Cian Murphy

Career

Cian Murphy is a barrister who specialises in public law and human rights law – including at international level. He is listed as a “rising star” in inquests and inquiries by the Legal500. His court practice includes representation of bereaved families and other interested persons at inquests; as well as appearing in the County Court, First Tier Tribunal, and High Court (led and unled).

In inquests, Cian has a broad range of experience, including mental health related deaths (in the community and in state detention), drug-related deaths, deaths following police contact, and death overseas. He has particular experience with the deaths of individuals with complex, multiple, vulnerabilities.

Cian’s broader practice includes advise and representation in judicial review proceedings, civil claims against public authorities, data protection and freedom of information matters, and education law.

In international law, Cian has recently given advice in relation to interim measures before the European Court of Human Rights. Previously he has assisted arbitral tribunals including under the auspices of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Cian was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2020 after a decade as a legal academic. In 2013 he was a Fulbright Schumann Scholar at Georgetown University and New York University. In 2014-2015 he was Academic Co-Director of the Center for Transnational Legal Studies in London.

Immediately prior to entering legal practice he was Reader in Public International Law at the University of Bristol; and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Oxford. He is a member of the World Justice Project Rule of Law Research Consortium.

Professional Memberships

Administrative Law Bar Association, American Society of International Law, INQUEST Lawyers Group, Society of Legal Scholars.

Publications

Cian has published extensively on international law and human rights law, including as the author of prize-winning monograph, EU Counter-terrorism Law: Pre-emption and the Rule of Law (2012), and co-editor of several other books. He was a contributing author to two chapters in Police Misconduct: Legal Remedies (2022). His most recent book, By Peaceful Means: International Adjudication & Arbitration (co-editor with Brower, Donoghue, Payne & Shirlow) was published by Oxford University Press in 2024.