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 at 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.
International Criminal Courts
ICTY - Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia: leading prosecution
of Milosevic; defending former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj of
Kosovo and other cases;
ICTR - Tribunal for Rwanda: acting for Government of Rwanda in
transfer (extradition) proceedings;
ICC - International Criminal Court: representing parties
concerned in the 'Sudan Situation' where crimes have been charged
by the Prosecutor against President Omar Al Bashir and against the
rebel forces;
The internationalised courts in Sierra Leone, Cambodia, and
Lebanon and the domestic courts trying international crimes in
Rwanda, Uganda, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina: advising and
providing training for judges, prosecutors and defence counsel in
international law and procedure and in advocacy.
International courts
Actions before the ICJ, ECtHR, and ECJ are also 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 a successful claim that arose from the bombing of the UN
HQ in Baghdad. 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.
General approach
Tenants working in the field have extensive experience of
dealing with the most serious criminal cases in 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, 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. The leading textbook on
the practice and procedure of international criminal courts -
Archbold International (Sweet & Maxwell) is
co-authored by Rodney Dixon. Members of Chambers are regular
commentators on national and international radio and
television.
For a list of recent notable cases,
click here.