Amal Clooney

Amal Clooney

Business and human rights and modern slaveryinternational criminal lawpublic international lawinternational human rights lawinternational media defenceinternational arbitration, Doughty Street Chambers

Work Department

Business and Human Rights and Modern Slavery International Criminal Law Public International Law International Human Rights Law International Media Defence International Arbitration

Position

Amal Clooney is a barrister who specializes in international law and human rights.

Amal represents clients before international courts including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Alongside court work, she provides advice to governments and individuals on legal issues in her areas of expertise.

Amal is ranked in the legal directories Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister in international human rights law, public international law, and international criminal law. She is described as ‘a brilliant legal mind’ who ‘handles cases of real international importance’ and ‘knows her brief inside out’. She is said to be a ‘natural lead advocate’ who is ‘tactically first class’ and ‘a rare combination of intellectual depth and pragmatism’. The directories also spotlight her ‘superb advocacy’ and ‘commanding presence before courts’ and describe her as ‘a dream performer before international tribunals’. They also emphasize that she is ‘fantastically innovative’ with an ability to galvanize ‘heads of state, foreign ministers and business … in a way that is very effective’ for victims of human rights abuses. She is described as ‘unafraid to raise novel points of law’, ‘very sophisticated in pushing the boundaries’ and having a ‘passionate commitment to the law and compassion for the people it serves’.

Amal frequently represents victims of mass atrocities, including genocide and sexual violence. She has acted in many landmark human rights cases in recent years including the world’s first trial in which an ISIS member was convicted of committing genocide against Yazidis. Amal also represents Yazidi victims in the first case alleging complicity in crimes against humanity by a company that funded the terror group.

Education

Oxford University (St Hugh’s College) (BA, Jurisprudence); New York University School of Law (LLM).

Mentions

London Bar

International crime and extradition

LEADING JUNIORS2

Amal Clooney –Doughty Street Chambers ‘She is the master of having a complete strategy and advancing the law one case at a time, always with the bigger picture in mind.’

London Bar

Public international law

LEADING JUNIORS1

Amal Clooney –Doughty Street Chambers  ‘Amal has long been performing at the level of Silk. Her command of granular legal detail and facts is combined with an astute strategic mind and compelling advocacy style. She is the master of having a complete strategy for her clients and advancing the law one case at a time, always with the bigger picture in mind.’