Three Raymond Buildings is ‘a powerhouse for extradition law’, with members at the forefront of the largest and most decisive extradition cases, and the set can boast depth of experience at the silk and junior levels alike. Illustrating the depth of experience in the set in prominent extradition instructions, James Lewis KC and the ’hugely knowledgeable’ Clair Dobbin KC appeared for the US Government in the Julian Assange extradition proceedings. ‘Tenacious and well-prepared’, Rachel Barnes KC led Amanda Bostock on behalf of the prosecution in Republic of Montenegro v Dusko Knezevic, the first Montenegrin extradition request of a banker accused of fraud, which involved considerations of rights under ECHR articles 3 and 6. Rachel Scott KC took silk in 2025, and recent work includes representing a former investment banker facing extradition to the US on corruption charges.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
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’).
Content supplied by Chambers of James Lewis KC & Hugo Keith KC
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Senior Clerk Eddie Holland is absolutely fantastic, always available and will resolve immediately any issue.'
- 'Fantastic clerking room.'
- 'Three Raymond Buildings is an excellent set of chambers with strength and depth in its advocates. The quality of advocacy that you can expect from a member of this chambers is of a consistently impressive standard.'
- '3RB is an excellent extradition set, and members of chambers are frequently instructed in high profile and cutting edge extradition cases. The barristers who practice in this area are consistently excellent.'
- 'Three Raymond Building are a set now offering real strength in depth at both silk and junior level.'
- 'One of the standout sets for extradition work, total class and a real depth of experience and expertise. Some great junior members coming through in extradition.'