Extradition and Mutual Assistance

Email: PracticeStaff_TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk

Matrix has a number of the leading extradition and mutual assistance practitioners in the country. Members of the Extradition and Mutual Assistance Group regularly appear for governments and defendants in ground breaking cases, including:
 
• General Pinochet
• the “Natwest 3”
• Osman
• Kashamu
• 9/11
• USA v Gary McKinnon
• Rottman
• The murder of Theo van Gogh
• Wellington
• Dytlow
• Ramda
• Al-Fawwaz
• Caldarelli
• Gomes & Goodyer
• Berezovzky
• Duess
• Dabas
 
Led by a Practice Team that are regarded as “exceptionally good...friendly and efficient... superb…well organised and have a realistic approach and commercial appreciation” (Legal 500 2012), in 2011, the legal directories continue to praise the Extradition and MA team:
 
“Star” and co-author of ‘The Law of Extradition and Mutual Assistance’, Clare Montgomery QC is:
 
• “Exceptionally good... one of the best criminal silks around” (Legal 500 2012)
• “Enormously admired…currently recognised as being at her peak…Her talents tend towards public cases involving crime and criminal due process…a fantastic advocate who is a “ball of fire” and an “unstoppable force”…”a formidable and determined”, she “pays extreme attention to detail when handling cases”. She is a “stellar silk” who “has for years commanded the unquestioned respect of the market. Brilliant at everything she does, whether it is handling crime, fraud or extradition matters, she is a must-have for those who crave the elite…one of the best in the business when it comes to relating to judges”…”a first-class advocate who would be in anybody's top ten of the best silks at the Bar, regardless of practice area. Such is her esteem in terms of general crime, fraud and public law that she can virtually have the pick of any cases she wants” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• “One of the ten best silks in the country” with an “an intellect that soars far above others”. “Tackling a highly regarded practice strong in both general crime and extradition”, she is a “formidable opponent who's as sharp as a knife”. She is hailed as “an advocate of extraordinary abilities…arguably the best barrister at the Criminal Bar…ludicrously intelligent, quick, hard-working, and phenomenal in court... she's just fantastic at what she does”. “Fantastically well prepared and blindingly good on her feet”, she is “down to earth and sensible… just outstanding no matter what the brief”. “Undoubtedly a luminary amongst her generation of silks. Highly sought after for both civil and criminal work, in everything she does, she is better than the rest” (Chambers & Partners 2011)
 
“Stellar” Julian Knowles QC, author of ‘Blackstone's Guide to the Extradition Act 2003’  and co-author of ‘The Law of Extradition and Mutual Assistance’:
 
• He “has wide experience in criminal, extradition, EU and international rights law…a switched-on and committed lawyer who is an excellent choice for appellate work” (Chambers & Partners, 2012)
• “Is a brain on legs who is developing a great appellant practice”, “pre-eminent for complex crime” with “a great grasp of complex detail” who “offers superb advice and numerous pro bono hours”. He has a “solid reputation for human rights and criminal justice cases... his opinions are exemplary and he wins marks from observers for his willingness to undertake pro bono work” (Chambers & Partners 2011)
 
Former DPP, Lord Ken Macdonald QC is; 
 
• “A clever and resourceful man who is a boon to solicitors as he is such a great communicator” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• “A big name” with “an incredible intellect” noted for his “down-to-earth demeanour and clear communication of the most perplexing legal concepts” who undertakes “heavy-duty advisory work for governments and corporations” (Chambers & Partners 2011)
 
In June 2011, Ben Emmerson QC was appointed as U.N. Special Rapporteur on Counter Terrorism and Human Rights. The legal directories describe him as;
 
• “Very smooth and impressive” (Legal 500 2012) 
• A “superb lawyer, who is extremely intelligent…with convincing jury advocacy and market-leading tactical expertise”. “Massively in demand” he “earns recognition for his criminal work and is continually in demand for cases with a human rights angle attached to them…vast experience of handling cases in the European Court of Human Rights”. He “has the ability to put together fantastic packages of ideas and is able to work minor miracles with the cases before him” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• “One of the ten best silks in the country”, “at the top of the tree when it comes to international human rights law with vast knowledge and experience”, “an obvious choice”, “with a fantastic reputation who has experience of acting in the European Court of Human Rights and in high-profile terrorism and national security cases”. He is “one of the best in terms of courtroom performance...extremely lucid, clear and forceful, he sweeps the judges along with him when handling cases of great importance...one of the first names out of the hat for solicitors faced with major human rights cases” (Chambers & Partners 2011)
 
Mark Summers is; 
 
• Noted for his “knowledge of extradition case law” (Legal 500 2012)
• “A high-level junior…incredibly good on the law, proving succinct yet powerful in his legal submissions” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• “Widely praised for his fantastic extradition practice…Mark has an encyclopaedic knowledge of extradition law at his fingertips and is a bold and confident advocate...very effective in court…” (Chambers & Partners 2011)
 
The “impeccable” Helen Law is a; 
 
• “Rising star of the Bar…she produces fine written work, is good on her feet, has enviable cross-examination skills and is persuasive in court” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
  
Throughout 2010 and 2011, the team have been at the cutting edge of Extradition and MA cases;
 
• Clare Montgomery QC and Julian Knowles QC are defending in South Africa v Dewani.
• Clare Montgomery QC, Ben Emmerson QC and Mark Summers all act in Sweden v Assange.
• Julian Knowles QC and Mark Summers represent Algeria and France respectively in Algeria & France v Khelifa, in the first competing claims for extradition under the 2003 Act.
• Clare Montgomery QC represented ex-Bosnian Vice President Ejup Ganic in the request by Serbia for his extradition relating to events in Sarajevo in 1992.
• Matthew Ryder QC and Mark Summers represented Fair trials International as interveners in Portugal v Garry Mann.
• Clare Montgomery QC and Julian Knowles QC appeared in Government of Rwanda v Brown and others.
• Clare Montgomery QC, Julian Knowles QC and Mark Summers are instructed in India v Patel, concerning the 1992 Gujarat race riots.