‘A top set with excellent practitioners both senior and junior’, members of 3 Verulam Buildings integrate expertise in international commercial law and treaty arbitration to lead on international law matters concerning the obligations of states, international organizations, and corporations. Prominent individuals lead in English and international courts alike; Christopher Harris KC, ’undoubtedly one of the leading silks at the bar in this area’, led when acting for the claimant in Zhongshan Fucheng v Nigeria, which concerned the interplay between states’ rights to immunity under international law and English procedural laws. Leading juniors include international treaty arbitration specialist Cameron Miles, who has ongoing involvement in proceedings for Pakistan concerning the Indus Water Treaty; and the ‘highly practical and commercially attuned’ Mark Wassouf who continues to act as lead junior counsel for the Russian Federation in the Court of Appeal concerning its defence of attempts to enforce the arbitral award against it concerning the expropriation of Yukos.
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Profile
Position
Cameron is a leading barrister practicing in public international law and international commercial and investment treaty arbitration. Described in the directories as “a true superstar in the making”, who can “process complex issues at lightning speed”, he is ranked as a leading junior in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for public international law and international arbitration, and has featured regularly as a Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal.
Cameron’s practice is split between domestic and international courts and tribunals. In England, he is most often to be found in the Commercial Court, where he has developed a market-leading practice on state immunity and enforcement matters that also takes him to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He also advises on such proceedings in other common law jurisdictions, including Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere, he has appeared in high-stakes proceedings before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the International Court of Justice.
In the arbitral arena, Cameron has developed considerable expertise in investment treaty arbitration, appearing in 16 separate proceedings, whether during the initial arbitration, in relation to post-award remedies, or in relation to arbitration-related applications in the English courts.
Cameron is regularly instructed directly by states, state organs, corporations and international organisations. He is comfortable working alone or as part of a team.
He regularly publishes and lectures in public international law in the UK and internationally, and has taught University College London, King’s College London, Leiden University and the University of Cambridge. His monograph, Provisional Measures before International Courts and Tribunals (published by Cambridge University Press in 2017) remains the leading text on interim relief in international law, and is regularly cited as an authority before international courts and tribunals, including the International Court of Justice.
As of 2024, he has been appointed a Fellow of the Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD) at King’s College London. He is also a member of the IBA’s investment treaty arbitration sub-committee.
Education
- PhD, University of Cambridge (2017)
- LLM (first class honours), University of Cambridge (2011)
- LLB (first class honours), Monash University (2009)
- BA (first class honours), Monash University (2009)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'James Kelly is excellent, his presence means that the relationship with the barristers runs very smoothly. He is a problem solver. Stuart Pullum is very experienced, knows the market inside out and there is no question or problem he cannot solve.'
- 'The clerks are very professional, responsive and solutions oriented. Stuart Pullum is very experienced, he understands his barristers and the potential clients' needs and is able to find the perfect match, perfect solutions.
- 'The service provided by the clerks’ room is consistently excellent—efficient, responsive, and always accommodating, even under tight timelines. The clerks demonstrate a deep understanding of the needs of instructing solicitors and funders alike. '
- 'The clerks’ room at 3 Verulam Buildings provides a reliable and efficient service, with clear communication throughout. Joe Brown, in particular, is helpful and he handles queries promptly.'
- 'The set clearly fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and intellectual rigour. There is a genuine sense of cohesion among its members, which enhances the quality of advocacy and advice provided across the board. The breadth of talent, combined with a strong emphasis on mentorship and continuous development, ensures that clients benefit from consistently high standards at every level. This collective ethos, along with the set’s readiness to engage with complex and often novel issues, makes it a standout destination for high stakes legal work.'
- 'The chambers enjoys an outstanding reputation in public international law. It has a deep bench of practitioners who are frequently instructed in some of the most challenging and high-profile matters globally. The clerks are knowledgeable, efficient, and a pleasure to work with, ensuring that instructions are managed promptly and with care.'
- 'The set is outstanding in every respect, remarkable strength in depth, consistently high-calibre counsel, and a well-earned reputation for excellence in complex commercial and international disputes. Their availability, responsiveness, and commitment to training and development further reinforce their position as a leading chambers.'
- '3VB is one of the leading public international law chambers in London, including at the junior level.'