Prof. Conor Gearty KC (Hon)
Professor James Crawford AC SC
Sir Paul Jenkins KCB QC (Hon)
Prof. Conor Gearty KC (Hon)
Prof. Conor Gearty KC (Hon) was a founding and valued member of Matrix until his death in September 2025.
Conor was a brilliant and formidable scholar, debater and advocate, and an inspirational teacher and colleague, his contributions to public law and human rights scholarship reverberated throughout courtrooms, academia and well beyond. His voice was unique in its clarity, force and wit. In addition to his advocacy work, Conor advised judges, practitioners and public authorities on the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998. Conor was a Visiting Professor at Boston University, the University of Richmond, and the University of New South Wales. He was also the recipient of multiple honorary degrees as well as being appointed an honorary Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2021. Conor was an Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy, a Fellow of the British Academy, and a Bencher of Middle Temple London and King’s Inn Dublin. At the time of his death, Conor was also Professor of Human Rights Law at LSE, London.
Professor James Crawford AC SC
Professor Crawford was a founding member of Matrix and was an active and valued member who died in June 2021.
In February 2015 he left Matrix and was appointed a Judge of the International Court of Justice. James was widely recognised in the field of public international law and was a leader in the legal development of several areas of international law before the ICJ, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, as well as investor-state arbitral tribunals composed under the ICSID Convention or ad-hoc under the UNCITRAL rules. In addition to his work in this field, he was also Whewell Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge. James had an illustrious career and his impact will continue to be felt in the legal community around the globe.
Sir Paul Jenkins KCB QC (Hon)
Sir Paul Jenkins KCB QC (Hon) joined Matrix as an Associate Member in 2015 but tragically died on February 26, 2018, aged only 63. Paul became an Associate Member of Matrix after a distinguished career in the Government Legal Service where for eight years he was the most influential lawyer in Whitehall as the Treasury Solicitor and the head of the Government Legal Service. Paul was a valued and much loved member of Matrix Chambers. In practice he acted as an independent adviser and consultant, specialising in sensitive investigations, inquires, compliance audits and reviews both internationally and in the UK. At the time of his death he was the Treasurer of Middle Temple. Paul was also a Trustee and Board member of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law as well as a member of the Ethics Committee at Tate.
Two of the many obituaries are:
Civil Service
Counsel Magazine