MEET:
Chris Buttler KC
“An elite-level silk”; “Chris's advocacy is powerful, persuasive and delivered with exquisite precision, and his brain works at supersonic speed. He can turn any legal argument into a clear and crisp point”
Chambers and Partners (2026)
Chris is a leading silk in the field of judicial review, acting mainly for businesses and individuals to overturn governmental and regulatory decisions. He has acted in hundreds of claims for judicial review, including many high-profile cases. He practises in the UK and in offshore jurisdictions.
- R (Sussex University) v Office for Students – acting for a university to challenge adverse regulatory findings.
- R (Ali) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – acting for an individual to challenge arrangements for transposing parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
- R (Care North East Northumberland) v Northumberland County Council – acting for care home providers to challenge a local authority’s pricing decision.
- R (Castellucci) v Gender Recognition Panel – acting for an individual to challenge a refusal to recognise US non-binary gender certificates.
- R (Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd) v Swindon Magistrates Court – acting for a company to overturn a ruling on liability to obtain housing licences.
- R (Simonis) v Arts Council England – acting for an art dealer to challenge an export licensing decision.
- Langford v Secretary of State for Defence – acting for an individual to challenge the rules of a public sector pension scheme.
- Epping Forest v Somani Hotels – acting for a commercial accommodation provider to oppose a public law injunction application.
- R (Oji) v Director of Legal Aid Casework – acting for an individual to challenge the refusal of legal aid for Windrush compensation applications.
- R (RN) v First-tier Tribunal – acting for an individual to challenge the approach to criminal injuries compensation for threats of violence.
- R (Caribbean Utilities Company) v Utility and Competition Office – acting for a company to challenge conditions imposed on an electricity generation licence.
- R (Infinity Broadband Ltd) v Utility and Competition Office – acting for a company to challenge the lawfulness of a tax on ICT providers.
- R (Roulstone) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for an individual to challenge the rules for a national referendum on a cruise ship port.
- R (CTMH Holdings) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for a company to challenge the validity of customs duty waivers granted to rivals.
- R (Johnson) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for a company and individual to challenge the compulsory acquisition of land.
- R (National Conservation Council) v Central Planning Authority – acting for the NCC to challenge the CPA’s refusal to implement its directions.
- R (Caribbean Utilities Company) v Cayman Islands Ombudsman – acting for a company to challenge the release of commercially sensitive information.
- Chris Johnson Associates v Immigration Appeals Tribunal – acting for a company to challenge work permit conditions.
- R (Mailer and others) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for individuals to challenge their removal from a public board.
- R (VT and others) v Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory – acting for a group of individuals challenging their detention on Diego Garcia.
- R (Waterkeepers Bahamas Ltd) v Government of the Bahamas – acting for a company resisting a challenge to an exploration licence.
MA in Geography, Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, First Class Honours, 2000
MPhil in International Development, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, 2002
(Dissertation on the legality of trade sanctions in international environmental treaties)
Diploma in Law, City University, 2003
Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, 2004
Research Award, Economic & Social Research Council, 2000
Princess Royal Scholarship, Inner Temple, 2003
Chris is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to their clients, including advice and representation services, Chris needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes their client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which they are instructed. To read Chris’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
“Chris Buttler is an elite-level silk”; “Chris is really brilliant and his advocacy is spectacular”; “Chris has a real vision for the case, and he really drives it forward and helps the team move it forward”; “Chris's advocacy is powerful, persuasive and delivered with exquisite precision, and his brain works at supersonic speed. He can turn any legal argument into a clear and crisp point”
“Chris is a go-to judicial review leader. He is utterly brilliant”
"Chris Buttler is a formidable advocate"; "He is a very compelling advocate …He's both considered and measured, and the court really trusts him"; "Chris is brilliant at devising strategy and presenting the case. He’s also responsive and a pleasure to work with"
“His advocacy is outstanding”; "Chris is exceptionally skilled at narrowing down the issues and condenses complex points into short, razor-sharp arguments”
“Absolutely phenomenal; my go-to for anything complicated that requires an astute leader. His advocacy is absolutely brilliant: very sharp, polished, clear and to the point. He is really good at identifying clear-cut legal points"
“Chris is a stellar advocate. He is crystal clear in his oral submissions and has an impressive ability to make complex arguments punchy and accessible"
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Commercial Law
- Commercial Public Law
- Education Law
- Environmental Law and Natural Resources
- Equality and Discrimination Law
- Health and Social Care (including welfare benefits)
- Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement
- International Refugee Law
- Modern Slavery Law
- Offshore Dispute Resolution
- Police, Inquests and Prison
- Private International Law
- Public Law
- Public Law: Information, Data and Privacy
- Tax Law
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
“An elite-level silk”; “Chris's advocacy is powerful, persuasive and delivered with exquisite precision, and his brain works at supersonic speed. He can turn any legal argument into a clear and crisp point”
Chambers and Partners (2026)
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Commercial Law
- Education Law
- Environmental Law and Natural Resources
- Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Public Law
- Public Law: Information, Data and Privacy
- Police, Inquests and Prison
- Health and Social Care (including welfare benefits)
- Commercial Public Law
- Private International Law
- Equality and Discrimination Law
- International Refugee Law
- Tax Law
- Offshore Dispute Resolution
- Modern Slavery Law
Chris Buttler KC
Contact Chris: chrisbuttler@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Chris's Practice Team (Team X): TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk
Chris is a leading silk in the field of judicial review, acting mainly for businesses and individuals to overturn governmental and regulatory decisions. He has acted in hundreds of claims for judicial review, including many high-profile cases. He practises in the UK and in offshore jurisdictions.
Examples of UK work
- R (Sussex University) v Office for Students – acting for a university to challenge adverse regulatory findings.
- R (Ali) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – acting for an individual to challenge arrangements for transposing parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
- R (Care North East Northumberland) v Northumberland County Council – acting for care home providers to challenge a local authority’s pricing decision.
- R (Castellucci) v Gender Recognition Panel – acting for an individual to challenge a refusal to recognise US non-binary gender certificates.
- R (Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd) v Swindon Magistrates Court – acting for a company to overturn a ruling on liability to obtain housing licences.
- R (Simonis) v Arts Council England – acting for an art dealer to challenge an export licensing decision.
- Langford v Secretary of State for Defence – acting for an individual to challenge the rules of a public sector pension scheme.
- Epping Forest v Somani Hotels – acting for a commercial accommodation provider to oppose a public law injunction application.
- R (Oji) v Director of Legal Aid Casework – acting for an individual to challenge the refusal of legal aid for Windrush compensation applications.
- R (RN) v First-tier Tribunal – acting for an individual to challenge the approach to criminal injuries compensation for threats of violence.
Examples of offshore work
- R (Caribbean Utilities Company) v Utility and Competition Office – acting for a company to challenge conditions imposed on an electricity generation licence.
- R (Infinity Broadband Ltd) v Utility and Competition Office – acting for a company to challenge the lawfulness of a tax on ICT providers.
- R (Roulstone) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for an individual to challenge the rules for a national referendum on a cruise ship port.
- R (CTMH Holdings) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for a company to challenge the validity of customs duty waivers granted to rivals.
- R (Johnson) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for a company and individual to challenge the compulsory acquisition of land.
- R (National Conservation Council) v Central Planning Authority – acting for the NCC to challenge the CPA’s refusal to implement its directions.
- R (Caribbean Utilities Company) v Cayman Islands Ombudsman – acting for a company to challenge the release of commercially sensitive information.
- Chris Johnson Associates v Immigration Appeals Tribunal – acting for a company to challenge work permit conditions.
- R (Mailer and others) v Cayman Islands Government – acting for individuals to challenge their removal from a public board.
- R (VT and others) v Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory – acting for a group of individuals challenging their detention on Diego Garcia.
- R (Waterkeepers Bahamas Ltd) v Government of the Bahamas – acting for a company resisting a challenge to an exploration licence.
Education
MA in Geography, Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, First Class Honours, 2000
MPhil in International Development, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, 2002
(Dissertation on the legality of trade sanctions in international environmental treaties)
Diploma in Law, City University, 2003
Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, 2004
Scholarships
Research Award, Economic & Social Research Council, 2000
Princess Royal Scholarship, Inner Temple, 2003
Chris's Privacy Notice
Chris is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to his clients, including advice and representation services, Chris 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 Chris’ privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
“Chris Buttler is an elite-level silk”; “Chris is really brilliant and his advocacy is spectacular”; “Chris has a real vision for the case, and he really drives it forward and helps the team move it forward”; “Chris's advocacy is powerful, persuasive and delivered with exquisite precision, and his brain works at supersonic speed. He can turn any legal argument into a clear and crisp point”
“Chris is a go-to judicial review leader. He is utterly brilliant”
"Chris Buttler is a formidable advocate"; "He is a very compelling advocate …He's both considered and measured, and the court really trusts him"; "Chris is brilliant at devising strategy and presenting the case. He’s also responsive and a pleasure to work with"
“His advocacy is outstanding”; "Chris is exceptionally skilled at narrowing down the issues and condenses complex points into short, razor-sharp arguments”
“Absolutely phenomenal; my go-to for anything complicated that requires an astute leader. His advocacy is absolutely brilliant: very sharp, polished, clear and to the point. He is really good at identifying clear-cut legal points"
“Chris is a stellar advocate. He is crystal clear in his oral submissions and has an impressive ability to make complex arguments punchy and accessible"