Zurück zu United Kingdom - The Bar

Public International Law

3 Verulam Buildings

Essex Court Chambers

Leading Silks

Zachary Douglas KC – 3 Verulam Buildings

Sir Daniel Bethlehem KCMG KC –Twenty Essex 'He has unparalleled experience in all aspects of public international law, including diplomacy, advice and disputes before all international courts and tribunals. He combines incredible expertise in the substance of the law with unrivalled attention to detail and skill in litigation management, strategy and tactics. Having him on your side is a mark of distinction.'

Vaughan Lowe KC –Essex Court Chambers

Alison Macdonald KC –Essex Court Chambers

Maurice Mendelson KC –Blackstone Chambers 'His intellect is unparalleled. A deeply knowledgeable and conscientious advocate.'

Timothy Otty KC –Blackstone Chambers 'Tim is simply one of the most impressive barristers in practice in the country. He has unrivalled experience of international law issues, coupled with a commercial approach and strategic mind. His advocacy is incisive and draws from an unmatched well of experience in public international law. His drafting is concise and his judgement impeccable. With all that, he has lightness of touch with clients and teams and is always a pleasure to work with.'

Sam Wordsworth KC – Essex Court Chambers 'He is across his brief, understands his client’s objectives, offers expert advice and crafts compelling written submissions. More than anything, what sets Sam apart from other senior counsel with similar experience and expertise is his oral advocacy. Sam reads the bench or tribunal expertly and tailors his submissions, in the moment, for maximum impact.

Toby Landau KC - Duxton Hill Chambers London ‘Toby is very strong in public international law. His advocacy is truly stand out, even among the Bar.’

Rodney Dixon KC –Temple Garden Chambers 'He is exceptionally bright, very clever and very pragmatic.'

Sir Jeffrey Jowell KC –Blackstone Chambers

Ben Juratowitch KC – Essex Court Chambers 'He has excellent attention to detail while also handling the general strategy of the case. His ability to relay details of law in a concise manner is second to none.'

Paul Key KC –Essex Court Chambers

Philippe Sands KC – 11KBW

Dan Sarooshi KC –Essex Court Chambers 'Combines academic acumen with strong advocacy.'

Sudhanshu Swaroop KC – Twenty Essex 'Sudhanshu combines extensive experience in commercial law with a growing and vibrant practice in public international law. Not only is he able to work at the interface of these two areas of law, and between English courts and international courts and tribunals with ease, but he brings to his public international law practice his top notch attention to detail, precision and concision.'

Lord Verdirame KC –Twenty Essex 'Charming, creative, hard working and a brilliant communicator whether to court or client.'

Vernon Flynn KC - Brick Court Chambers 'Vernon is a brilliant advocate who commands the attention of the court. His international experience and reputation is genuinely world class. Few can reach his heights, both intellectually and in his skills as an advocate.'

Mohinderpal Sethi KC – Littleton Chambers 'Very friendly and personable. Good soft skills.'

Alex Bailin KC –Matrix Chambers 'Very responsive and good with clients; understands financial markets and trading better than most barristers; blends civil,regulatory, and criminal practice in a seamless way.'

Lucas Bastin KC –Essex Court Chambers

Shaheed Fatima KC –Blackstone Chambers

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC –Matrix Chambers 'Blinne is, quite simply, one of the most outstanding barristers practising in public international law today. Her advocacy is marked by meticulous preparation, strategic foresight, and an unshakeable command of the facts and law. She delivers complex legal submissions with exceptional clarity and control, adeptly navigating cases that are both legally intricate and politically sensitive.'

Sir Michael Wood KCMG KC (Hon) –Twenty Essex

Maya Lester KC –Brick Court Chambers 'Maya is incredibly strong on handling complex public international law issues. She has a nuanced understanding of how public international law operates in practice and is able to communicate clearly the nuances of public international law to clients and judges.'

Wendy Miles KC –Twenty Essex ‘Wendy has a phenomenal ability to identify the core issue in the other side’s position and attack it mercilessly while always appearing to be proceeding from a place of Olympian calm and intellectual rigour.’

Malcolm Shaw KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘His expertise in is truly outstanding – he brings a deep, nuanced understanding of the law, paired with a strategic mindset that consistently adds exceptional value. His ability to navigate complex legal issues with clarity and precision sets him apart, and he is widely regarded as the leading expert in his field.'

2025 Silks

Tariq Baloch KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Tariq brings a level of intellectual rigour and clarity to complex disputes that inspires confidence at every stage of the litigation process. His written submissions are precise and compelling, and he commands real authority when on his feet. He is a strong advocate with a talent for simplifying the most intricate legal issues.’

Edward Craven KC – Matrix Chambers

Naina Patel KC –Blackstone Chambers 'Naina gives sound advice and is able to think outside the box.'

Jason Pobjoy KC – Blackstone Chambers ‘He is an excellent advocate who combines in-depth legal knowledge with clear, authoritative and persuasive delivery.’

Leading Juniors

Sean Aughey –Essex Court Chambers 'Sean is phenomenally clever - he gets right to the heart of the issues and his drafting is exceptionally strong. Sean is also a very intelligent and persuasive advocate. He has very good instincts and is extremely calm even with the most difficult witnesses.'

Amal Clooney – Doughty Street Chambers 'Amal is a brilliant and tireless advocate. She is 100% laser focused on her clients and their objectives and is able to quickly grasp the key elements of complicated and nuanced legal issues. She is unafraid of a debate, bringing both substantive and emotional intelligence as well as pragmatism to her work.'

Belinda McRae –Twenty Essex 'Has tremendous judgement as well as deep learning and clear and compelling advocacy.'

Cameron Miles –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Cameron is a formidable opponent. His written advocacy is extremely persuasive. He comes up with game-changing arguments which are meticulously researched. He has a deep knowledge of international law in all its forms and is experienced in the many fora in which it arises.’

Penelope Nevill – Twenty Essex 'Penelope has a great insight into trade treaty matters, and she is a great advocate.'

Kate Parlett – Twenty Essex 'Superb judgment with an excellent sense of pragmatism. A great team player. Very persuasive in her oral and written advocacy.'

Amy Sander – Essex Court Chambers 'She is a brilliant advocate with a brilliant mind.'

Philippa Webb – Twenty Essex 'There is simply nobody better as a public international law strategist, advocate, and thinker. One of the most charming and persuasive lawyers you could ever hope to meet.'

Can Yeginsu – 3 Verulam Buildings 'What sets Can apart in this field is his ability to fuse scholarly depth with practical litigation instincts. His strategic insight is of the highest order, allowing him to anticipate procedural complexities and position arguments to maximum effect. His advocacy is measured, authoritative, and compelling, and he has a unique ability to engage with both legal and policy dimensions of a case. His presence in a matter lends confidence and credibility to the entire legal team.'

Lucian Ilie – Outer Temple Chambers 'Lucian is very smart, extremely responsive and a skilled advocate. He has deep experience in international law and investment arbitration and extensive knowledge across multiple jurisdictions. He always delivers fantastic work.'

Ali Al-Karim – Brick Court Chambers ‘Ali combines sharp legal acumen with a collaborative and grounded approach—never arrogant, and consistently respectful in team settings. He is a strong team player, generous with his time and input.’

Paolo Busco – Twenty Essex 'Paolo is very bright and always considering innovative legal approaches. He has broad knowledge of public international law and is able to offer carefully considered strategic advice. Paolo has a knowledge and understanding of how to work with states well beyond what might be expected of a counsel of his years of call, he has an understanding of the needs of key stakeholders and the wider political implications of legal decision making.'

Michelle Butler –Matrix Chambers 'Michelle is a very strong litigator, very devoted to her clients and with excellent strategic and pleading skills.'

Emilie Gonin – Brick Court Chambers ‘Very knowledgeable, highly intelligent and a sincere pleasure to work with.’

Courtney Grafton – Twenty Essex 'Courtney is exceptionally strong - hard-working, talented and very quick to digest large amounts of information and convert it into strong written advocacy. A real superstar.'

Matthieu Gregoire – Essex Court Chambers

Naomi Hart – Essex Court Chambers 'Hard working, clever and a pleasure to work with, producing clear, compelling and effective written and oral advocacy that takes everything into account but focuses only on what matters.'

Edward Ho – Brick Court Chambers

Paul Luckhurst –Blackstone Chambers 'Paul is a superb junior with deep experience of public international law matters. He has great judgement and real depth of experience. He is a measured but highly persuasive advocate and has a great sense of how to pick the winning points to persuade a court.'

Robert McCorquodale –Brick Court Chambers ‘He is hugely knowledgeable about public international law, in particular human rights, self-determination and the law of territory and the interface with business, and is able to combine compassion with practical advice.'

Calum Mulderrig – 3 Verulam Buildings 'A young international lawyer who is rapidly coming into his own.'

Simon Olleson – Twenty Essex 'Simon has a sharpness of mind which is second to none. He is a master of his field with an acute attention to detail meaning that no point or stone is left unturned in his effort to represent his clients' interests.'

Christopher Staker –39 Essex Chambers ‘Extremely hard-working and will not rest until all avenues have been addressed to present the best possible case on behalf of his client. Has deep and academic understanding of the wider legal issues at play in the case and harnesses them to powerful effect.’

Mark Wassouf –3 Verulam Buildings 'Very straight-thinking combined with deep knowledge of every aspect of arbitration-related English court proceedings. Willing to work as part of a team and roll his sleeves up when necessary. Simply excellent.'

Joanna Buckley – Matrix Chambers

Anthony Jones – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Anthony has a deep knowledge of and real enthusiasm for public international law. He is one of the few practitioners at his level who can be relied on to bottom out the detail and produce excellent drafting and advocacy.’

Kevin Lee - Twenty Essex 'Kevin has clear, concise and persuasive advocacy and knows how to read judges well. Kevin understands complex issues easily and breaks these complex issues down in his oral submissions for easy understanding. Kevin is very personable and great with clients. A very safe pair of hands to trust your disputes with.'

Alex Haines – 4 Pump Court ‘Alex’s strengths lie in his comprehensive understanding of public international law, coupled with their ability to break down complex legal issues into clear, persuasive arguments. His advocacy is both authoritative and compelling, often marked by an ability to confidently navigate intricate international legal principles. He possesses a strategic mindset, tailoring his approach to the unique dynamics of each case, while also demonstrating practical insight into how legal decisions may affect broader international relations.’

Ian McDonald - 3 Verulam Buildings 'He is careful and responsive, remains calm at all times. He has good communication skills and he was knowledgeable of the facts of the case and the legal aspects.'

Aarif Abraham – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Aarif is a brilliant lawyer with an outstanding knowledge of international law. He is also a genius communicator. He engages with other participants and their arguments in such a deeply honest and open manner that it is impossible not to pay attention and almost impossible not to be convinced.’

Camilla Cockerill - Brick Court Chambers ‘Excellent team player with a real passion for the case and the cause.’

Zahra Al-Rikabi – Brick Court Chambers 'An outstanding international lawyer who is rapidly getting the recognition she deserves.'

Monica Feria-Tinta –Twenty Essex 'Monica is a dedicated barrister who is astute in synthesising the winning arguments. She has an intricate knowledge of human rights and the law as it pertains to climate change issues. Her written and oral advocacy is clear, to the point, and passionate where appropriate which makes her advocacy compelling.'

Jessica Jones – Matrix Chambers

Jackie McArthur – Essex Court Chambers

Tetyana Nesterchuk – Fountain Court Chambers

Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers

Luke Tattersall – Essex Court Chambers

Jacob Turner – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Jacob is outstanding. Ferociously intelligent, hugely hard working, a great team player. Really building a reputation in particular in sovereign related work and an excellent senior junior who will go far.’

Manuel Casas – Twenty Essex 'Manuel is draws on his extensive background working in commercial arbitration, international law and civil law legal systems, to provide top notch legal analysis and drafting skills in advice and disputes at the international level. A joy to work with as part of a team, responsive and engaging.'

Rishab Gupta – Twenty Essex 'Rishab is not just a barrister, his advocacy is guided by market realities. This makes him stand out as he is driven to assist in outcomes. He is more experimental than others.'

Peter Webster – Essex Court Chambers ‘Peter is a barrister with skills far above his years of call. His advocacy is calm, persuasive and extremely substantively capable.’

Paul Wee – Essex Court Chambers ‘Paul is one of the star performers at the Bar. He drafts beautifully and his ability to digest and distill masses of information into clear concise legal submissions is second to none.’

Jonathan Worboys –4 New Square ‘Jonathan has extensive experience in public international law, and is a go-to junior.’

Rising Stars

Lorraine Aboagye – Essex Court Chambers ‘Highly intelligent, very hardworking, excellent drafting skills. A top junior in this area.’

Public international law in London Bar

Tier 1 sets

3 Verulam Buildings

‘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.

Referenzen

‚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. ‚

Highlight-Mandate

Essex Court Chambers

With ‘terrific capability and expertise at all years of call’, Essex Court Chambers continues to lead in public international law, with members appearing in high-profile cases before the ICJ, ITLOS and a range of domestic courts. The ‘unfailingly polite, respectful and cogent’ Sam Wordsworth KC recently defended the Government of Azerbaijan in ICJ cases against Armenia, in which both states accuse each other of violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. At the junior level the set includes the ‘phenomenally clever’ Sean Aughey who has acted on behalf of Iran concerning the legality of US sanctions under international law. ‘Precise and compelling’, Tariq Baloch KC joined the Chambers in 2024 and is highly prominent in international treaty arbitration cases, with recent success representing Spain in the Court of Appeal concerning the registration of a €120m ICSID award against it. Hugh Mercer KC is now the British judge on the European Court of Human Rights.

Referenzen

‚Ben Perry in particular, the Deputy Senior Clerk is excellent.‘

‚The clerks’ room provides an excellent service – responsive, efficient, and easy to work with. In particular, we worked with Melissa Wood, Sydney Ekiyo and Fabiha Begum, and found them to be highly professional and efficient.‘

‚The set is exceptionally well run. The clerks are responsive, efficient, and always accommodating, which makes instructing counsel a smooth and reliable process. Counsel are consistently available, even at short notice, which reflects both the strength of the set’s organisation and its client-focused approach.‘

Highlight-Mandate

Twenty Essex

‘A go-to set for any international matter’, Twenty Essex‘s public international law expertise covers disputes between states, non-state actors, major investors, and global commercial bodies in an array of international courts and tribunals. Daniel Bethlehem KC has continued long-term involvement on behalf of Pakistan in a dispute with India concerning the Indus Waters Treaty dispute, with a recent full hearing on merits in the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and Sudhanshu Swaroop KC, praised for his ‘top notch attention to detail, precision and concision’, acted for India in Devas Mauritius Ltd & Ors v Republic of India, challenging the enforcement of a major international investment treaty in English courts. The ‘highly authoritative’ Kate Parlett has expertise in investment treaty arbitration, and acted on behalf of investors in the Court of Appeal in The Czech Republic v Diag Human SE and Stava, concerning an investment treaty arbitral award of over $730 million.

Referenzen

‚Super efficient and top-notch clerking team.‘

‚Very professional and courteous, in particular Anthony Carrol.‘

‚The clerks are responsive and a pleasure to deal with. Very user friendly.‘

Highlight-Mandate

Tier 2 sets

Brick Court Chambers

‘Very professional and rightly highly regarded’, Brick Court Chambers remain active in international disputes and arbitrations involving states, private entities, and investors. The set’s members are regularly instructed by prominent charities and NGOs in public international matters. Edward Ho has ongoing involvement representing the claimant in Naftogaz vs the Russian Federation, which concerns the enforcement of arbitration awards worth over $4 billion which involves arguments of state immunity under international law, and ‘intellectual powerhouse‘ Maya Lester KC has a broad public law practice, with recent work including representing the applicant in a public law challenge to the FCDO’s decision to sanction a Belarusian company.

Referenzen

‚This set has great strength in depth.‘

‚Brick Court Chambers is probably the best commercial and public law chambers in London. It is very professional and rightly highly regarded.‘

Highlight-Mandate

Blackstone Chambers

Members of Blackstone Chambers lead on a variety of public international law matters, often integrating established practices in international human rights, European Union law, and investment treaty arbitration in cases in domestic and international courts. With depth at the silk level, the ‘highly polished and impressive’ Timothy Otty KC has continued involvement as lead counsel in Ukraine’s interstate damages case against Russia before the ECHR, and Jason Pobjoy KC and Naina Patel KC both took silk in 2025, each of whom has an established and high-profile public international law practice: Pobjoy KC acted for the UK Government in the ICJ on the advisory opinion in relation to climate change. ‘First class, technically brilliant’, Paul Luckhurst acted for the lead defendants in Hashwah & ors v Qatar National Bank & ors, a case which concerned the state immunity of Qatari individuals and financial institutions.

Referenzen

‚Blackstone is the preeminent public law set in London, and always a go to for difficult public law matters. They have unrivalled depth in the area and the clerks have detailed knowledge of their members’ practices.‘

‚The clerks came across as businesslike and competent.‘

‚The clerking team at Blackstone is first class.‘

Highlight-Mandate

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers has a breadth of public international law experience and expertise, spanning from territorial disputes between states, arbitration award enforcement, and the provision of advisory opinions in major international courts and tribunals. A ‘compelling advocate and creative legal thinker’, Edward Craven KC took silk in 2025, and has ongoing involvement acting for Guyana in provisional measures before the ICJ concerning Venezuela’s attempts to claim sovereignty over (and threats to invade) the Essequibo region – over two-thirds of the country’s territory and with significant energy resources – citing allegations of corruption in a 1899 arbitral award.

Referenzen

‚Clerks are good, especially Paul Venables.‘

‚Matrix is a progressive and well-regarded set in international law.‘

‚Very deep bench and well-administered.‘

Ranking nach PraxisbereichLondon Bar