related issues. Her background is in general crime and civil work, providing her with broad experience.

Mary also acts in public law proceedings, such as applications for judicial review, habeas corpus applications and statutory appeal proceedings. She advises individuals, requesting judicial authorities and Governments at each stage of the extradition process, including mutual legal assistance matters (such as Interpol Red Notice challenges and removal).

In 2010 Mary was invited to act as the legal assistant to the DPP's principal legal advisor. This included assisting and advising on sensitive and very complex cases encompassing double jeopardy, deaths in custody and contentious charging decisions.

Before becoming a barrister, Mary studied Philosophy at UCL and spent 2 years working for Labour MEPs in the European Parliament. She also studied Public International Law at the University of Amsterdam (LLM).

Career

Year of Call: 2007

Chambers and Partners Guide has described Mary as “conscientious, hard-working"; "very committed to her cases"; that she "…excels in defending extradition cases, especially those involving human rights issues"; and notes that “sources are impressed with her ability to build a rapport with clients."

Content supplied by Doughty Street Chambers

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Clerks are always very helpful.'
  • 'The chambers contains a number of skilled advocates which means good back up is always available. It is a well clerked and extremely efficiently run, busy set of chambers.'
  • 'Well renowned extradition set with counsel available across the whole spectrum. They will nearly always have someone to cater for an individual client’s needs'
  • 'Exceptional set, especially for extradition. Committed and passionate barristers, leading in this field.'
  • 'The go to set for this area, place human rights at the forefront of their ethos.'