Christopher Staker KC

Public international law, human rights, European law, immigration and asylum law, administrative and public law, tax. Appears before international courts such as the International Court of Justice, and national courts and tribunals at all levels.

Barrister at 39 Essex Chambers since 2004. Positions previously held include Principal Legal Secretary (head of the Legal Department) at the International Court of Justice (The Hague), Deputy (Chief) Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (Freetown), Senior Appeals Counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (The Hague), Counsel Assisting the Solicitor-General of Australia (Canberra), and counsel in the Office of International Law of the Australian federal Attorney-General’s Department (Canberra). Originally trained as a diplomat with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. Presently appointed to the Treasury A Panel of Counsel (2023-2028), formerly appointed to Attorney-General’s Public International Law A Panel (2020-2025).

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

London Court of International Arbitration

European Circuit

Previously admitted as a lawyer in Australia, as a barrister in Ireland, and a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) in Germany

Author of various publications, including in the British Yearbook of International Law and Australian Yearbook of International Law. Contributor to major commentaries on the Statute of the International Criminal Court (1st to 3rd editions) and on the International Convention on the Law of the Sea.