Public International Law: The English Bar

Essex Court Chambers is a pre-eminent public international law set and remains at the forefront of the most cutting-edge international disputes. The set's academically accomplished barristers field significant expertise in state-versus-state disputes and BIT arbitration. They frequently appear before the ICJ and all of the other major international courts and tribunals, as well as the UK and European courts. Members are highly adept at handling the full spectrum of PIL issues, often advising governments, international organisations and corporations on land and sea territorial disputes, international trade and investments, and state immunity. They are also able to advise on related human rights and international criminal law issues. Recent highlights include involvement in the case of Maduro Board of the Central Bank of Venezuela v Guaidó Board of the Central Bank of Venezuela.

"The clerks maintain a high service level and are very prompt in their responses."

"Great breadth of experience, with knowledgeable clerks who can refer you to the right person on niche points."

"The clerks are very robust and not afraid to engage at the client level."

Joe Ferrigno is senior clerk.

Sir Franklin Berman KC
Sir Franklin Berman KC is an immensely experienced PIL lawyer who has exceptional depth of knowledge. He is routinely called upon as an arbitrator. This can also be shown by his role as Visiting Professor of International Law at Oxford and the University of Cape Town.

Vaughan Lowe KC
Vaughan Lowe KC is a leader in the PIL field who is renowned for his fierce intellect. He regularly appears in front of international tribunals and possesses expertise in boundary disputes and investment treaty work. He has taught at leading universities in the UK and USA including Cambridge and Duke. He also takes appointments as arbitrator and was appointed to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators in 2017. "Vaughan is a standout practitioner of high quality."

Alison Macdonald KC
Alison Macdonald KC has extensive experience operating across criminal, commercial and international law, acting as both adviser and advocate. She regularly represents states in ICSID arbitrations, and has considerable experience in the Law of the Sea and international criminal law. "She shows intellectual confidence." "One of the most intelligent people I have ever met."

Amy Sander
Amy Sander garners praise from clients for her handling of politically sensitive cases and the project management skills she applies to them. She advises governments and multinationals and is an expert in BITs and territorial disputes. She has appeared before the ICJ, and has advised the UK, Kenya, Bolivia, Russia and South-East Asian countries on PIL matters. "Amy is exceptionally able, balanced and has good judgement. She is also attentive to client interests."

Malcolm Shaw KC
Malcolm Shaw KC has a strong academic background and is well respected for the brilliant advice he gives to governments and international organisations. He acts in an interesting spread of cases in the English courts and before international tribunals. He has also appeared before the ECtHR and the ECJ. He advises on a variety of matters including territorial disputes, the Law of the Sea, state succession and state immunity. "Malcolm Shaw is really good at dealing with clients, inspiring confidence in clients and the legal team." "He gives very wise advice befitting his professional status. Shaw is very calm and unruffled, and clients particularly like his wisdom and high-level approach."

Samuel Wordsworth KC
Samuel Wordsworth KC handles a broad spectrum of PIL cases, proving an expert in both bilateral investment treaties and inter-state disputes. He is highly regarded by sources for his advocacy skills and has acted in multiple ICJ cases. "He is one of the outstanding PIL lawyers - technically hugely proficient, consummately balanced and fair. His judgement always informs his expertise." "He is a very accomplished advocate - very smooth and very convincing."

Sean Aughey
Sean Aughey is a highly rated barrister who regularly handles state-on-state disputes, investor-state arbitration and domestic litigation involving PIL aspects. He has further experience acting in human rights-related cases. "A brilliant barrister and a pleasure to work with. He has skills and judgement way beyond his years."

Dan Sarooshi KC
Dan Sarooshi KC is a skilled advocate who has the academic knowledge and practical experience to make him a very popular choice in the PIL sphere. He has an excellent record of representing governments, international organisations and FTSE 100 companies in these matters. He is also a professor of public international law at Oxford University. "Dan is very experienced and phenomenally academic." "Dan is a very knowledgeable, wise and industrious barrister who performs to a very high standard."

Dapo Akande
Dapo Akande is a PIL barrister who has appeared before the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, among other global forums. He is a professor of public international law at the University of Oxford. "Dapo Akande is extremely knowledgeable and at the forefront of cutting-edge PIL work." "A thought leader."

Jessica Wells
Jessica Wells has a strong level of experience in PIL, both as an adviser and as an advocate. She also has a strong commercial disputes practice and is an expert on conflict of law issues. She has been instructed by the UK and a range of other governments in work dealing with state immunity, the arms trade, investment treaties and maritime boundary disputes. "Jessica is very good at the delicate handling of clients."

Thomas Sebastian
Thomas Sebastian is highly regarded for his investment treaty and WTO work. He has acted in treaty disputes involving Cuba, Colombia, Thailand, India and South Africa, and has also advised the UK government on Brexit-related international law issues. "Thomas was readily accessible, very smart and exceptionally easy to work with."

Graham Dunning KC
Graham Dunning KC is a barrister with strength across a range of PIL matters. He handles BIT claims and state immunity disputes as well as arbitration award enforcement cases. He has additional expertise covering UN and EU sanctions.

Lucas Bastin KC
Lucas Bastin KC is a seasoned barrister with regard to PIL matters, particularly investment treaty work and commercial arbitrations under ICSID, SCC, LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules. His wider PIL work sees him handling cases involving state immunity and inter-state sanctions. "He is the pre-eminent barrister in investor-state arbitrations." "Lucas is outstanding - immensely capable, full of balance and very good on client handling." "He is a brilliant PIL practitioner with deep academic knowledge of the field."

Matthieu Gregoire
Matthieu Gregoire is a PIL specialist barrister with recognised expertise in BIT cases, in which he has represented both investors and defendant states. He is experienced in arbitrations before the PCA, ICC and other bodies. "Matthieu is very clever and extremely hard-working."

Paul Key KC
Paul Key KC is a respected barrister who has considerable experience acting in bilateral investment treaty arbitrations, and in related injunction and enforcement actions before the High Court in London. He has represented energy and natural resources companies and has also defended states in these cases. "Paul Key has good knowledge of the international arbitration landscape." "Paul is an excellent negotiator and member of a team." "He is the first port of call for any investment disputes and investment treaty work. He knows the subject inside and out - just an excellent resource of expertise."

Peter Webster
Peter Webster is a very experienced public international law practitioner with an extensive knowledge of diplomatic and state immunity matters, as well as complex investment arbitrations. He regularly appears in domestic courts, arbitral tribunals and state-to-state claims. "A first-class practitioner combining a powerful intellect with hard work and excellent judgement." "Peter has an incredibly impressive grip on the most complex legal issues and is able to ensure that this is digestible for a client."

Naomi Hart
Naomi Hart has established a strong PIL practice. She regularly advises and acts for states and corporate entities on matters relating to maritime boundaries, investor-state disputes and human rights. "She is very diligent." "Good knowledge of some niche areas."