MEET:
Kate Cook
"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary."
Chambers & Partners 2023
Kate has specialist and wide-ranging expertise in environmental law. She also practises generally in public international, European Union and human rights law. She has appeared as counsel before the International Court of Justice and other international fora in cases relating to environmental issues and genocide. Her recent work includes advising states, NGOs and international organizations on climate emergency issues and advising UN agencies and NGOs on a range of biodiversity, land rights, due diligence and fisheries related issues. She is increasingly involved in climate litigation before the UK courts and is currently acting for Friends of the Earth UK in a judicial review concerning the UK’s financing of a gas field project in Mozambique. She has authored two legal guides published by UNFAO (details below), a textbook on wildlife law (Cameron May 2004) and regularly publishes and lectures on international and environmental issues including climate change, due diligence and related human rights.
Before joining Matrix in 2000, Kate worked for six years as a lawyer in the former Department of the Environment (International & EC Division), where she gained extensive experience of European litigation and negotiations and international treaty negotiations as well as domestic regulation.
ITLOS Case No. 31 Request For An Advisory Opinion Submitted By The Commission Of Small Island States On Climate Change And International Law (on behalf of Mauritius) 2023
Friends of the Earth UK v UKEF and others 2023: R (on the application of Friends of the Earth Ltd) v Secretary of State for International Trade/UK Export Finance (UKEF) [2023] EWCA Civ 14
Complaint to the UNECE Aarhus Committee on behalf of WWF UK and others (UK trade negotiations) admissible, merits pending (2023)
ICJ Croatia v Serbia (2014)
ICJ Australia v Japan (Antarctic Whaling) (2013)
ICJ Argentina v Uruguay (Pulp Mills) (2009)
Has advised on access to justice issues/Aarhus compliance in the context of EU and UK climate governance (2023)
Proposed international and EU measures to address methane emissions;
Designation of UK marine protected areas
Draft UK legislation on environmental rights
Potential challenge to further North Sea oil and gas production
Legal implications under international law relating to the development and testing of geoengineering technologies
Represented the UK at the following treaty negotiations/fora (either as sole representative or as legal advisor):
- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (trade in genetically modified organisms) including chairing the working group on liability
- The Liability Protocol to the Basel Convention (transboundary movement of hazardous wastes) Vice Chair of the ad hoc Working Group
- The revision of the FAO International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources
- The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment Through the Criminal Law The UN/ECE Guidelines on Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making
- CITES (trade in endangered species) – seconded to the Secretariat Basel Convention (hazardous waste)
- Convention on Biological Diversity IUCN: World Conservation Congress
- Berne Convention (wildlife) Standing Committee
Lead/sole author of two recent legal guides published by UNFAO:
Building resilience to climate change and disaster risks for small-scale fisheries communities. A human-rights-based approach to the implementation of Chapter 9 of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. Cook, K., Rosenbaum, K. L. and Poulain, F. 2021 Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7616en2012
Due diligence, tenure and agricultural investment: a guide on the dual responsibilities of private sector lawyers in advising on the acquisition of land and natural resources K Cook 2019.; FAO, Rome (Italy). Legal and Ethics Office
BA Joint Honours in Modern History and Modern Languages (French), Balliol College Oxford 1983-1987 (First Class)
Stage (Middle Temple: Bristow Award) with the Legal Service of the EC Commission and at the European Court of Justice (in the chambers of A-G Francis Jacobs) 1991-1992
LLM New York University Law School (International Legal Studies) 2000
Helped set up the Legal Response Initiative (LRI) with a number of law firms and NGOs. LRI provides pro bono support to Least Developed Countries and civil society at the UN Climate Change negotiations (Chair of LRI from March 2015-March 2017.) 2009-2023
In order order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Kate needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and personal data about others who feature in the matter on which she is instructed. This Privacy Notice describes the personal information Kate collects, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.
"A committed junior, who stands out for her depth of knowledge, particularly in respect of climate change issues."
"Kate is a specialist in climate change law, but also understands the scientific context. She is an expert in the team and provides really invaluable expertise."
"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary." "Kate's research and advice has been exemplary."
"She has unparalleled expertise in international environmental agreements, is extremely client-focused and gets to the bottom of issues extremely quickly."
"One of the most experienced environmental lawyers, she provides calm, pragmatic and insightful advice and cares deeply about the issues."
"Kate is a deeply knowledgeable, committed, responsive and engaged barrister." "She has a really good understanding of the law around maritime issues."
"She is calm, unflappable, and her previous experience enables her to provide clear and consistently incisive advice."
"A specialist in environment, climate change and biodiversity matters, she is calm and unflappable and she provides clear and consistently incisive advice."
"Understands the principles and practice of international environmental law and provides cogent and focused advice."
"Extensive experience on a range of climate change-related issues at the international and national levels."
"She is a specialist in international environmental law."
"She really gets into the detail of a case and is very easy and smooth to deal with."
"Strong on environment matters involving international and EU law."
"A real depth of experience in environmental law."
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary."
Chambers & Partners 2023
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- International Arbitration
- Environmental Law and Natural Resources
- EU Law
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Investigations
- Local Government Law
- Public International Law
- Public Law
- Commercial Public Law
- Competition and EU
Kate Cook
Contact Kate: katecook@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Kate's Practice Team (Team X): TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk
Kate has specialist and wide-ranging expertise in environmental law. She also practises generally in public international, European Union and human rights law. She has appeared as counsel before the International Court of Justice and other international fora in cases relating to environmental issues and genocide. Her recent work includes advising states, NGOs and international organizations on climate emergency issues and advising UN agencies and NGOs on a range of biodiversity, land rights, due diligence and fisheries related issues. She is increasingly involved in climate litigation before the UK courts and is currently acting for Friends of the Earth UK in a judicial review concerning the UK’s financing of a gas field project in Mozambique. She has authored two legal guides published by UNFAO (details below), a textbook on wildlife law (Cameron May 2004) and regularly publishes and lectures on international and environmental issues including climate change, due diligence and related human rights.
Before joining Matrix in 2000, Kate worked for six years as a lawyer in the former Department of the Environment (International & EC Division), where she gained extensive experience of European litigation and negotiations and international treaty negotiations as well as domestic regulation.
Selected notable and recent cases
ITLOS Case No. 31 Request For An Advisory Opinion Submitted By The Commission Of Small Island States On Climate Change And International Law (on behalf of Mauritius) 2023
Friends of the Earth UK v UKEF and others 2023: R (on the application of Friends of the Earth Ltd) v Secretary of State for International Trade/UK Export Finance (UKEF) [2023] EWCA Civ 14
Complaint to the UNECE Aarhus Committee on behalf of WWF UK and others (UK trade negotiations) admissible, merits pending (2023)
ICJ Croatia v Serbia (2014)
ICJ Australia v Japan (Antarctic Whaling) (2013)
ICJ Argentina v Uruguay (Pulp Mills) (2009)
Recent advisory work
Has advised on access to justice issues/Aarhus compliance in the context of EU and UK climate governance (2023)
Proposed international and EU measures to address methane emissions;
Designation of UK marine protected areas
Draft UK legislation on environmental rights
Potential challenge to further North Sea oil and gas production
Legal implications under international law relating to the development and testing of geoengineering technologies
International environmental treaty negotiations
Represented the UK at the following treaty negotiations/fora (either as sole representative or as legal advisor):
- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (trade in genetically modified organisms) including chairing the working group on liability
- The Liability Protocol to the Basel Convention (transboundary movement of hazardous wastes) Vice Chair of the ad hoc Working Group
- The revision of the FAO International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources
- The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment Through the Criminal Law The UN/ECE Guidelines on Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making
- CITES (trade in endangered species) – seconded to the Secretariat Basel Convention (hazardous waste)
- Convention on Biological Diversity IUCN: World Conservation Congress
- Berne Convention (wildlife) Standing Committee
Recent Publications
Lead/sole author of two recent legal guides published by UNFAO:
Building resilience to climate change and disaster risks for small-scale fisheries communities. A human-rights-based approach to the implementation of Chapter 9 of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. Cook, K., Rosenbaum, K. L. and Poulain, F. 2021 Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7616en2012
Due diligence, tenure and agricultural investment: a guide on the dual responsibilities of private sector lawyers in advising on the acquisition of land and natural resources K Cook 2019.; FAO, Rome (Italy). Legal and Ethics Office
Other Information
BA Joint Honours in Modern History and Modern Languages (French), Balliol College Oxford 1983-1987 (First Class)
Stage (Middle Temple: Bristow Award) with the Legal Service of the EC Commission and at the European Court of Justice (in the chambers of A-G Francis Jacobs) 1991-1992
LLM New York University Law School (International Legal Studies) 2000
Helped set up the Legal Response Initiative (LRI) with a number of law firms and NGOs. LRI provides pro bono support to Least Developed Countries and civil society at the UN Climate Change negotiations (Chair of LRI from March 2015-March 2017.) 2009-2023
Kate's Privacy Notice
In order order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Kate needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and personal data about others who feature in the matter on which she is instructed. This Privacy Notice describes the personal information Kate collects, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
"A committed junior, who stands out for her depth of knowledge, particularly in respect of climate change issues."
"Kate is a specialist in climate change law, but also understands the scientific context. She is an expert in the team and provides really invaluable expertise."
"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary." "Kate's research and advice has been exemplary."
"She has unparalleled expertise in international environmental agreements, is extremely client-focused and gets to the bottom of issues extremely quickly."
"One of the most experienced environmental lawyers, she provides calm, pragmatic and insightful advice and cares deeply about the issues."
"Kate is a deeply knowledgeable, committed, responsive and engaged barrister." "She has a really good understanding of the law around maritime issues."
"She is calm, unflappable, and her previous experience enables her to provide clear and consistently incisive advice."
"A specialist in environment, climate change and biodiversity matters, she is calm and unflappable and she provides clear and consistently incisive advice."
"Understands the principles and practice of international environmental law and provides cogent and focused advice."
"Extensive experience on a range of climate change-related issues at the international and national levels."
"She is a specialist in international environmental law."
"She really gets into the detail of a case and is very easy and smooth to deal with."
"Strong on environment matters involving international and EU law."
"A real depth of experience in environmental law."