‘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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Mark Wassouf has a broad commercial and public international law practice.
He is frequently instructed as counsel on investment treaty and commercial arbitrations in a number of sectors, including banking, agriculture, oil and gas and telecommunications, as well as on arbitration-related applications in the English courts.
Mark also has significant experience acting as counsel in cases and matters involving complex questions of public international law and has advised governments, NGOs and individuals on sovereign treaty obligations.
Career
Mark qualified as a solicitor with Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer in 2011, where he was a member of the arbitration and international team. He left Freshfields in mid-2013 to transfer to the bar and now practices as a barrister at 3 Verulam Buildings in London.
Languages
Fluent Arabic and has a working knowledge of French
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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.'