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.