“Shaheed is a first-class advocate and formidable opponent.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is superb - extremely diligent and very thorough.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Shaheed Fatima is phenomenal in every way. She has an incredible intellect and is an excellent barrister.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Shaheed is an exceptional barrister – technically very strong and an excellent advocate. She is all across the detail of cases, is very approachable, and clients hold her in the highest regard.”
Legal 500, 2024
“A brilliant mind combined with an incomparable work ethic.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
“Shaheed has that brilliant ability of the best counsel to simplify very complex issues but not reduce them - she understands the heart of the matter for her client.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“She is devastatingly clever.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Shaheed is exceptionally clear and very compelling. She is a first-rate advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“She is one of the foremost leaders in international law. She is really academic and is at the fore of developments.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Shaheed is a fantastic advocate – she fights your corner and is very persuasive. You can tell that the bench really respect her views.’”
Legal 500, 2022
“Incredibly clever with a mind like a razor-blade, she is excellent with clients and gives clear advice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Shaheed is a brilliant lawyer. She has a deep knowledge of the law and enormous attention to detail. She is excellent to work with.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Probably one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. An excellent and tenacious advocate, but also great with clients.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Shaheed is razor-sharp, incredibly hard-working and loved by clients for her clear and direct advice. Her advocacy is amazing, she has a phenomenal brain and employs her strategies to devastating effect.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“In great demand and for good reason. She is unbelievably hard-working, user-friendly and someone who takes the judge with her.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
“She is Supreme Court judge material, that is how good she is. She is extraordinary.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
Shaheed has a broad practice which includes commercial law, civil liberties/human rights, public law/regulatory law and public international law. Many of her cases involve group litigation and aspects of conflict of laws, public international law or foreign law. She is identified as a leading silk in the latest editions of Chambers UK, Chambers Global and the Legal 500 for her expertise in six areas: Administrative and Public Law, Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Commercial Litigation/Dispute Resolution, Group Litigation, International Human Rights Law and Public International Law.
The range and scale of her practice is illustrated by the awards for which she has recently been shortlisted:
The extensive scope of her practice is also reflected in the wide range of courts in which she appears (English courts; the European Court of Human Rights; the Court of Justice of the European Union; UN treaty bodies; arbitral tribunals) and in her diverse clients, which include:
Shaheed's work is wide-ranging. She is as comfortable in a commercial law setting as she is in a public/human rights law setting. Her practice includes both appellate and trial advocacy. Recent examples of her commercial law practice are as follows:
Recent examples of her public/human rights law practice are as follows:
A significant part of Shaheed's practice involves complex group litigation. She represented Volkswagen in Crossley and others v Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (more than 90,000 claimants) and is currently instructed in several group claims including the following:
Shaheed is frequently instructed on cases involving questions of foreign law. She is experienced at working with foreign law experts and cross-examining expert witnesses. In the last five years she has worked on the following: Brazilian environmental and constitutional law and civil procedure; Dutch tort law and civil procedure; Georgian civil procedure; Libyan constitutional and administrative law; Lithuanian competition law; Malawian tort and labour law; Mozambique constitutional law and civil procedure; Myanmar law; Nigerian environmental and constitutional law; Peruvian tort law and civil procedure; Russian criminal law and criminal procedure; Saudi Arabian public law; Thai tort and labour law; Ukrainian criminal law and criminal procedure; and Zambian tort, environmental and constitutional law.
Before being appointed to silk in 2016, Shaheed was frequently instructed on UK Government work:
In addition to advising and representing clients in specific cases, Shaheed has also been appointed to conduct or participate in wide-ranging reviews:
Shaheed is a widely-recognised and award-winning lawyer.
Shaheed is working on the second edition of her book, International Law and Foreign Affairs in English Courts (forthcoming 2025; Hart/Bloomsbury). She is the lead author of Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (see above); a contributor to The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Foreign Relations Law (Curtis A. Bradley, editor; 2019, Oxford University Press) (cited by the Supreme Court: In re Scottish Independence Referendum Bill [2022] UKSC 31, [88]) and a contributor and founding editor of the transatlantic national security blog, Just Security.
Shaheed has taught law at Pembroke College (University of Oxford); Harvard Law School; New York University School of Law, and the Graduate Institute in Geneva.
She frequently gives lectures and speaks at conferences. Recent events include: London International Disputes Week Conference (June 2024); PLP Judicial Review Conference (October 2022, London); Children and Armed Conflict presentation to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (January 2020, Geneva); London Conference on International Law (October 2019, London); SOAS Keynote Lecture, Executive Course on Public International Law (September 2019, London); London International Disputes Week Conference (May 2019, London); Save the Children ‘See Me Safe’ Centenary Symposium (May 2019, London); FCO Annual International Law Seminar (May 2019, London); Save the Children Symposium to Stop the War on Children (April 2019, Peace Palace, the Hague); 2018 Annual Lecture of the International Humanitarian Law Unit (November 2018, University of Nottingham); the 30th Anniversary of the Bangalore Principles, BIICL (November 2018, London); launch of Protecting Children in Armed Security (November 2018, London); ILSA International Law Weekend (October 2018; New York) and the 2018 Eli Lauterpacht Lecture (October 2018; University of Cambridge).
She is a member of the Advisory Board, Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, Cambridge; member of NYU's Global Institute for Advanced Study External Advisory Council; and, at Gray's Inn, a Bencher, Advocacy Trainer and Chair of the Scholarships Committee.
Shaheed has a diverse commercial law practice with a broad client base which includes States, companies, international organisations and individuals, including royalty.
She is an experienced advocate, in appellate and trial advocacy, before English courts and arbitral tribunals. She has worked on cases in other jurisdictions, including in New York, where she was called to the Bar in 2002.
In addition to her general commercial law practice, she has particular expertise in cases involving (a) private international law/conflicts of law; (b) public international law issues, especially international law immunities and privileges; (c) act of state or non-justiciability issues and (d) foreign law (for recent cases: see the list above).
Shaheed’s practical expertise in private international law/conflict of laws and public international law is complemented by her academic interest in these areas: she is working on the second edition of her book, International Law and Foreign Affairs in English Courts (forthcoming 2024); was a research assistant for North and Fawcett, Cheshire and North’s Private International Law (1999) and Crawford, Private International Law in Scotland (1998) and she contributed to Goode, Commercial Law (2005) (chapters 37 Conflict of Laws and 38 Commercial Litigation). She taught contract law at Pembroke College, Oxford from 2003-2005.
Shaheed is identified as a leading silk in the latest editions of Chambers UK, Chambers Global and Legal 500 for her expertise in Commercial Litigation/Dispute Resolution and Group Litigation. For the other awards and recognition she has received: see list above.
“There is no one at the bar that works harder than her and I am constantly amazed at the cases she is involved in. She is in pretty much every big action.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“She is a very effective advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“She is super-bright and very hard-working”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is methodical and very detailed focused in how she prepares. She's also exceptional in her drafting.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is hugely impressive. She is extremely clever and has a fantastic ability to quickly get across the most complex cases and deliver clear, technical and strategical advice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Shaheed is exceptionally clear and very compelling. She is a first-rate advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Shaheed is a fantastic advocate – she fights your corner and is very persuasive. You can tell that the bench really respect her views.’”
Legal 500, 2022
“Shaheed is outstanding. She is increasingly becoming the go to barrister in this area.’”
Legal 500, 2023
“Incredibly clever with a mind like a razor-blade, she is excellent with clients and gives clear advice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“She is very clever, sensible, quick and a very good advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Probably one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. An excellent and tenacious advocate, but also great with clients.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Absolutely brilliant - an excellent advocate who is really easy to get along with.”
Chambers Global, 2021
“She practically sparkles with intelligence, and her advocacy is superb.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“An outstanding lawyer who's responsive, hugely intelligent and great with clients.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“She is very, very client-friendly. I have no compunction about putting her on call with me and a general counsel when we have to give advice people don't want to hear”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
“Absolutely brilliant and absolutely reliable.”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
“In great demand and for good reason. She is unbelievably hard-working, user-friendly and someone who takes the judge with her.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
“She is exceedingly bright but also down to earth and pragmatic.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
Representing Shell in the derivative claim brought by an environmental organisation with a minority shareholding in relation to the company’s climate change risk management strategy
Acting for the Defendants in a claim by over 700,000 Brazilian claimants in relation to the collapse of the Fundao Dam in Brazil in 2015. The case involves issues of Brazilian environmental law and civil procedure.
Acting for the Defendants in group litigation involving issues of Nigerian environmental law. For earlier judgments in the same litigation see Okpabi v RDS [2021] UKSC 3.
Acted for the Claimants in a six-week trial (involving extensive cross-examination of factual and expert witnesses) for an account of profits, following a judgment in which the defendants had been found liable for breach of fiduciary duties. The court held that the claimants were entitled to recover in excess of $100m. For related judgments see: [2021] EWHC 2057 (Comm); [2021] EWHC 2215 (Comm) and [2021] EWHC 1621 (Comm).
Acting for the Imperial Tobacco Defendants in group litigation involving issues of Malawian tort and labour law.
Acted for the Claimant in a high-profile sports law/regulatory arbitration which concerned which entities would own and/or have the ability to control the club following a takeover. The Claimant applied to remove one of the arbitrators on the ground of lack of impartiality under s.24 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The judgments noted above deal with the challenge, including whether it should be heard in public and whether the judgment should be unredacted and un-anonymised. The case settled in October 2021 after the Premier League received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control the Club.
Acted for the Defendant Mr Breish, former Chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority in litigation culminating in a Court of Appeal judgment applying the one voice doctrine to the UK Government’s recognition of the PC/GNA as the Government of Libya. (The first instance judgment which addressed the detail of the parties’ cases on Libyan constitutional and administrative law is at: [2020] EWHC 696 Comm.)
Acted for a third party in relation to an application to set aside an order requiring his oral examination under oath pursuant to a letter of request from US court.
Acted for the Defendant in a mass tort claim arising out of the operation of a ruby mine in Mozambique. The case raised complex questions of conflict of laws; the law of Mozambique and corporate accountability for alleged human rights' violations.
Acted for the Defendant, HRH Prince Abdul Aziz, in relation to a £12 million contract claim. The case involved many hearings and several judgments. For the judgments on immunity see: [2014] 1 WLR 4437 and [2016] 2 WLR 533. The first trial, and resulting judgment of Peter Smith J, was set aside by the Court or Appeal and led to a retrial in 2018. The Prince succeeded. Permission to appeal was refused.
Acted for the Defendants, successfully resisting a personal injury claim arising out of a violent protest at a Peruvian copper mine. The case lasted for a number of years: it involved several contested disclosure applications and raised complex questions of conflict of laws; Peruvian law, especially the Peruvian law of limitation, and corporate accountability for human rights’ violations. The defendants succeeded after a trial of the preliminary issue on Peruvian limitation. The claimants were refused permission to appeal.
Acted for the Defendant, the Russian Federation, resisting the enforcement of a $50 billion arbitral award including by reference to sovereign immunity.
Multiple, cross-jurisdictional, ongoing claims: acted for the Trustee in Bankruptcy of Bernard Madoff in a number of actions (including those listed above) in different jurisdictions seeking to recover part of the US$50 billion which was lost under the Madoff Ponzi Scheme.
Acted for the Claimant in a successful $20 million claim regarding loan agreements.
Acted for the Defendant regarding the recognition and enforcement of a Judgment of the Superior Court of Arizona.
Acted for the Claimant in a multi-jurisdictional dispute arising in the hospitality industry.
Acted for the Claimant in relation to an indemnity claim brought under a share sale agreement.
Acted for the Defendant, the Government of the Republic of Rwanda defending and counterclaiming in relation to a gas and electricity supply concession and concerning indirect expropriation, the relationship between Rwandan law, customary international law and international treaties.
Acted for the Petitioner in applications brought by two Saudi Princes claiming immunity under the State Immunity Act 1978.
Acted for the respondent in relation to applications seeking to have interlocutory applications heard in private.
Acted for the Claimants, an Egyptian shipping magnate’s family in mis-selling claim of around $70 million regarding highly leveraged structured products.
Acted for the Claimant in a $60 million claim under a Guarantee which raised questions of choice of law and the proper interpretation and application of Ukrainian regulatory and banking law.
Many of Shaheed's current cases are ESG related and engage a range of human rights issues: see Commercial Law section above and, in particular, her cases for BHP, Shell and Imperial Tobacco.
Prior to being appointed to silk in 2016, Shaheed was on the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (A Panel, 2011-2016 and B Panel, 2009-2011) and was frequently instructed by Government Departments on human rights matters. Whilst many of her cases start as judicial review claims before the English courts, she is an experienced human rights advocate in other fora, including the European Court of Human Rights, UN treaty bodies and EU courts and also undertakes a significant volume of advisory work.
Shaheed’s practical expertise in human rights is complemented by her academic interest in this area: she is a contributor and founding editor of Just Security an online forum on law, rights and national security and she is working on the second edition of her book, International Law and Foreign Affairs in English Courts (forthcoming 2024). She is also the lead author of Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (2018, Hart/Bloomsbury Publishing) which covers international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law.
She frequently speaks at conferences on human rights and has taught human rights courses at Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law and at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Shaheed is identified as a leading silk in the latest editions of Chambers UK, Chambers Global and Legal 500 for her expertise in Administrative and Public Law, Civil Liberties and Human Rights, International Human Rights Law and Public International Law. For the other awards and recognition she has received: see list above.
“Her reputation precedes her – she is one of the cleverest people in the area.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed has excellent strategic perspective.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is superb - extremely diligent and very thorough.”
Legal 500, 2025
“She is one of the foremost leaders in international law. She is really academic and is at the fore of developments.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Shaheed’s knowledge of the workings of the ECtHR is phenomenal.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“She is very clever, sensible, quick and a very good advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Shaheed is a brilliant lawyer. She has a deep knowledge of the law and enormous attention to detail. She is excellent to work with.”
Legal 500, 2022
“She's a go-to person known for her intellect and powerful presence.”
Chambers Global, 2021
“Shaheed is very impressive and while still relatively junior, she punches above her weight as a silk.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Shaheed is razor-sharp, incredibly hard-working and loved by clients for her clear and direct advice. Her advocacy is amazing, she has a phenomenal brain and employs her strategies to devastating effect.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Really superb, she fits into the Blackstone model of producing well-researched, high-quality work.”
Legal 500, 2021
“Shaheed is a phenomenally impressive barrister, her enthusiasm, drive and brilliance is galvanising. She is nothing short of inspirational.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“She gives clear and forceful advice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“She is fantastic: she's insightful, incredibly rigorous in her legal analysis and extremely hard-working”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“Easy to work with, responsive, down to earth and commercial in her approach.”
Legal 500, 2018
“A highly acclaimed and talented silk.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“She's an excellent lawyer, very talented.”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
“Extremely impressive in all aspects of a case.”
Legal 500, 2017
“She is Supreme Court judge material, that is how good she is. She is extraordinary.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
“Her drafting is flawless and she handles clients with aplomb”
Legal 500, 2016
Acting for the Applicant, a so-called “High-Value Detainee” in Guantanamo Bay, regarding his rendition and conditions of detention in Lithuania.
Acted for the Defendant, the Lord Chancellor, in successfully defending an Article 6/common law challenge to the removal of the right to an oral hearing when seeking permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Permission for judicial review was refused.
Instructed by the Applicants in relation to a claim before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the freedom of expression of a broadcasting company and alleging violations by Georgia of Articles 6, 10 and 18 of the ECHR and Article 1 of Protocol No.1.
Appointed in June 2018 by the World Bank Group, as one of three external experts, to conduct a review of its policies, procedures and practices in order to improve the existing provisions and processes for tackling, reporting and reviewing allegations of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse.
Counsel for the Defendant, the UK, in relation to claims alleging that the UK has violated the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
Counsel for the Defendant, the UK, in relation to a claim alleging that the UK violated the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
Chair of the Legal Panel for the Inquiry on Protecting Children in Conflict (chaired by former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown). The 5000-page report of the Legal Panel, of which Shaheed is the lead author, has been published as a book, Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (2019, Hart/Bloomsbury Publishing). It reviews the position of children in armed conflict by reference to the six grave violations, as identified by the UN Security Council, and by reference to international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law.
Advised Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, on accountability as a matter of international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law arising out of the bombing of a school complex in Idlib, Syria October 2016.
Instructed by the interveners, Amnesty International and Redress, and made written submissions before the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal on whether there is a customary international law rule regarding special missions immunity and on the relationship between public international law and domestic English law.
Acted for the Defendant in a mass tort claim arising out of the operation of a ruby mine in Mozambique. The case raised complex questions of conflict of laws; the law of Mozambique and corporate accountability for alleged human rights' violations.
Acted for the Defendants, successfully resisting a personal injury claim arising out of a violent protest at a Peruvian copper mine. The case lasted for a number of years: it involved several contested disclosure applications and raised complex questions of conflict of laws; Peruvian law, especially the Peruvian law of limitation, and corporate accountability for human rights’ violations. The defendants succeeded after a trial of the preliminary issue on Peruvian limitation. The claimants were refused permission to appeal.
Acted for the Claimants (the former President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych and his son, Oleksandr Yanukovych), in challenging the restrictive measures/sanctions imposed on them against the EU.
Acted for Claimants in Article 5 (unlawful detention in Afghanistan) claim which raised issues of Article 1 jurisdiction, attribution and the relationship between international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Acted for the Defendant, the UK, in claim alleging that various statutory provisions are discriminatory.
Acted for the Defendant, the UK, in claim alleging discriminatory treatment in the immigration context.
Acted for the author in a complaint regarding, inter alia, violations of fair trial rights and arbitrary detention.
Acted for Claimant in Article 2 (investigative duty) claim in the context of an incident in Afghanistan.
Acted for the Defendant, the SSHD, in Article 3 (investigative duty) claim in the context of a protest in an immigration removal centre.
Shaheed has a wide-ranging public law practice and acts for both claimants and defendants in judicial review claims.
Prior to being appointed to silk, Shaheed was on the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (A Panel, 2011-2016 and B Panel, 2009-2011) and was frequently instructed by Government Departments on public law matters. Whilst many of her cases start as judicial review claims before the English courts, Shaheed is an experienced public law advocate in other fora, including the European Court of Human Rights, UN treaty bodies and EU courts.
Shaheed’s practical expertise in public law is complemented by her academic interest in this area: she is a contributor and founding editor of Just Security an online forum on law, rights and national security and she is working on the second edition of her book, International Law and Foreign Affairs in English Courts (forthcoming 2024).
She frequently speaks at conferences on national security issues and has taught national security courses at Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law and at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Shaheed is identified as a leading silk in the latest editions of Chambers UK, Chambers Global and Legal 500 for her expertise in Administrative and Public Law, Civil Liberties and Human Rights, International Human Rights Law and Public International Law. For the other awards and recognition she has received: see list above.
“Shaheed is fantastic in court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is very smart, hardworking and committed. She is great in court, delivering very clear and persuasive advocacy.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is razor sharp and cuts straight through to key issues of access. She provides clear and coherent advice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“She is amazing; she is so strategic and client-friendly.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“She is devastatingly clever.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“"She is very impressive and just has a real presence. You can learn a lot from her advocacy.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Quick on her feet, across every detail and details you didn’t even know existed, creative thinker, and has a good grasp of legal concepts and practical implications.’”
Legal 500, 2023
“Forensic and strategic, finding the weaknesses with minimal fuss and exploiting them.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A razor-sharp and persuasive advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“I was bowled over by her. The quality of what she produced in a difficult and sensitive case was astonishing.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Forensic and strategic, finding the weaknesses with minimal fuss and exploiting them.”
Legal 500, 2021
“She's delightful to work with and really responsive.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“She dealt with the moral, legal and ethical issues with an awe-inspiring deftness of intellect.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“She provides clear advice to devastating effect.”
Legal 500, 2019
“Shaheed combines her individual skills with a really strong team ethic.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“Very careful and considered, she's a thoughtful barrister and a meticulous preparer of cases.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“Extremely clear in her advice, both technical and tactical, she is able to explain the rationale behind her analysis.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“She is like a bit of gold dust, particularly for complex litigation.”
Legal 500, 2018
“She combines fluency and persuasiveness with a real intellect. She has judges eating out of her hands.”
Chambers UK, 2018
“She really knows her stuff and is an outstanding advocate. She is one of the most impressive barristers of her call anywhere. An absolute star.”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
“One of the best of a new breed.”
Legal 500, 2017
“An outstanding advocate (both written and oral).”
Legal 500, 2016
Acting for the Claimant in a judicial review challenging security-related decisions by the Government. Permission was given for some of the grounds of judicial review in July 2022.
Acted for the Claimant in a high-profile sports law/regulatory arbitration which concerned which entities would own and/or have the ability to control the club following a takeover. The Claimant applied to remove one of the arbitrators on the ground of lack of impartiality under s.24 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The judgments noted above deal with the challenge, including whether it should be heard in public and whether the judgment should be unredacted and un-anonymised. The case settled in October 2021 after the Premier League received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control the Club.
Acted for the Claimants in a successful judicial review challenge arising in the context of the Syrian sanctions regime. Kerr J held that the proper construction of Article 29 of Consolidated Regulation (EU) No. 36/2012 permits the release of information about assets frozen under Article 14 to the Claimant judgment debtors. (See also earlier judgment on service issues: [2019] EWHC 3182 (Admin).)
Acted for the Defendant, the Lord Chancellor, in successfully defending an Article 6/common law challenge to the removal of the right to an oral hearing when seeking permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Permission for judicial review was refused.
Acted for the Defendant Mr Breish, former Chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority in litigation culminating in a Court of Appeal judgment applying the one voice doctrine to the UK Government’s recognition of the PC/GNA as the Government of Libya. (The first instance judgment which addressed the detail of the parties’ cases on Libyan constitutional and administrative law is at: [2020] EWHC 696 Comm.)
Instructed by the Defendants in relation to proceedings before the Privy Council (from the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas) raising a question of statutory construction.
Instructed by the interveners, Amnesty International and Redress, and made written submissions before the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal on whether there is a customary international law rule regarding special missions immunity and on the relationship between public international law and domestic English law.
Acted for the Defendants (in the High Court and the Court of Appeal) in a judicial review claim challenging the decision to amend the Ministerial Code. The claim raised issues regarding the relationship between public international law and domestic English law.
Acted for Claimants in Article 5 (unlawful detention in Afghanistan) claim which raised issues of Article 1 jurisdiction, attribution and the relationship between international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Acted for the Claimants (the former President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych and his son, Oleksandr Yanukovych), in challenging the restrictive measures/sanctions imposed on them against the EU.
Acted for the UK in preliminary ruling case regarding Article 9 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection.
Acted for Defendant in judicial review claim regarding refusal of application for leave to remain.
Advised HM Treasury on pension reform.
Acted for Defendant in judicial review claim challenging consultation and decision to apply the LASPO reforms to mesothelioma cases.
Acted for Claimant in Article 2 (investigative duty) claim in the context of an incident in Afghanistan.
Acted for UK in preliminary ruling case regarding Article 12 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection.
Acted for UK in preliminary ruling case regarding Article 12 of Regulation of 1612/68/EEC on freedom of movement for workers.
Acted for the Defendant, the SSHD, in Article 3 (investigative duty) claim in the context of a protest in an immigration removal centre.
Shaheed has a diverse public international law practice with a broad client base which includes States, multi-national companies and prominent individuals, including royalty.
Prior to being appointed to silk, Shaheed was on the Attorney General’s Public International Law Panel of Counsel (2014-2016) and was frequently instructed by Government Departments on PIL matters. Many of the cases she is instructed in – including those before English courts and the European Court of Human Rights – involve significant PIL issues. These cases range from commercial law cases (including the ESG-related group litigation described above) to human rights and public law cases. She has also been instructed, for her PIL experience, in other fora including arbitral tribunals, the International Court of Justice and EU courts.
Shaheed’s practical expertise in PIL is complemented by her academic interest in this area: she is working on the second edition of her book, International Law and Foreign Affairs in English Courts (forthcoming 2024) and has taught human rights/national security courses with significant PIL content at Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law and at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. She is also the lead author of Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (2018, Hart/Bloomsbury Publishing) which covers international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law.
She frequently speaks at conferences on PIL, is a trustee of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law; member of the Advisory Group, Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre and was part of the International Law Association’s Study Group on “Principles on the engagement of domestic courts with international law”.
Shaheed is identified as a leading silk in the latest editions of Chambers UK, Chambers Global and Legal 500 for her expertise in Civil Liberties and Human Rights, International Human Rights Law and Public International Law. For the other awards and recognition she has received: see list above.
“Shaheed Fatima KC is an excellent barrister. She's really, really impressive and clients love her.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Shaheed is absolutely terrific. She is incredibly hard-working but equally knowledgeable, creative and passionate. She's an excellent guide to judges. You can tell that she earns their confidence.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“A brilliant mind combined with an incomparable work ethic.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
“Shaheed has that brilliant ability of the best counsel to simplify very complex issues but not reduce them - she understands the heart of the matter for her client.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“An outstanding advocate and expert on the role of PIL in the English courts.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Very knowledgeable and experienced in public international law. A good team player, working closely with solicitors and clients. Clear and persuasive advocate.’”
Legal 500, 2023
“An excellent and tenacious advocate, but also great with clients.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Very approachable, extremely bright and good on her feet.”
Chambers Global, 2021
“An outstandingly bright person.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“A superb advocate and an excellent team player who inspires confidence with every word. She has especial expertise in complex jurisdictional disputes.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“Knowledgeable in PIL, clear thinking, with good drafting and advocacy.”
Legal 500, 2019
“She has real depth of knowledge and breadth of experience.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“She is simply outstanding.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“She is bright, quick and very strong on her feet.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“She's very bright and has an impressive style”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
“She's simply brilliant and a joy to work with.”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
“A thoughtful and measured advocate with good judgement.”
Legal 500, 2017
“An amazing barrister whose practice cuts across so many fields.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
“She is spot on”
Legal 500, 2016
“Tackles tricky and emotional issues with gravitas and sophistication.”
Legal 500, 2015
Acted for the Claimant in a high-profile sports law/regulatory arbitration which concerned which entities would own and/or have the ability to control the club following a takeover. The Claimant applied to remove one of the arbitrators on the ground of lack of impartiality under s.24 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The judgments noted above deal with the challenge, including whether it should be heard in public and whether the judgment should be unredacted and un-anonymised. The case settled in October 2021 after the Premier League received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control the Club.
Acted for the Defendant Mr Breish, former Chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority in litigation culminating in a Court of Appeal judgment applying the one voice doctrine to the UK Government’s recognition of the PC/GNA as the Government of Libya. (The first instance judgment which addressed the detail of the parties’ cases on Libyan constitutional and administrative law is at: [2020] EWHC 696 Comm.)
Instructed by the Applicants in relation to a claim before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the freedom of expression of a broadcasting company and alleging violations by Georgia of Articles 6, 10 and 18 of the ECHR and Article 1 of Protocol No.1.
Appointed in June 2018 by the World Bank Group, as one of three external experts, to conduct a review of its policies, procedures and practices in order to improve the existing provisions and processes for tackling, reporting and reviewing allegations of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse.
Counsel for the Defendant, the UK, in relation to claims alleging that the UK has violated the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
Counsel for the Defendant, the UK, in relation to a claim alleging that the UK violated the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
Chair of the Legal Panel for the Inquiry on Protecting Children in Conflict (chaired by former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown). The 5000-page report of the Legal Panel, of which Shaheed is the lead author, has been published as a book, Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (2019, Hart/Bloomsbury Publishing). It reviews the position of children in armed conflict by reference to the six grave violations, as identified by the UN Security Council, and by reference to international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law.
Advised Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, on accountability as a matter of international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international human rights law arising out of the bombing of a school complex in Idlib, Syria October 2016.
Instructed by the interveners, Amnesty International and Redress, and made written submissions before the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal on whether there is a customary international law rule regarding special missions immunity and on the relationship between public international law and domestic English law.
Acted for the Defendant, HRH Prince Abdul Aziz, in relation to a £12 million contract claim. The case involved many hearings and several judgments. For the judgments on immunity see: [2014] 1 WLR 4437 and [2016] 2 WLR 533. The first trial, and resulting judgment of Peter Smith J, was set aside by the Court or Appeal and led to a retrial in 2018. The Prince succeeded. Permission to appeal was refused.
Acted for the Defendants (in the High Court and the Court of Appeal) in a judicial review claim challenging the decision to amend the Ministerial Code. The claim raised issues regarding the relationship between public international law and domestic English law.
Acted for Claimants in Article 5 (unlawful detention in Afghanistan) claim which raised issues of Article 1 jurisdiction, attribution and the relationship between international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Acted for the Claimants (the former President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych and his son, Oleksandr Yanukovych), in challenging the restrictive measures/sanctions imposed on them against the EU.
Acted for the Defendant, the Russian Federation, resisting the enforcement of a $50 billion arbitral award including by reference to sovereign immunity.
Acted for the Defendant, the UK, in claim alleging that various statutory provisions are discriminatory.
Acted for the Defendant, the UK, in claim alleging discriminatory treatment in the immigration context.
Acted for the author in a complaint regarding, inter alia, violations of fair trial rights and arbitrary detention.
Acted for the UK in preliminary ruling case regarding Article 9 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection.
Acted for UK in preliminary ruling case regarding Article 12 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection.
Acted for the Defendant, the Government of the Republic of Rwanda defending and counterclaiming in relation to a gas and electricity supply concession and concerning indirect expropriation, the relationship between Rwandan law, customary international law and international treaties.
Acted for the Petitioner in applications brought by two Saudi Princes claiming immunity under the State Immunity Act 1978.
Advising Royal Mail Group Limited on matters arising in relation to the Universal Postal Union.
Acted for UK before the ICJ: Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo (Request for Advisory Opinion).
LLB (Hons) (Glasgow), BCL (Oxon), LLM (Harvard)
Shaheed was a Kennedy Scholar and Gammon Fellow at Harvard Law School and was awarded three Scholarships by Gray’s Inn (Karmel, Bedingfield and Arden).
Shaheed is working on the second edition of her book, International Law and Foreign Affairs in English Courts (forthcoming 2025; Hart/Bloomsbury Publishing) (first ed: 2005 with a Foreword by Lord Bingham) (Hart Publishing). She is the lead author of Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (2018, Hart/Bloomsbury Publishing); a contributor to The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Foreign Relations Law (Curtis A. Bradley, editor; 2019, Oxford University Press) (cited by the Supreme Court: In re Scottish Independence Referendum Bill [2022] UKSC 31, [88]) and a contributor and founding editor of Just Security an online forum on law, rights and national security.
Shaheed’s legal teaching experience includes the following:
Shaheed frequently speaks at conferences and other events. Recent speaking appointments include:
In addition to being long recognised in the two leading legal directories, Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500, Shaheed is an award-winning barrister who has been widely recognised in other press/publications:
Shaheed is a member of the Advisory Board, Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, Cambridge; member of NYU's Global Institute for Advanced Study External Advisory Council; a member of the Social Science Research Council Working Group on Security; and, at Gray's Inn, a Bencher, Advocacy Trainer and Chair of the Scholarships Committee.
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