Matrix Chambers' 'smart and creative' team is very well known for advising on group litigation in the areas of data protection, media, international human rights, consumer and environmental law. Edward Craven KC has 'outstanding legal knowledge and technical skills, and vast experience of the practical challenges of complex group litigation'; he was appointed to silk in March 2025. Craven and Kate Boakes continue to act in Milasi Josiya v British American Tobacco Plc & Imperial Brands Plc, a group action involving over 7,000 Malawian tobacco farmers bringing claims of unjust enrichment, negligence and conversion.
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Profile

Position

Specialist in public international law; international human rights law; international environmental law; public law; commercial law; sport law; privacy, defamation and data protection; and money laundering and proceeds of crime.

Notable cases include Somalia v Kenya (representing Somalia in a maritime delimitation dispute before the International Court of Justice), Croatia v Serbia (representing Croatia in proceedings under the Genocide Convention before the ICJ); Guyana v Venezuela (representing Guyana in proceedings before the ICJ concerning the validity of an 1899 arbitral ward); Lungowe v Vedanta Resources PLC (Supreme Court appeal concerning liability of UK parent company for polluting activities of foreign subsidiary); Elgizouli v Home Secretary (Supreme Court appeal regarding UK’s facilitation of the death penalty); Smith v Ministry of Defence (Supreme Court appeal concerning extra-territorial application of international human rights treaty); Belhaj v Straw (Supreme Court appeal concerning state immunity and foreign act of state doctrines); Rahmatullah and Serdar Mohammed v Secretary of State for Defence (Supreme Court appeal concerning crown act of state doctrine);  SXH v Crown Prosecution Service (Supreme Court appeal concerning application of Article 8 ECHR to prosecution of vulnerable refugees); OPO v MLA (Supreme Court appeal concerning worldwide ban on publication of a performing artist’s autobiography); Lachaux v Lachaux (Supreme Court appeal regarding meaning of ‘serious harm’ in Defamation Act 2013); Bashir v Home Secretary (Supreme Court appeal regarding application of international treaty to UK sovereign base areas in Cyprus); Lloyd v Google (Supreme Court appeal concerning attempt to establish representative action on behalf of several million iPhone users); Gubarev v Christopher Steele (libel claim concerning publication of confidential intelligence memorandum); Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell (Supreme Court appeal concerning claims against UK and Nigerian mining companies concerning extensive oil spills in Niger Delta); Abu Zubaydah v FCDO (Supreme Court appeal concerning applicable law in claims concerning facilitation of torture by CIA); Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan (lead counsel for Bereaved Families who allege their relatives were unlawfully killed by UK Special Forces); Donald Trump v Orbis Business Intelligence Limited (successfully defending data protection claim brought by President Trump).

Career

Called 2007, Lincoln’s Inn; Ad hoc clerk at Court of Arbitration for Sport (2014 – present); Trial observer, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (2013 – 2015); Judicial assistant, UK Supreme Court (2011 – 2012); Lecturer in administrative law, Balliol College, Oxford University (2010); Stagiaire, European Court of Human Rights (2010); Judicial assistant, Court of Appeal (2009). Publications of note: Human Rights and Criminal Justice (Sweet & Maxwell, 3rd Ed.) (contributing editor); Smith, Bodnar and Owen on Asset Recovery, Criminal Confiscation and Civil Recovery (OUP, 2nd Ed.) (contributor); Montgomery and Ormerod on Fraud: Criminal Law and Procedure (contributor); Prison Law (OUP, 3rd Ed.) (contributing editor).

Education

Trinity Hall, Cambridge University (BA Law – First Class); Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Vocational Course – Outstanding); Brasenose College, Oxford University (Bachelor of Civil Law – Distinction).

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'A strong set in this area.'
  • 'A truly extraordinary chambers with a breadth of talent.'
  • 'A chambers of consistently high calibre, known for the excellence of its advocates and the strength of its legal expertise across the board. It maintains a reputation for professionalism, intellectual rigour, and a collaborative approach. The clerking team is responsive and efficient, making the overall experience of instructing from this set seamless and consistently impressive.'