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Aarif Abraham is a barrister, writer, and speaker specialising in international criminal law and public international law, including international human rights law and international arbitration. Aarif is recognised as a leading barrister (Band 1) in international law in Chambers and Partners (2021-present). His domestic practice focuses on public law and criminal defence with a special focus on protest rights and appeals.
Aarif advises States, individuals, companies, public interest groups, and international organisations, including the United Nations, on public international law, international criminal law, and international human rights law. He also advises policy makers, parliamentarians, and practitioners on foreign policy matters, constitutional issues, and peacebuilding. Over the past five years, he has extensively advised on and assisted in establishing tribunals, panels and inquiries. He also advises on sanctions and commercial disputes.
Aarif’s most recent and high-profile work includes advising on the creation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression committed in Ukraine (working with Prof. Philippe Sands KC and former heads of government), advising a State Party on a referral to the International Criminal Court, working with the Uyghur Tribunal (where he acted as co-counsel and principal legal advisor), the Yazidi Justice Committee (as founder), and several parliamentary enquiries as external advisor. Aarif has acted as an external advisor to various international initiatives, including on the Genocide Determination Bill, Genocide Prevention Bill, and several All-Party Parliamentary Groups concerning international law and/or foreign policy.
Aarif holds leadership positions—as a director, trustee, lawyer, or investigator—in private practice, international courts or tribunals, and NGOs and international organisations. He is the founder of Accountability Unit, an NGO specialising in conflict-resolution and justice issues. Aarif continues acts as a consultant or expert to several United Nations bodies, and is available for instruction, including through Justice Rapid Response.
Aarif originally qualified as a solicitor and practiced with the international law firm Slaughter and May, specialising in public law, litigation, and arbitration.
Aarif regularly contributes commentary in the national and international press, including in The Times, Politico, Guardian, Project Syndicate, and the Associated Press, and he is frequently invited to speak on international justice issues. His book, A Constitution of the People and How to Achieve It, was published by Colombia University and Ibidem Press in 2021.
Aarif can be instructed directly in suitable cases under the Bar’s Direct Access scheme.
“Aarif is exceptionally skilled in advocacy, effectively conveying persuasive messages and explaining complex legal matters to the audience. He is highly engaging and completely captivates the audience’s attention.’ —Legal 500 2025
"Aarif is a versatile advocate with deep expertise in IHRL and PIL. Ever calm in the most stressful of times, Aarif provides reassurance to lay and professional clients alike."—Chambers and Partners, 2025
"Aarif is a pleasure to work with. He is knowledgeable and thoughtful, both creative and able to produce complicated documents in a short timeframe."—Chambers and Partners, 2025
"He is a real up-and-coming international lawyer doing cutting edge work in the field."—Chambers and Partners, 2025
“A go-to for accountability issues involving genocide and crimes against humanity.”—Chambers and Partners, 2023
“He really strives to achieve legal accountability and address the needs of victims where there is no obvious relief in their jurisdiction.”—Chambers and Partners, 2023
Aarif is an experienced policy and legal adviser on matters concerning international criminal law and public international law, including international human rights law. He has a long history of working in courts, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. Aarif has advised widely on conflict resolution and the legal implications thereof in relation to conflicts or crises in Bosnia, Turkey, Iraq, Myanmar, Syria, the former Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Libya, among others.
Aarif has extensive experience drafting applications and submissions to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), United Nations Special Procedures, United Nations treaty bodies, and other international courts, tribunals, and panels. He regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work on international law matters, both on a consultancy and pro-bono basis.
Aarif is a formal member of several prominent panels that advise on international human rights or criminal law issues. He previously undertook a placement in the Office of the President and the UK division of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) where he assisted judges in an advisory and drafting capacity in relation to decisions/judgments issued by the Court. He was also a legal officer at the former United Nations International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (UN ICTY).
Current work includes:
Aarif’s public international law (PIL) work spans several different practice areas and countries, and he advises individuals, companies, public interest groups, and States in respect of public international law claims.
His PIL matters have included case work and/or the provision of advice at the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Bar Human Rights Committee, EU Delegation to the UK, European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe, Accountability Unit, Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), US Centre for Disease Control, and the Democratic Progress Institute.
Aarif is a consultant at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) advising on the application of human rights to public policy. He also works (as a co-founder) with the consultancy Accountability Unit, which advises parliamentarians, practitioners, NGOs, and others on legal redress (including State responsibility) for gender-related harm in conflict settings, including on issues related to genocide, discrimination, torture, and slavery. Aarif was invited to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Pro Bono Lawyer’s Panel, which provides legal assistance to local practitioners representing British nationals imprisoned overseas.
Current and recent work includes:
Other significant international cases include:
Aarif has more than a decade of experience working on international criminal (ICL) and humanitarian law (IHL) issues. He has provided extensive advice, and acted in proceedings, before international courts or tribunals in his capacity as Counsel to States, international organisations and public interest organisations. He has conducted litigation, advocacy, research, mentoring, and investigation work on international criminal law matters related to several countries. He lectures and advises widely on ICL and IHL issues with a focus on mass atrocity crimes, including genocide. He is currently on the roster of candidates for instruction for several United Nations bodies.
Current and recent work includes:
Other significant work includes:
Aarif has advised individuals, companies, public interest groups, and States in international arbitration cases.
Aarif’s international arbitration and public international law work spans a number of different practice areas: acting as counsel in commercial arbitration matters; advising on judicial review of government decisions impacting companies; advising on international arbitration cases concerning public international law including investment arbitrations; applying for injunctions and disclosure orders; leading seminars on State expropriation of property; advising on compliance with international sanctions (Russia, Iran, Cuba, and Libya); and litigating and advising widely on human rights matters in the UK and a number of other countries, including issues arising from equality and anti-discrimination law.
Current and recent work includes:
Aarif has a long-standing interest in all types of public law challenges. He has
advised individuals, companies, public interest groups, and States in judicial review and civil claims, whether for claimants or respondents.
Aarif’s public law work spans a number of different practice areas: advising on judicial review of government decision-making in relation to decisions about prosecution of international crimes; drafting legislation giving effect to obligations of core international treaties related to human rights or international crimes; advising on changing the law relating to implementation or applications of sanctions; advising on judicial review or appeal of domestic criminal cases; and litigating and advising widely on human rights matters in the UK and a number of other countries, including issues arising from equality and anti-discrimination law.
Aarif is a former judicial assistant to Sir John Mummery QC at the Court of Appeal and a judicial assistant in the Office of the President and the UK Division of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Recent and significant work includes:
Aarif regularly appears in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court and has acted extensively for protestors accused of a variety of crimes of varying seriousness. He has represented activists engaged with numerous causes, including climate change, animal rights, and serious international criminal law or human rights violations.
In the Crown Court, Aarif has represented clients on matters related to criminal damage, public nuisance, sexual and gender-based violence, drug-related offences (including the application of the Proceeds of Crime Act), and assaults occasioning aggravated bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. He has experience dealing with vulnerable clients, including those with mental health conditions. Aarif also has an active appeals practice and has appeared before the Court of Appeal in relation to appeals on conviction and sentencing.
Clients find Aarif to be very personable and value his calm, methodical approach in preparing cases. Defendants appreciate his manner in conference and especially his provision of sound advice of the court process, the nature of the offence of which they are charged, and their rights and entitlements as defendants.
Aarif brings valuable transferable skills from his extensive experience both as a solicitor and barrister in international criminal law as well as public law.
Recent and notable publications include:
Recent and notable appearances include: