Carl is a member of the Bar of England and Wales, and a former solicitor. He is a member of Chambers and currently serves on the Management Committee. Carl is a Barrister with an established domestic and international practice.
As a former solicitor, he spent the first 10 years of his career specialising in domestic crime, representing individuals across the full spectrum of offences, from driving matters, to murder and terrorism.
Carl also successfully developed and headed one of the largest prison law departments in the country, specialising in life sentence/IPP prisoners, and associated Human Rights claims, including the rights of citizens detained abroad.
Carl is a recognised International law specialist in the areas of International Criminal and Public Law, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, Transitional Justice, and the Rule of Law, and has lectured extensively on international human rights, and associated areas of international law.
Carl has provided extensive advice and training to judges, lawyers, law enforcement agencies, and civilians throughout the Middle-East, and South Asia.
Carl has brought cases on behalf of individuals before all levels of the UK Judicial System, the European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court at The Hague, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, the UN Human Rights Committee, and the UN System of Protection, and further, drafted and filed submissions before UN Inquires into a number of conflict and post conflict scenarios, including Israel and the Occupied territories, and Libya.
He is an experienced advisor on judicial reform, legislative reform, and institution building, internationally, including the development of bespoke training and legislative reform packages.
Domestically, he is experienced in domestic application of the European Convention on Human Rights, and other applicable international human rights provisions to relevant context within the UK including privacy issues, and further, significant experience with Determinate and Life Sentence prisoners, both representation before Parole Boards, and arising claims for Judicial Review.
Carl has brought numerous Civil claims for damages arising out of Data Protection Act breaches, violations of Article 3, 5, 8, 9, of the European Convention on Human Rights, and associated claims under the Equalities Act.
Current work
Notable International Instructions:
Kosovo
Specialist Defence Counsel, Kosovo Specialist Chambers, instructed by Nasim Haradinaj The Prosecutor v. Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj.
Syria
Member of the legal team instructed by the Syria National movement in relation to the ‘Caesar’ investigation into the mass starvation, detention, torture, and murder of thousands of Syrian citizens.
Investigation into the death of Dr. Abbas Khan, a British surgeon detained by the Syrian Government, who later died in custody.
Filing of a case in Spain under the principles of Universal Jurisdiction on behalf of a Spanish victim of the atrocities committed by the Syrian regime.
Part of the team that authored the International Bar Association Training Manual for Syrian Lawyers on bringing claims under principles of Universal Jurisdiction.
Drafting the Article 15 communication to the ICC requesting a preliminary examination be opened in the first application of the ‘Myanmar’ decision.
Part of the team instructed by the Dutch Government to assist with a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) detailing violations of the Un Torture Convention.
Libya
Along with other members of Chambers, instructed by an international NGO, to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Libya. Two Article 15 communications have been submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court on the issue so far;
Pakistan
Part of the team instructed by the Government of Pakistan, tasked with an investigation into money laundering and corruption;
Egypt
An instruction to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity and torture being committed in the Egypt;
UAE
Investigation of allegations of torture being committed in the UAE.
Rwanda
Instructed by the Government of Rwanda to assist in the pursuance of Genocide accountability.
Gambia
Assisting Global Rights Compliance in the drafting of the ‘Basic Investigative Skills’ Manual for the Government of Gambia.
Training of Gambian Judges and Prosecutors on the subject of Torture, and ‘Case Building’.
Notable Domestic Instructions:
R (on the application of Benit) v. The Parole Board – an application for Judicial Review following a refusal to release the Claimant on Parole (hearing 2022)
R (on the application of Khan) v. The Secretary of State for Justice – an application for Judicial Review of an argued unlawful policy of Strip Search.
R (on the application of Raw) v. The Parole Board – an application for Judicial Review following a refusal to release the Claimant on Parole (Court of Appeal)
Mohammad Hammad v. The Secretary of State for Justice – A Claim following alleged breach of the Equality Act and Article 9 ECHR.
Richard Jeavons v. Chief Constable of West Mids. Police – A Claim for assault following and alleged unlawful use of force.
Notable Past International Instructions Include:
Contributing author to the amicus curiae brief, requesting a Presidential pardon for Chelsea Manning, granted by President Obama at the end of his term of office;
Contributing author to the amicus curiae brief submiHope you feel tted to the International Criminal Court concerning the question of jurisdiction on the situation in Myanmar regarding the Rohingya.
Contributing author to the amicus curiae brief submitted to the International Criminal Court concerning the question of jurisdiction on the situation in Palestine and the Occupied Territories.
Filing of submissions to the UN Commission of Inquiry following Operation Protective Edge in.
Gaza
Training of Palestinian Lawyers in Jerusalem;
Instructed by Dr. Mohamed Morsi, former President of Egypt, to file a submission with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary detention, and other relevant special rapporteurs.
Part of the legal team advising on the Syrian ‘Caesar’ evidence;
Previously instructed with other members of Chambers, by the Government of the Maldives, to advise on Judicial and Legislative reform.
Previous experience:
Prior to transferring to the Bar, Carl was a Solicitor, Higher Court Advocate (Crime), and Partner at one of the Country’s largest Criminal Defence firms, specialising in Criminal Defence, Prison Law, and associated Human Rights actions.
Education
- LLB University of Northampton
- BVC Manchester Metropolitan University
Memberships
- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- Association of Young International Criminal Lawyers
Appointments and Awards
- List of Specialist Defence Counsel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers
- Partner at TMC Advisory Group
- Director of the International Forum for Democracy and Human Rights
- Consultant at DG Legal
- Previously, Partner Stevens Solicitors
Publications
- Muslim Brotherhood – The Myth of Violence and Terrorism
- Egypt’s Stolen Democracy – Understanding the Motivations and Key Actors
- Shattered Dreams in Egypt – The end to the hopes for Democracy
- The Rule of Law in Developing Countries – The Case of Bangladesh
- Pakistan and the 1971 Conflict in Bangladesh
- Numerous ‘Op-Eds’ in a number of media outlets, national and international.
Expertise
- Extradition & Mutual Legal Assistance
- Rule of Law Development
- Government Advisory Work
- Public International Law
- Atrocity Crime Prevention
- International Criminal Law
- Anti-Corruption & Bribery
- International Commercial Law, Arbitration & Mediation