David Hooper QC

David Hooper QC, a founder member of Chambers, has experience of many areas, particularly in criminal law where he has been involved in a wide range of significant cases over the years

Recommended as a leading silk in International Criminal Law in Chambers UK.

David Hooper Q.C.’s domestic practice has largely concerned serious criminal matters and extradition but his main area of practice over the past 20 years has been in International Criminal Law, with extensive experience representing accused before international Tribunals and Courts. The complex ICL cases involve, in addition to court and paper advocacy, investigating the case and managing a defence team. He was lead defence counsel before the International Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in the case of Andre Rwamakuba, a Minister in the 1994 Rwandan Government, and later for Father Nsengimana, a Catholic priest accused of genocide. Both were acquitted. He was court appointed counsel at the ICTY to Vojislav Seselj, accused of ‘hate speech’. Since 2007, David Hooper has been at the forefront of cases at the International Criminal Court, in The Hague, firstly as counsel in the DRC case ofGermain Katanga, presently in its reparations phase and, secondly, the Kenya election violence case of William Ruto, presently the Deputy President of Kenya, ‘stayed’ at the conclusion of the prosecution case in 2016 for lack of evidence. David has travelled extensively throughout Africa and until recently was based in The Hague. He has lectured extensively on ICL matters and was the first President of the ICC Bar Association. He is currently representing Augustin Ngirabatware at the MICT (The United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals) in Tanzania.

Education

• University of Kent at Canterbury
• Jesus College, Cambridge

Memberships

• Member of the Criminal Bar Association

General

• David Hooper QC was elected the first President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association in 2016.
• Ranked in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners 2021 for International Criminal Law.
• Ranked as a Leading Silk in Legal 500 2020 in International Criminal Law and Extradition.