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About
Provided by Ali Al-Karim
Practice Areas
Ali Al-Karim is recognised as a leading barrister in public international law, international arbitration, sanctions, and commercial litigation. Ali acts in the most high-value and high profile commercial litigation, including the Phones4U litigation and the dispute over the ownership of Sheffield United Football Club. In international arbitration, Ali acts in both investor-state and commercial arbitrations, where he is often instructed for his advocacy and cross-examination; he has particular expertise in arbitrations raising EU law and sanctions issues. He acts in public international law cases all around the world, including the ICJ, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and domestic courts around the world. Ali is one of the leading barristers at the Bar in sanctions; he has acted in high-profile sanctions cases in the English courts, and has a busy advisory practice. Ali is acting in the leading UK Supreme Court case on sanctions: Shvidler & Dalston Projects. In 2024, Ali was nominated for International Barrister of the Year at the Advocate awards.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Ali Al-Karim has a burgeoning sanctions practice, with particular interest in the UK and EU regimes. He draws on deep public law expertise to advise corporate clients, private individuals and government entities on the full gamut of sanctions law, including on Blocking Regulations. Alongside sanctions, Ali is gaining a reputation for proficiency in matters of public international law, EU investment law and international arbitration.
Ali Al-Karim is recognised as a rising star in the field of public international law. He has appeared before the ICJ, the ECtHR, ICSID tribunals and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on a host of high-profile cases. In addition to PIL, Al-Karim has earned a strong reputation for his work on sanctions, European trade law and international arbitration.
Ali Al-Karim is commended for his thriving international arbitration practice. He has experience beyond his years advising both states and investors on treaty disputes under ICSID rules. Other areas of expertise include arbitration-related litigation, sanctions and broader matters of public international law. Additionally, Al-Karim is well versed in EU law arbitration matters.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Ali is a marvel who has a clear commercial mind and steers clients to solutions."
"I really enjoy working with Ali. He is extremely personable and takes the time to understand his clients' needs. Furthermore, his calm nature provides reassurance and instils confidence."
"Ali is not only knowledgeable but alsoextremely commercial.He crystallises the key conceptsand is able to produce practical solutions and present them to those less versed in the legislation."
"Ali's practice is soaring. He's intellectually just phenomenal. Clients love him!"
"Ali Al-Karim is an incredibly conscientious barrister who is responsive and sophisticated. He is quick to identify new arguments and strategic positions to advance a client's needs."
"Ali has shown himself to possess all the virtues of a top-notch modern barrister, combining insight and acumen with responsiveness and an appetite for the complex and the unusual."
"Ali's level of perception is off the charts. He turns over stones that others wouldn't have ever thought to have turned over."
"Ali is a knowledgeable and user-friendly junior counsel. He's very good."
"Ali's just fabulous. Intellectually, he's phenomenal."
"Ali's ability to understand and distil complex technical issues from the get-go and to prepare his oral advocacy in a short time is very impressive."
"Ali is an exceptional oral advocate, able to convey difficult arguments with extreme persuasion and a distinctive flair that makes him stand out even among very experienced barristers."
"Ali is a remarkably capable lawyer - exceptionally intelligent, diligent and effective."
"Ali is a marvel who has a clear commercial mind and steers clients to solutions."
"I really enjoy working with Ali. He is extremely personable and takes the time to understand his clients' needs. Furthermore, his calm nature provides reassurance and instils confidence."
"Ali is not only knowledgeable but alsoextremely commercial.He crystallises the key conceptsand is able to produce practical solutions and present them to those less versed in the legislation."
"Ali's practice is soaring. He's intellectually just phenomenal. Clients love him!"
"Ali Al-Karim is an incredibly conscientious barrister who is responsive and sophisticated. He is quick to identify new arguments and strategic positions to advance a client's needs."
"Ali has shown himself to possess all the virtues of a top-notch modern barrister, combining insight and acumen with responsiveness and an appetite for the complex and the unusual."
"Ali's level of perception is off the charts. He turns over stones that others wouldn't have ever thought to have turned over."
"Ali is a knowledgeable and user-friendly junior counsel. He's very good."
"Ali's just fabulous. Intellectually, he's phenomenal."
"Ali's ability to understand and distil complex technical issues from the get-go and to prepare his oral advocacy in a short time is very impressive."
"Ali is an exceptional oral advocate, able to convey difficult arguments with extreme persuasion and a distinctive flair that makes him stand out even among very experienced barristers."
"Ali is a remarkably capable lawyer - exceptionally intelligent, diligent and effective."
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