MEET:
Michelle Butler
“Highly diligent, incredibly experienced, hardworking, bright and tenacious: a pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500 2021
Michelle is described in Chambers and Partners 2021 as “a highly impressive barrister, who has a deep familiarity with the law and good strategic sense”. She has an extensive practice in human rights, arbitration, public international law and international criminal law, in both domestic and international courts and tribunals. Michelle is experienced in advising and representing States, corporations, public bodies and individuals in complex and document-heavy disputes. She is well versed at both working in and managing multi-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional litigation teams.
In addition to her court and tribunal work, Michelle has conducted casework in fragile States and has undertaken fact-finding delegations, provided human rights training and carried out trial observations in an array of jurisdictions. Michelle is consistently recognised in the leading UK directories in International Criminal Law, Public International Law and International Arbitration. She was appointed to the Attorney-General’s Public International Law Panel in 2014. Prior to coming to the Bar in 2007, Michelle qualified as a Solicitor in Australia and worked both in private practice (in commercial litigation) and as a Government lawyer (specialising in international law). In her early career, she was recognised as the Law Council’s Australian Young Lawyer of the Year (2002).
Michelle is experienced in investment treaty arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and sports-related arbitrations and has acted or advised in a number of significant ICC, ICSID, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, OIC, CAS and FA arbitrations. She represents States, companies and individuals on arbitration matters and also undertakes a range of court applications related to arbitration, including anti-suit injunctions, interim relief in support of arbitration (including freezing orders) and enforcement of arbitral awards. Recent work includes acting for Sudan in an ICC arbitration relating to banking instruments and acting for an investor in an ICSID arbitration relating to Kazakhstan.
Michelle has acted in a variety of public international law disputes and is recommended in this field as a “technically brilliant” barrister who “does meticulous research, gives really good advice and is very good at managing expectations”. Michelle has represented States in inter-state cases before the International Court of Justice (“ICJ”), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (“ITLOS”) and the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) and has acted for States challenging the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”). Michelle has also represented Governments, NGOs and individuals in English Court proceedings dealing with public international law issues arising in the context of enforcement proceedings and foreign law claims. Michelle regularly advises governments, companies and NGOs on matters pertaining to the law of the sea; treaty law; immunities; attribution; extra-territorial jurisdiction; non-justiciability and the act of State doctrine; international human rights; international criminal law; and international humanitarian law.
Michelle is also an international criminal law specialist having conducted pre-trial, trial and appellate proceedings before the International Criminal Court (“ICC”), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”) and the Special Court for Sierra Leone (“SCSL”). She has acted in these proceedings as counsel for suspects, defendants, witnesses and for States challenging the jurisdiction of the ICC. She routinely advises on a variety of international criminal law issues, including advising both Governments and leaders of opposition movements of their respective duties under international humanitarian law. Michelle is also experienced in dealing with EU and UN sanctions, Interpol Red Notices & Diffusions, extradition proceedings and appeals to the Privy Council.
Michelle’s public law practice focusses on judicial review and other human rights claims arising in the context of crime and armed conflict. Her work includes advising and undertaking casework on the duty to prevent breaches of human rights in armed conflict; national security matters (control orders, TPIMs, deprivations of citizenship); and police misconduct issues. Michelle has also successfully represented clients in human rights complaints to the European Court of Human Rights and the various UN Individual Complaints Mechanisms.
- Contributing Author, Blackstone’s International Criminal Practice (forthcoming), OUP.
- Contributing Editor, Prison Law, 5th Edition (2015), OUP
- Contributing Editor, Human Rights and Criminal Justice, 3rd Edition (2012), Sweet & Maxwell.
- Contributing Author and Expert Panelist, International Bar Association, Manual on International Criminal Law, 2010.
- Contributing Editor, Clayton & Tomlinson, Law of Human Rights, 2nd edition (2009), OUP.
- Rapporteur, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Justice in retreat: A report on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Sri Lanka (2009).
- Rapporteur, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Balancing Independence and Access to Justice: a Report on the Justice System in Iran (2007).
- Ede & Ravenscroft Prize, Inner Temple (2007)
- Public International Law Program, Hague Academy of International Law (2005)
- Pegasus Scholarship, Inner Temple (2004)
- Master of Laws (International Law), University of Cambridge (2004)
- British Chevening – Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship (2003-2004)
- Legal Advisor, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra, Australia (2003)
- Solicitor, Mallesons Stephen Jacques, Brisbane, Australia (2002-2003)
- Australian Young Lawyer of the Year, Law Council of Australia (2002)
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, College of Law, Australia (2002)
- Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Queensland, Australia (2002) (with exchange programs to the University of British Columbia, Canada, 2001 and Marquette University, USA, 1999)
- Bachelor of Arts (Government), University of Queensland, Australia (2000)
Michelle is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Michelle needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Michelle’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"She is always doing fantastic work and always coming up with novel arguments and innovative ways of looking at the law."
"Strengths include her deep knowledge and expertise in various fields, whether in public international law or commercial matters. She has impressive fact-finding skills and distinguished capabilities in analysing the facts, is a valuable asset in any legal team due to the miscellaneous aspects that she can cover and handle during the arbitration process. She is always very cooperative with other members of the team."
"Michelle is one of the very few to have done a witness examination before the ICJ, and she does it extremely brilliantly. She is outstanding."
"Thoughtful, measured and fair, she only ever seems to put forward good arguments."
"Michelle is an absolutely superb barrister with huge experience in and knowledge of international human rights law. She is utterly principled and fearless always providing sound and robust advice. She drafts beautifully, with clarity and precision."
"An excellent international lawyer with an outstanding capacity to address complex and novel factual issues. Thanks to these qualities combined, she is brilliant at expert witness examination."
"Strengths include her deep expertise in the field, impressive fact-finding skills and strong attention to details. She is a valuable asset in any legal team since she has capabilities in both commercial law and public international law matters."
“She is rightly confident in the quality of her advice and willing to make tough strategic judgement calls, which other barristers might shy away from.” “She is resolute in her commitment to the law and her clients. She combines real expertise with real emotional intelligence.”
"She is meticulous in her arguments."
"A highly impressive barrister, who has a deep familiarity with the law and good strategic sense."
“Highly diligent, incredibly experienced, hardworking, bright and tenacious: a pleasure to work with.” “Tireless, steely, wise, and client-friendly, Michelle is a very careful and measured advocate.”
"She is absolutely superb and a first-rate international criminal lawyer. She has a great knowledge of jurisprudence and is really easy to work with.” “She is very experienced, hard-working, and someone with substantial knowledge of the area."
"She is conscientious and has a great bedside manner with clients."
"A ‘powerhouse’ practitioner: clever, determined and thoughtful in her approach. She has a fantastic knowledge of the law and is very practical in her approach."
"She is incredibly knowledgeable, effective, client-friendly, persuasive and a delight to work with."
"A solid expert and practitioner … a real pleasure to work with due to her knowledge of law, her creativity and organisation."
"She has a strong track record in international tribunal cases."
"Technically brilliant on a wide range of human rights issues. She does meticulous research, gives really good advice and is very good at managing expectations."
"Fantastic” junior who attracts plaudits for her dedication and her technical ability”; “An outstanding barrister who … is extremely determined and dedicated to the field."
"She is excellent as she’s extremely bright and incredibly hard-working."
"She performs very well under difficult circumstances, and navigates obstacles to access to documents and pressing deadlines in exemplary fashion."
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Commercial Law
- Commercial Public Law
- Competition and EU
- Crime
- EU Law
- Extradition and Mutual Assistance
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement
- International Arbitration
- Mediation
- Private International Law
- Public International Law
- Public Law
- Sports Law
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
“Highly diligent, incredibly experienced, hardworking, bright and tenacious: a pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500 2021
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- International Arbitration
- Commercial Law
- Crime
- EU Law
- Extradition and Mutual Assistance
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement
- Mediation
- Private International Law
- Public International Law
- Public Law
- Sports Law
- Commercial Public Law
- Competition and EU
Michelle Butler
Contact Michelle: michellebutler@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Michelle's Practice Team (Team T): TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk
Michelle is described in Chambers and Partners 2021 as “a highly impressive barrister, who has a deep familiarity with the law and good strategic sense”. She has an extensive practice in human rights, arbitration, public international law and international criminal law, in both domestic and international courts and tribunals. Michelle is experienced in advising and representing States, corporations, public bodies and individuals in complex and document-heavy disputes. She is well versed at both working in and managing multi-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional litigation teams.
In addition to her court and tribunal work, Michelle has conducted casework in fragile States and has undertaken fact-finding delegations, provided human rights training and carried out trial observations in an array of jurisdictions. Michelle is consistently recognised in the leading UK directories in International Criminal Law, Public International Law and International Arbitration. She was appointed to the Attorney-General’s Public International Law Panel in 2014. Prior to coming to the Bar in 2007, Michelle qualified as a Solicitor in Australia and worked both in private practice (in commercial litigation) and as a Government lawyer (specialising in international law). In her early career, she was recognised as the Law Council’s Australian Young Lawyer of the Year (2002).
Arbitration
Michelle is experienced in investment treaty arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and sports-related arbitrations and has acted or advised in a number of significant ICC, ICSID, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, OIC, CAS and FA arbitrations. She represents States, companies and individuals on arbitration matters and also undertakes a range of court applications related to arbitration, including anti-suit injunctions, interim relief in support of arbitration (including freezing orders) and enforcement of arbitral awards. Recent work includes acting for Sudan in an ICC arbitration relating to banking instruments and acting for an investor in an ICSID arbitration relating to Kazakhstan.
Public International Law
Michelle has acted in a variety of public international law disputes and is recommended in this field as a “technically brilliant” barrister who “does meticulous research, gives really good advice and is very good at managing expectations”. Michelle has represented States in inter-state cases before the International Court of Justice (“ICJ”), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (“ITLOS”) and the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) and has acted for States challenging the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”). Michelle has also represented Governments, NGOs and individuals in English Court proceedings dealing with public international law issues arising in the context of enforcement proceedings and foreign law claims. Michelle regularly advises governments, companies and NGOs on matters pertaining to the law of the sea; treaty law; immunities; attribution; extra-territorial jurisdiction; non-justiciability and the act of State doctrine; international human rights; international criminal law; and international humanitarian law.
Crime and International Criminal Law
Michelle is also an international criminal law specialist having conducted pre-trial, trial and appellate proceedings before the International Criminal Court (“ICC”), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”) and the Special Court for Sierra Leone (“SCSL”). She has acted in these proceedings as counsel for suspects, defendants, witnesses and for States challenging the jurisdiction of the ICC. She routinely advises on a variety of international criminal law issues, including advising both Governments and leaders of opposition movements of their respective duties under international humanitarian law. Michelle is also experienced in dealing with EU and UN sanctions, Interpol Red Notices & Diffusions, extradition proceedings and appeals to the Privy Council.
Public Law and Human Rights
Michelle’s public law practice focusses on judicial review and other human rights claims arising in the context of crime and armed conflict. Her work includes advising and undertaking casework on the duty to prevent breaches of human rights in armed conflict; national security matters (control orders, TPIMs, deprivations of citizenship); and police misconduct issues. Michelle has also successfully represented clients in human rights complaints to the European Court of Human Rights and the various UN Individual Complaints Mechanisms.
Publications
- Contributing Author, Blackstone’s International Criminal Practice (forthcoming), OUP.
- Contributing Editor, Prison Law, 5th Edition (2015), OUP
- Contributing Editor, Human Rights and Criminal Justice, 3rd Edition (2012), Sweet & Maxwell.
- Contributing Author and Expert Panelist, International Bar Association, Manual on International Criminal Law, 2010.
- Contributing Editor, Clayton & Tomlinson, Law of Human Rights, 2nd edition (2009), OUP.
- Rapporteur, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Justice in retreat: A report on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Sri Lanka (2009).
- Rapporteur, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Balancing Independence and Access to Justice: a Report on the Justice System in Iran (2007).
Education, Prizes and Previous Experience
- Ede & Ravenscroft Prize, Inner Temple (2007)
- Public International Law Program, Hague Academy of International Law (2005)
- Pegasus Scholarship, Inner Temple (2004)
- Master of Laws (International Law), University of Cambridge (2004)
- British Chevening – Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship (2003-2004)
- Legal Advisor, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra, Australia (2003)
- Solicitor, Mallesons Stephen Jacques, Brisbane, Australia (2002-2003)
- Australian Young Lawyer of the Year, Law Council of Australia (2002)
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, College of Law, Australia (2002)
- Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Queensland, Australia (2002) (with exchange programs to the University of British Columbia, Canada, 2001 and Marquette University, USA, 1999)
- Bachelor of Arts (Government), University of Queensland, Australia (2000)
Michelle's Privacy Notice
Michelle is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Michelle needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Michelle’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
"She is always doing fantastic work and always coming up with novel arguments and innovative ways of looking at the law."
"Strengths include her deep knowledge and expertise in various fields, whether in public international law or commercial matters. She has impressive fact-finding skills and distinguished capabilities in analysing the facts, is a valuable asset in any legal team due to the miscellaneous aspects that she can cover and handle during the arbitration process. She is always very cooperative with other members of the team."
"Michelle is one of the very few to have done a witness examination before the ICJ, and she does it extremely brilliantly. She is outstanding."
"Thoughtful, measured and fair, she only ever seems to put forward good arguments."
"Michelle is an absolutely superb barrister with huge experience in and knowledge of international human rights law. She is utterly principled and fearless always providing sound and robust advice. She drafts beautifully, with clarity and precision."
"An excellent international lawyer with an outstanding capacity to address complex and novel factual issues. Thanks to these qualities combined, she is brilliant at expert witness examination."
"Strengths include her deep expertise in the field, impressive fact-finding skills and strong attention to details. She is a valuable asset in any legal team since she has capabilities in both commercial law and public international law matters."
“She is rightly confident in the quality of her advice and willing to make tough strategic judgement calls, which other barristers might shy away from.” “She is resolute in her commitment to the law and her clients. She combines real expertise with real emotional intelligence.”
"She is meticulous in her arguments."
"A highly impressive barrister, who has a deep familiarity with the law and good strategic sense."
“Highly diligent, incredibly experienced, hardworking, bright and tenacious: a pleasure to work with.” “Tireless, steely, wise, and client-friendly, Michelle is a very careful and measured advocate.”
"She is absolutely superb and a first-rate international criminal lawyer. She has a great knowledge of jurisprudence and is really easy to work with.” “She is very experienced, hard-working, and someone with substantial knowledge of the area."
"She is conscientious and has a great bedside manner with clients."
"A ‘powerhouse’ practitioner: clever, determined and thoughtful in her approach. She has a fantastic knowledge of the law and is very practical in her approach."
"She is incredibly knowledgeable, effective, client-friendly, persuasive and a delight to work with."
"A solid expert and practitioner … a real pleasure to work with due to her knowledge of law, her creativity and organisation."
"She has a strong track record in international tribunal cases."
"Technically brilliant on a wide range of human rights issues. She does meticulous research, gives really good advice and is very good at managing expectations."
"Fantastic” junior who attracts plaudits for her dedication and her technical ability”; “An outstanding barrister who … is extremely determined and dedicated to the field."
"She is excellent as she’s extremely bright and incredibly hard-working."
"She performs very well under difficult circumstances, and navigates obstacles to access to documents and pressing deadlines in exemplary fashion."