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Contact

Contact with chambers should be made through the Practice Management Team. They are happy to discuss client requirements and provide further information on such matters as the expertise and experience of individual members, fees, working practices and languages spoken. We have members able to work in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Greek and Chinese (Mandarin).

Outside working hours, a member of our team is always available to be contacted on matters of an urgent nature. Contact should be made using the Chambers main number or email.

For our Singapore office, for client enquiries please contact our Head of Business Development for Asia Pacific, Katie-Beth Jones, and for all other queries please contact Lynn Quek. Out of office hours calls will automatically be diverted to our practice management team in London.

London

20 Essex Street
London
WC2R 3AL

enquiries@twentyessex.com
t: +44 20 7842 1200

Singapore

28 Maxwell Road
#02-03 Maxwell Chambers Suites
Singapore 069120

singapore@twentyessex.com
t: +65 62257230

Contact

Contact with chambers should be made through the Practice Management Team. They are happy to discuss client requirements and provide further information on such matters as the expertise and experience of individual members, fees, working practices and languages spoken. We have members able to work in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Greek and Chinese (Mandarin).

Outside working hours, a member of our team is always available to be contacted on matters of an urgent nature. Contact should be made using the Chambers main number or email.

For our Singapore office, for client enquiries please contact our Head of Business Development for Asia Pacific, Katie-Beth Jones, and for all other queries please contact Lynn Quek. Out of office hours calls will automatically be diverted to our practice management team in London.

London

20 Essex Street
London
WC2R 3AL

enquiries@twentyessex.com
t: +44 20 7842 1200

Singapore

28 Maxwell Road
#02-03 Maxwell Chambers Suites
Singapore 069120

singapore@twentyessex.com
t: +65 62257230

Sir Michael Wood KC

Sir Michael Wood KC

Silk: 2023 (Hon) Call: 1968

Languages: French; German; Italian; Spanish (all proficient)

Sir Michael is a member of the United Nations (UN) International Law Commission. He was the principal Legal Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) between 1999 and 2006. During his 35 years as an FCO lawyer, Michael attended many international conferences, including the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. He spent three years at the UK Mission to the UN in New York, dealing chiefly with Security Council matters.

Since leaving the FCO in 2006, Sir Michael has acted for many governments in cases before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and inter-state arbitral tribunals. He has written extensively on public international law.

 

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Example cases

International Court of Justice

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

Inter-State arbitration

International Criminal Court

Inter-State conciliation

Investment arbitration

European Court (and Commission) of Human Rights

Court of Justice of the European Union

English Courts

Evidence to parliamentary and other inquires

FCO career

Sectors and services

Publications

Professional memberships

Lectures/talks

Education

Michael Wood is the top barrister when it comes to public international law.

Chambers UK Bar 2024

A superstar in PIL who is knowledgeable about case mechanics and sociopolitical issues.

Chambers UK Bar 2022

He has a peerless knowledge of public international law - truly exceptional. Also an excellent advocate, and excellent sense of judgement.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2022

He has a terrific practice, and the quality of his work is top notch.

Chambers UK Bar 2022

In a league of his own; his great strength is the knowledge that he's brought from his years at the Foreign Office.

Chambers UK Bar 2021

An outstanding international lawyer. No one can quite compare with him.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2021

Exemplary drafting and is always spot on.

Chambers UK Bar 2021

Excellent and extremely responsive, and gives solid and practical legal advice.

Chambers UK Bar 2020

He has a terrific feel for the politics involved, and for the tactical maneuvering of disputes.

Chambers UK Bar 2020

Very experienced and knowledgeable. He has a direct and practical knowledge of how international law functions.

Chambers UK Bar 2019

Excellent, with a smooth and emollient advocacy style.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2018

One of the very top for public international law.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2017

He is a star individual because he is a silk that never took silk – everyone else in the list is a mere mortal.

Chambers UK Bar 2018

Outstanding law of the sea expert.

Chambers UK Bar 2018

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