Vaughan Lowe KC
Essex Court ChambersEssex Court Chambers is experienced in inter-state disputes, investor state proceedings and advisory opinions concerning public international law, where the set’s barristers have been instructed in numerous cases before the international courts and tribunals, namely the ICJ, ECHR and ITLOS. Among the sets work highlights is the Climate Change advisory proceedings before ITLOS and before the ICJ in which Ben Juratowitch is acting on behalf of the UK and leads Amy Sander before ITLOS regarding questions of state obligations to curb climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Further members of the chambers involved in the ICJ case are Dan Sarooshi KC who represents the UAE and Sam Wordsworth KC who is acting on behalf of the government of Belize, leading Sean Aughey and Naomi Hart. Vaughan Lowe KC is part of a team representing South Africa, and Malcolm Shaw KC is part of a team representing Israel, in the South Africa v Israel ICJ case, in which South Africa alleges that aspects of Israel’s military response to the October 7th 2023 attack on it by Hamas amount to genocide. Tariq Baloch joined from 3 Verulam Buildings in October 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent clerks, particularly Ben Perry.'
- 'The clerking team are responsive and helpful. Joe Ferrigno is a class above.'
- 'Ben Perry is well-experienced clerking PIL practitioners who understands the particular demands of that field.'
- 'They are a top PIL set, with some leading practitioners who are at the top of the field.'
- 'Essex Court has unparalleled experience in public international law and human rights. The team is second to none in the UK. Counsel are always available and have the capacity to produce excellent submissions working against short deadlines.'
- 'Great service - very proactive, problem-solving approach, smooth handling of the relationship with the instructing law firm.'
- 'One of the mega sets. If you can't find a specialist there, the area may not exist!'
Silks
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Ben Juratowitch KC
Essex Court Chambers ‘Ben is fast becoming a go-to silk for both commercial arbitration and public international law; he combines razor-sharp advocacy, with uncommon collegiality and client handling.’
Alison Macdonald KC
Essex Court Chambers 'Alison is an outstanding international law advocate. She has a strategic approach and an expert understanding of international human rights law, international criminal law and public international law - a real pleasure to work with.'
Malcolm Shaw KC
Essex Court Chambers 'Very considered and knowledgeable. One of the leading minds in his field. Very user friendly. Excellent and concise written opinions.'
Sam Wordsworth KC
Essex Court Chambers ‘Absolutely rigorous in his application of the salient authorities to the most cogent points and comes across as eminently reasonable while taking on and marginalising the other sides’ arguments.’
Dan Sarooshi KC
Essex Court Chambers 'Highly experienced before the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals, with the academic credentials and knowledge to inform strong litigation skills and persuasive ability.'
Paul Key KC
Essex Court Chambers ‘Paul's is the first number to call for a Public International law issue. He’s a world authority - and a delight to work with.’
Lucas Bastin KC
Essex Court Chambers ‘Lucas is a fantastic and very persuasive advocate. His knowledge of public international law and state immunity is excellent, and he is able to combine his pure public international law knowledge with his practice at the commercial Bar to the advantage of his clients.’
Juniors
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Sean Aughey
Essex Court Chambers
Amy Sander
Essex Court Chambers ‘She is very thorough and reliable, and excellent at drafting while paying attention to details.’
Paul Wee
Essex Court Chambers
Naomi Hart
Essex Court Chambers ‘Naomi is highly reliable, diligent, and competent. She has outstanding drafting skills and pays close attention to details. An invaluable member of the legal team.’
Matthieu Gregoire
Essex Court Chambers ‘A strategic thinker, very commercial, a great advocate who is very calm and articulate and has the ear of the tribunal while remaining very user-friendly. Definitely one of the best of his generation.’
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Alan Boyle
Essex Court Chambers3
Tariq Baloch
Essex Court Chambers
Jackie McArthur
Essex Court Chambers 'First class - exceptional attention to detail, seriously impressive command of her field and first-rate team member.'
Luke Tattersall
Essex Court Chambers
Thomas Sebastian
Essex Court Chambers ‘One of the most insightful minds at the Bar in my view. Enormously intelligent but wears it lightly. Diligent, super smart and an all-round class act.’