187 Chambers

An international lawyer par excellence, he specialises in international crime,
transitional justice and European law (especially in the fields of crime,
employment and immigration), staying at the cutting-edge by publishing and
teaching at the University of West London.
The advocate of choice in cases with a cross border element, he brings to the
table international expertise, skilled advocacy and a relentless determination. In
domestic proceedings, he is tailored for advocacy in proceedings involving issues
of extradition, immunity, human trafficking, immigration crime, drug trafficking,
money laundering, international fraud, bribery of foreign officials, terrorism and
war crimes.
One of the most experienced war crimes advocates globally, his cases have
tracked much of the development of modern international criminal law, starting
with the acquittal of the former Rwandan education minister for genocide.

International Crime: The advocate of choice in cases with a cross border element, he brings to the table international expertise, skilled advocacy and a relentless determination. In domestic proceedings, he is tailored for advocacy in proceedings involving issues of extradition, immunity, human trafficking, immigration crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, international fraud, bribery of foreign officials, terrorism and war crimes. Internationally, he acts for the former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo before the International Criminal Court. He previously represented General Germain Katanga, the second trial before the ICC. Dr O’Shea is on the Ethics Committee of the ICCBA addressing ICC regulatory issues. One of the most experienced war crimes advocates globally, his cases have tracked much of the development of modern international criminal law, starting with the acquittal of the former Rwandan education minister for genocide. He represented high profile accused before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Transitional Justice: He is a leading expert in transitional justice. His expertise is called upon in Page 1/2 unusual issues in transitional societies. He represented ICC staff detained and subsequently released in Libya. He advised truth commissions, notably in South Africa and Burundi, represented applicants for amnesty and drafted the international law section of the South African TRC report. He argued the legality of amnesty before the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and engaged in negotiations for an accused on the interaction between Sierra Leone’s TRC and the Special Court. EU and European human rights law: crime, employment and immigration BREXIT ushering in an uncertain future, he is well suited to assist with issues of European criminal law, free movement and employment. He can accept instructions in proceedings before the Court of Justice and EU Commission, appeals, judicial reviews, employment claims and immigration appeals. In the parallel arena of human rights, he offers assistance in domestic and international proceedings, providing representation before the European Court of Human Rights. He assists with domestic proceedings before foreign courts, working in conjunction with foreign lawyers. He is also registered to practice in Malta.

European Circuit and the European Immigration Lawyers Network

Publications:

His book Amnesty for Crime in International Law and Practice, 2002, is one of the most comprehensive and widely read works on the subject and was described by renowned Professor John Dugard SC as ‘essential reading for scholars and practitioners’.