Public International Law
Members of Temple Garden Chambers have experience advising
Governments and individuals at the highest level on Public
International Law and International Humanitarian Law issues.
Tenants have prosecuted, defended and intervened in the most
serious cases before international criminal courts and have advised
on litigation in other international courts. We have pursued
civil claims for clients internationally and have argued many
aspects of international law in domestic cases.
Direct access for international clients
Temple Garden Chambers is able to accept
instructions directly from international clients under the Bar
Council's International Rules of Practice. This means that
international clients need not approach Chambers through
solicitors. We can be contacted directly to provide legal
advice and representation, and can offer services to meet the needs
and budget of all clients. For further information and
enquiries please contact us on: 020 7583 1315 or email clerks@tgchambers.com
International Criminal Courts
ICTY - leading prosecution of Slobodan Milosevic;
defending former Prime Minister of Kosovo; defending senior Bosnian
Croat leader; representing Florence Hartmann (former ICTY
spokesperson) on contempt charges; prosecution of Jovica Stanisic
and Vojislav Seselj; and other cases;
ICTR - acting for Government of Rwanda in transfer cases;
ICC - acting for Government of Kenya; defending former Permanent
Secretary to the President of Kenya; representing parties in the
'Sudan Situation' including in the case against President Omar Al
Bashir; defending commanders of forces opposed to the Government of
Sudan; representing victims from Darfur; defending former
Vice-president of the DRC; acting in the 'Libya Situation' (case
concerning Saif Gaddafi); and other cases;
Special Court for Sierra Leone - represented
Charles Taylor; prosecuted Alex Brima et al;
Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia -
representing victims in the first genocide trial before the
ECCC;
Members of Chambers have been involved in advising in respect of
many other countries including Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Ivory Coast,
North Korea, Burma, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Uganda, and Iran. A
substantial amount of international work is undertaken on a pro
bono basis.
International courts
Actions before the International Court of Justice, the European
Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Justice and the
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights are a focus of our
work. In each of these areas Chambers has the skills to offer a
comprehensive service. Individual members of Chambers have advised
on and pursued ECtHR applications ranging from fair trial points to
property claims and costs issues, as well as in matters concerning
the interpretation and implementation of European Union law. The
use of these forums by different clients is a matter upon which
advice is regularly provided.
International civil claims
Temple Garden Chambers handles international claims arising from
armed conflicts and that concern human rights and other disputes.
Counsel have been involved in claims against the UN and other
international organisations and companies that have included
successful claims that arose from the bombing of the UN HQ in
Baghdad and in respect of security personnel injured in the
performance of their duties in Iraq. Governments as well as private
clients have been advised and represented in respect of claims
under public international law and private international law.
Expertise in the case law of the International Centre for the
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and other arbitration
tribunals is also available as a means of mediating or litigating
international disputes.
UK courts
Public International Law and International Humanitarian Law
issues arise regularly in the UK in public inquiries, extradition
cases, criminal cases and sometimes in civil cases; counsel are
equipped to take and argue such issues in domestic courts whenever
appropriate. Members of chambers have appeared in many public
inquiries, including the Baha Mousa Inquiry, and in criminal cases,
including the Lockerbie trial.
General approach
Tenants working in the field have extensive experience of
dealing with the most serious criminal cases in the UK and abroad.
However our approach is that International Humanitarian Law is
better developed in Chambers with a substantial focus on
Administrative, Government and other Common Law work together with
experience in straightforward criminal trials. In this respect we
are well suited.
Multidisciplinary approach
Chambers has developed an extensive network of leading
solicitors, experts, academics, NGOs and investigators with whom
work has been done on difficult international cases, recognising
the particular need in international work for a multidisciplinary
approach.
Other related activities
Members of Chambers have written extensively and lectured around
the world on international law subjects. A leading textbook on the
practice and procedure of international criminal courts - Archbold
International (Sweet & Maxwell) is co-authored by Karim A.A.
Khan QC and Rodney Dixon. Members of Chambers are regular
commentators on national and international radio and
television. They often contribute as trainers in
international advocacy training.
For a list of recent notable cases,
click here.