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Kate Cook
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Kate Cook

"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary."

Chambers & Partners 2023
Called: 1990

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.

Kate accepts instructions under the Bar Council Standard Contractual Terms. To find out more information on this and the way we work at Matrix, including our fee transparency statement, please see our see our service standards.

DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS

"A committed junior, who stands out for her depth of knowledge, particularly in respect of climate change issues."

Legal 500, 2024, Environment

"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."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Environment

"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary." "Kate's research and advice has been exemplary."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Environment

"She has unparalleled expertise in international environmental agreements, is extremely client-focused and gets to the bottom of issues extremely quickly."

Legal 500, 2022, Environment2023

"One of the most experienced environmental lawyers, she provides calm, pragmatic and insightful advice and cares deeply about the issues."

Legal 500, 2022, Environment

"Kate is a deeply knowledgeable, committed, responsive and engaged barrister." "She has a really good understanding of the law around maritime issues."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Environment

"She is calm, unflappable, and her previous experience enables her to provide clear and consistently incisive advice."

Chambers & Partners 2021, Environment

"A specialist in environment, climate change and biodiversity matters, she is calm and unflappable and she provides clear and consistently incisive advice."

Legal 500 2021, Environment

"Understands the principles and practice of international environmental law and provides cogent and focused advice."

Legal 500 2020, Environment

"Extensive experience on a range of climate change-related issues at the international and national levels."

Legal 500 2019, Environment

"She is a specialist in international environmental law."

Chambers & Partners 2019, Environment

"She really gets into the detail of a case and is very easy and smooth to deal with."

Chambers & Partners 2019, Environment.

"Strong on environment matters involving international and EU law."

Legal 500 2016, Environment

"A real depth of experience in environmental law."

Legal 500 2015, Environment
Matrix Chambers
24 HOUR ASSISTANCE
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
Kate Cook
Called: 1990

"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."

Legal 500, 2024, Environment

"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."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Environment

"A true standout who comes from an environmental background. She is hugely understated, and absolutely extraordinary." "Kate's research and advice has been exemplary."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Environment

"She has unparalleled expertise in international environmental agreements, is extremely client-focused and gets to the bottom of issues extremely quickly."

Legal 500, 2022, Environment2023

"One of the most experienced environmental lawyers, she provides calm, pragmatic and insightful advice and cares deeply about the issues."

Legal 500, 2022, Environment

"Kate is a deeply knowledgeable, committed, responsive and engaged barrister." "She has a really good understanding of the law around maritime issues."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Environment

"She is calm, unflappable, and her previous experience enables her to provide clear and consistently incisive advice."

Chambers & Partners 2021, Environment

"A specialist in environment, climate change and biodiversity matters, she is calm and unflappable and she provides clear and consistently incisive advice."

Legal 500 2021, Environment

"Understands the principles and practice of international environmental law and provides cogent and focused advice."

Legal 500 2020, Environment

"Extensive experience on a range of climate change-related issues at the international and national levels."

Legal 500 2019, Environment

"She is a specialist in international environmental law."

Chambers & Partners 2019, Environment

"She really gets into the detail of a case and is very easy and smooth to deal with."

Chambers & Partners 2019, Environment.

"Strong on environment matters involving international and EU law."

Legal 500 2016, Environment

"A real depth of experience in environmental law."

Legal 500 2015, Environment