Robbie Stern

Contact Robbie: robbiestern@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447

Contact Robbie's Practice Team (Team T): TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk

Robbie practises in public law and human rights, criminal law, inquests and inquiries and media & information law. Much of his work across these areas focuses on extradition and cross-border crime, human trafficking, protest, data rights and policing.

He is ranked in Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in (i) Administrative law and human rights, (ii) Crime, (iii) Extradition, and (iv) Inquests and Inquiries; and in Chambers and Partners as “Up and Coming” in (i) Civil Liberties & Human Rights, (ii) Extradition, (iii) Inquests & Public Inquiries, and (iv) Protest Law.

He is was nominated for Crime and Extradition Junior of the Year in the 2026 Legal 500 Bar Awards.

Robbie trained at Matrix and joined as a Member in October 2021.

Public Law and Human Rights

Robbie has experience acting in a wide range of public law and human rights matters, with a particular interest in cases at the intersection of public law and criminal justice.

Recent work includes:

Protest law

• In re: Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Northern Ireland) Bill [2022] UKSC 32: Acted for the intervener JUSTICE in the first reference by the Attorney General of Northern Ireland to the UK Supreme Court, and the leading case on the defence of proportionality in protest cases (led by Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC). Press coverage here.

Immigration, asylum and human trafficking

• R (ABW) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 3280 (Admin): Acted for Anti-Slavery International, intervening in a successful challenge of the Home Secretary’s Public Order Disqualification policy, concerning the disqualification of potential victims of trafficking from recognition and support (led by Naina Patel KC).
• Acted for Anti-Slavery International in the lead cases in the Public Order Disqualification challenges (led by Helen Law KC). Press coverage here. Robbie also acted unled for an Albanian victim of trafficking, whose case before the Administrative Court was settled following compromise of the lead cases.
• R (XT) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Acted in a policy challenge to the Home Office’s refusal to provide safe house addresses to the criminal courts where remanded victims of trafficking are applying for bail. Following the grant of permission, the Home Office amended the policy under challenge (led by Chris Buttler KC).
• R (DG) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Acted (unled) in a challenge brought by an Eritrean victim of torture and trafficking, concerning delays by the Home Office in determining his Conclusive Grounds decision. Following the grant of permission, the claimant received positive Conclusive Grounds and asylum determinations.
• MI v UK: Instructed in an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the “safety net” for deportation cases under Part 5A of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (led by Raza Husain KC).
• D4 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWHC 2179: Assisted Dan Squires KC in a successful challenge to the “citizenship stripping” Regulations. Press coverage here.

National security, terrorism and criminal justice

• Salahuddin Amin and Rangzieb Amin v UK: Acting before the European Court of Human Rights in interlinked applications arising from significant, multi-decade terrorism litigation before the domestic civil and criminal courts (led by Helen Law KC)
• Abd Al-Rahim Al-Nashiri v UK Security Services [2023] UKIPTrib 6; [2023] UKIPTrib 9;  [2025] UKIPTrib 11: Acting for Mr Al-Nashiri, a “high value detainee” currently detained at Guantánamo Bay, whose complaint relates to alleged complicity of the UK Security Services in his rendition and torture. The case is currently before the Court of Appeal (led by Hugh Southey KC). Press coverage here and here.
• Fire Safety Litigation: Instructed by the Howard League for Penal Reform in proposed public law litigation relating to fire safety across the prison estate. The proposed challenge follows on from Robbie’s work on the Dupree inquest (led by Nick Armstrong KC). Press coverage here.
• DRJ & Ors v Australia: Instructed as part of the team representing five Yazidi women pro bono before the UN Committee Against Torture, in relation to trafficking and gender-based violence at the hands of an Australian ISIS fighter (led by Philippe Sands KC and Jo Buckley). Press coverage here.
• R (Latif) v Secretary of State for Justice: Assisted Dan Squires KC in a challenge concerning licence conditions for terrorist offenders following the Fishmongers’ Hall attacks.

Robbie has acted for appellants in Immigration and Asylum, Special Educational Needs and Social Security Tribunal proceedings. He also supervises student volunteers representing permanently excluded pupils under the School Exclusions Project.

He frequently advises NGOs and charities including JUSTICE, the Howard League for Penal Reform and Freedom from Torture.

Criminal Law and Extradition

Robbie’s criminal law practice focusses primarily on extradition and protest law.

Extradition

Robbie has experience representing requested persons in Part I and Part II cases at first instance and on appeal to the High Court. Recent work includes:

• India v Sanjay Bhandari [2025] EWHC 449 (Admin): Acted in the successful appeal against the extradition of a high net-worth Indian national, sought by the Government of India in relation to alleged money laundering and failure to declare foreign assets. The Court held that there was a real risk of a violation of Mr Bhandari’s Article 3 rights due to endemic use of torture and mistreatment to obtain confessions (led by Edward Fitzgerald KC and James Stansfeld).
• France v Gamez–Fetiva: Acting (unled) for a requested person sought by Martinique in relation to burglary offences.
• Latvia v Verners Miklavs: Acting (unled) in the Administrative Court in appeal concerning inter-prisoner violence within the Latvian prison caste system. Press coverage here.
• Romania v Szabo [2023] EWHC 2123 (Admin): Acted (unled) for the requested person in the Judicial Authority’s appeal against discharge, concerning the admission of prison condition assurances and the approach to Aranyosi requests under Article 613(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
• Ilia v Greece [2022] EWHC 3114 (Admin): Acted in successful defence of applicant’s attempt to re-open extradition proceedings (led by James Stansfeld).
• Pancu v Romania [2022] EWHC 1287 (Admin): Acted (unled) for the requested person in an appeal concerning the correct approach to delay in cases concerning rights to private and family life under Article 8 ECHR.
• Wozniak v Poland [2021] EWHC 2557 (Admin): Assisted Clare Montgomery KC in the leading extradition case concerning the independence of the Polish judiciary.

Robbie has experience acting and advising in international prisoner transfer cases. He is currently a committee member of the Defence Extradition Lawyers’ Forum.

Protest Law

Robbie is a protest law specialist across criminal and civil law. Recent criminal work include:

• R v Hallam & ors [2025] EWCA Crim 199: Acted in the landmark appeal arising from sentences imposed on environmental protestors. The appellants had received sentences unprecedented in the context of peaceful protest, held on appeal to be manifestly excessive and reduced (led by Danny Friedman KC). Press coverage here and here.
• R v Louis McKechnie & ors [2024] EWCA Crim 1040: Acted (unled) in the Court of Appeal in the first appeal concerning the statutory offence of causing a public nuisance under Section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, having also acted in the first ever trial of the new offence (before Mr Justice Garnham). The six Just Stop Oil activists were charged following an invasion of the racetrack at the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix. Press coverage here and here.
• R v Summerson and Brown [2026] EWCA Crim 625: Acted (unled) in the Court of Appeal in Palestine Action appeal relating to the mental element of the offence of affray.
• R v Richard Barnard & ors (“Elbit 8”): Acted for the third defendant in six-week trial of the Palestine Action founders. The defendants faced charges of blackmail, criminal damage and burglary following action aimed at shutting down the operation of arms manufacturer Elbit (hung jury). Press coverage here and here.
• R v Noah Crane & Ors: Secured acquittal in trial of Just Stop Oil protestors who staged pitch invasion at the British Open. Press coverage here.
• R v Peter Knapp and ors: Acted for Mr Knapp in a successful appeal to the Crown Court following conviction. Mr Knapp was charged with causing criminal damage to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) building during the course of a Scientist Rebellion environmental protest. Coverage here.
• R v Joseph Paxton: Acted for a defendant charged with riot following the 2021 “Kill the Bill” Protests in Bristol (hung jury, guilty plea subsequently accepted for violent disorder).
• R v Thacker & Ors [2021] EWCA Crim 97 (“Stansted 15”): Assisted Clare Montgomery KC in the successful appeal against conviction.

Contempt of Court

Robbie accepts instructions in committal proceedings. Recent work includes:

• UK Insurance Ltd v Syed Mohammed Yusuf Ali & Ors [2024] EWHC 30 (KB): Acted (unled) for the first defendant in proceedings relating to “crash for cash” scam and subsequent falsification of witness statements. Successfully contested the Claimant’s application for permission.
• Say Chong Lim & Ors v Francis Ong [2024] EWHC 373 (Ch): Acted for the defendant in committal proceedings before the Property and Business Division, involving alleged dissipation of assets in breach of worldwide freezing order (led by Rupert Bowers KC).

Crime and criminal appeals

Robbie has a varied appellate and advisory practice and is frequently instructed to advise on human rights issues arising in criminal cases.

Recent work includes advising on abuse of process in relation to high profile criminal proceedings in the Bahamas (led by Matthew Ryder KC) and in a death row appeal in in Jamaica (led by Jim Robottom).

During his traineeship, Robbie assisted Clare Montgomery KC across a range of criminal law matters, including the EncroChat litigation and a securities fraud in Hong Kong. Before joining Matrix, Robbie worked as legal assistant to Nigel Lambert KC in R v Aizlewood & ors, a major SFO-prosecuted trial involving the misappropriation of public funds by professional footballers.

Inquests, Inquiries and Actions against the Police

Inquests and Inquiries

Robbie has significant experience acting for bereaved family members in inquests. Recent instructions include:

• Clare Dupree: Acted for the family in significant 5-week prison inquest, relating to a death following a prison fire at HMP Eastwood Park. The jury identified missed opportunities, finding that a lack of automatic in-cell fire detection caused a delay in detecting the fire (led by Nick Armstrong KC). Press coverage here; Prevention of Future Deaths report here.
• Nadine Askew: Acted for the family inquest concerning death of a solider at the Larkhill military base. Press coverage here.
• Barry Harmer: Acted for the family in inquest concerning death of a retired headmaster, with significant failings found on the part of the Mental Health Trust in relation to bed allocation and access to psychiatry. Prevention of Future Deaths report here.
• Ash Bannister: Acted for the father in inquest following death of non-binary child in residential care setting. The coroner highlighted extensive concerns in relation to the care provider’s policies and practices. Prevention of Future Deaths report here.
• Robert Botello: Acted for the father in Article 2 jury inquest following death at St Mary’s Hospital under police supervision. The jury found extensive deficiencies in the relevant Trusts’ communication; identification; and information management systems as possible causes of Roberto’s death. Prevention of Future Deaths report here.
• Molly-Ann Sergeant. Acted for the grandmother in Article 2 inquest concerning death of teenage girl on Mersea Island who had previously been detained as a mental health patient. The coroner found that social care’s failure to discharge aftercare functions contributed to her death. Prevention of Future Deaths report here.

Robbie’s inquiry experience includes:

• The Manston Inquiry: Currently acting as junior counsel for 20 victims within the Inquiry (led by Jesse Nicholls).
• The Covid-19 Inquiry: Acted for the Disabled People’s Organisations (led by Danny Friedman KC). Robbie’s work focussed in particular on vaccines, the economy and Government in Northern Ireland.

Robbie has a particular interest in these jurisdictions having previously led JUSTICE’s When Things Go Wrong Working Party, a two-year project exploring reform of inquests and inquiries. He is a member of the INQUEST Lawyers Group.

Actions against the police and other public authorities

Robbie has significant experience (unled and as a led junior) acting and advising in civil actions against the police, Ministry of Justice, Home Office and local authorities.

Media and Information Law

Robbie acts for both defendants and claimants across defamation, privacy, data protection and open justice matters. Recent work includes:

• Mueen-Uddin v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] UKSC 21; [2022] EWCA Civ 1703; [2021] EWHC 3026 (QB): Acted in the UK Supreme Court in libel and data protection case involving significant consideration of the Hunter and Jameel abuse principles. The claims were brought in respect of contested allegations of war crimes committed in the Bangladesh War of Independence (led by Anthony Hudson KC).
• Acted as junior counsel in the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation (phone hacking).
• Shell v Persons Unknown: Acted (unled) for Extinction Rebellion in the High Court, contesting the terms of “persons unknown” injunctions obtained by Shell against environmental protestors at its London headquarters and its regional refineries.
• Acted for the defendant in libel claim involving allegations of misconduct by village parishioners (led by Ian Helme).
• Advising on potential libel claims (in the context of sensitive strategic litigation) against a professional body.
• Acted (unled) in a misuse of private information/data breach case involving online publication of protest injunction material by a local authority.
• Advisory work for a major trade union on data protection; freedom of information; and electronic surveillance matters.

Robbie has worked as a night lawyer at a major broadsheet and for a national broadcaster. He is co-author of the chapter on the Right to be Forgotten in Online Publication Claims: A Practical Guide (2nd edn).

Robbie is a founding committee member of Next Generation Media Lawyers, where he also acts as E&D officer.

Background

Before joining Matrix, Robbie was Senior Legal Fellow at law reform and human rights organisation JUSTICE. During his time at JUSTICE, Robbie was Associate Editor at Just Security, the national security and rights blog based at NYU School of Law.

Robbie holds a double first-class degree in English from the University of Cambridge and a first-class, accelerated LLB from Queen Mary University of London.

Scholarships and awards include:

• John and Sophie Laws Scholarship, Bar European Group
• David Karmel European Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
• Postgraduate Scholarship, City Law School
• Senior Status Bursary, Queen Mary School of Law
• College Prize (Pt II examinations), Pembroke College Cambridge
• Foundress Prize, Pembroke College Cambridge
• Foundation Scholarship, Pembroke College Cambridge

Robbie has also worked for many years as a professional musician.

Robbie is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to his clients, including advice and representation services, Robbie needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes his client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which he is instructed. To read Robbie’s privacy notice in full, please see here.