"She really gets into the detail of a case and is very easy and smooth to deal with."
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 in cases relating to environmental issues and genocide. Her recent work includes advising states, NGOs and international organisations on climate emergency issues and advising UN agencies and NGOs on a range of fisheries related issues. She is currently advising on compliance with international standards relating to the protection of small scale fisheries and respect for rights impacted by large scale land acquisitions as well as the implications of the Paris Agreement for the agricultural sector. She regularly publishes and lectures on international and environmental issues, most recently on the best available science standard and on the progressive approach under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Before joining Matrix, 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 international negotiations.
She lectures and publishes widely on environmental law, the international law of development and human rights law. She is the sole author of Wildlife Law: Conservation and Biodiversity (Cameron May, 2004). Kate is a contributor to Human Rights Practice, ed. Simor (Sweet & Maxwell).
In 2009 Kate was involved in setting up the Legal Response Initiative (LRI) with a number of law firms and NGOs. The LRI provides pro bono support to Least Developed Countries at the UN Climate Change negotiations. Kate was appointed as Chair of the LRI in March 2015.
Represented the UK at the following treaty negotiations (either as sole representative or as legal advisor):
Represented the UK at the following conferences of the parties:
Advised the Government on these and other international instruments, including the Bonn Convention (migratory species) and the International Whaling Convention.
2012 Solidarity as a Basis for Human Rights (published in two parts in EHRLR issues 5 and 6)
Wildlife Law: Conservation & Biodiversity (Cameron May, 2004)
Contributor, The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (publication 2001)
‘Environmental Rights as Human Rights’ in EHRLR (2002)
2009-2015: Member of the Legal Response Initiative Steering Committee (providing support to Least Developed Countries at the climate change negotiations)
2007: Appointed as an Association member of Oxfam GB and as a member of Oxfam’s Trustee, Audit and Finance Group
2006: Appointed to the ICUN (World Conservation Union) commission on Environmental Law
1993 – 2000: Legal Advisor, Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, International & EC Legal Division
Sabbatical 1999 to 2000: LLM at New York University Law School (International Legal Studies)
1993: Research officer with Industrial Relations Law Bulletin (IRS)
1991-1992: Stage (Middle Temple: Bristow Award) with the Legal Service of the EC Commission (with Karen Banks: social affairs, discrimination and employment) and at the European Court of Justice (in the chambers of A-G Francis Jacobs)
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.
"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."
"She really gets into the detail of a case and is very easy and smooth to deal with."
Chambers & Partners 2016
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 in cases relating to environmental issues and genocide. Her recent work includes advising states, NGOs and international organisations on climate emergency issues and advising UN agencies and NGOs on a range of fisheries related issues. She is currently advising on compliance with international standards relating to the protection of small scale fisheries and respect for rights impacted by large scale land acquisitions as well as the implications of the Paris Agreement for the agricultural sector. She regularly publishes and lectures on international and environmental issues, most recently on the best available science standard and on the progressive approach under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
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.
"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."