INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW

The International Practice Group has expertise in all areas of international criminal law and provides representation in trials of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes before international, internationalized and national courts. It also undertakes a wide variety of consultancy work in this field.

Our specialists have provided representation and advice in cases before the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Rwanda (ICTR), the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers of the Court of Cambodia and the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in East Timor.

The International Criminal Tribunals for Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda

Members have been taking cases at the ICTY and ICTR for more than a decade. Having appeared in no less than eight separate trials, Chambers has unrivalled expertise and experience in defence representation before these Tribunals. Cases include Prosecutor v Nikolic (Srebrenica); Prosecutor v Nahimana, the (“Media Trial”);  Prosecutor v Rwamakuba and Prosecutor v Hormisdas.

The International Criminal Court

Chambers has also been at the forefront of providing representation and advice at the International Criminal Court (ICC) with members and associate members acting for the defence in the first two cases brought before the Court from the Democratic Republic of Congo: Prosecutor v Lubanga and Prosecutor v Katanga.  Members have also provided advice in relation to victims’ rights and representation before the ICC.

The Extraordinary Chambers of the Court of Cambodia

Chambers also provides representation in the case of Madame Ieng Thirith (Minister of Social Affairs in Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge Government) who is awaiting joint trial with her husband Ieng Sary (Foreign Minister in the Pol Pot regime) before the Extraordinary Chambers of the Court of Cambodia. 

Associated work

Members of the group have conducted trial observations and fact finding missions in a number of jurisdictions as well as undertaking training and lecturing all over the world.  Members have conducted training for judges and lawyers in countries including Kazakhstan, Iraq, Serbia, Uganda, Syria, USA and Canada. International Practice Group members also lecture regularly on aspects of international criminal law and international humanitarian law to domestic and international university audiences.

Publications

Members of Chambers publish articles on matters concerning international criminal law in Journals including the Criminal Law Forum, the Leiden Journal of International law, and the Journal of International Criminal Justice. Members have contributed chapters to a number of works including Defense in International Criminal Proceedings (Transnational 2006), International Criminal Courts (OUP 2005) and The Oxford Companion to International Criminal Law and Justice (OUP). 

Foreign Associates and Door Tenants

Chambers has established formal links with law firms in Paris and the Hague. We also have a number of door tenants who practice in the field of international criminal law.