Admission to lists of Specialist Counsel at Kosovo Specialist Chambers

Image: Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, The Hague, Netherlands

Garden Court North Chambers is pleased to announce that Aarif Abraham has been admitted to the Lists of Specialist Counsel before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (Specialist Chambers) as Co-Counsel. The admission allows Aarif to be assigned or appointed to suspects, accused and/or groups of victims who appear before the Specialist Chambers.

The Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office have jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under Kosovo law in relation to allegations reported in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Report of 7 January 2011.

The Specialist Chambers comprises two organs, the Chambers and the Registry. The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office is an independent office for the investigation and prosecution of the crimes within the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers. The Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office are staffed with international judges, prosecutors and officers and have a seat in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Admission to the Lists of Counsel requires an application, selection and vetting process. Only Counsel from the Lists of Counsel can represent persons before the Specialist Chambers. Suspects and accused have the right to choose any Counsel from these lists. On the other hand, victims’ groups are represented by Counsel from these lists.

Aarif has a diverse domestic and international practice. He predominantly specialises in international criminal law and public international law including international human rights law. He has represented individual complainants and defendants, international organisations, companies and businesses, NGOs, and victim groups and has frequently advised parliamentarians about the responsibilities and obligations of States under international law.

As a Chambers, the current work of our members spans the whole range of international courts, tribunals and mechanisms. Chambers’ international law practice includes: the provision of strategic advice to individuals and legal persons; assisting human rights and international crimes’ investigations; advising on compliance with international law; and representing clients at international courts, panel or tribunal proceedings.