The increase in cross-border business opportunities has created greater demand for a thorough understanding of public international law, which provides the legal infrastructure of international business and government relations. If, in the course of your business, you engage in any cross-border transactions, you may need to rely on the expertise of legal professionals who are proficient in public international law.

Whether you’re a government body, an intergovernmental organization, corporation or individual, you can count on our UK team of practitioners to provide you with sound legal advice on a diverse range of issues. We possess a deep understanding of the treaty environment that is relevant around the world, and have an extensive international network of professionals to help you meet your needs.

Our lawyers are also involved in numerous investment treaty arbitration claims, pooling our extensive arbitration and public international law knowledge, our network of relationships and our history in the emerging markets for your benefit.

To maximize your success, we leverage the knowledge and experience of our global team of lawyers who hold advanced degrees in public international law, and many of whom have served in the legal departments of ministries of foreign affairs and intergovernmental organizations. We work to represent you before the International Court of Justice and countless other international tribunals, providing a unique offering in a fast-evolving area of law.

Our areas of specialization include the following:

• Investment treaty arbitration, including the Energy Charter Treaty
• State and diplomatic immunity
• Land and maritime boundaries
• Onshore and offshore oil and gas resources
• The law of treaties and treaty interpretation
• WTO and regional free trade agreements
• Water rights
• Sanctions
• Business and human rights issues
• International environmental law,
• State responsibility
• Self-determination and the process of obtaining state recognition
• State succession and the responsibility of newly-formed states
• State disputes in the International Court of Justice

Insights

Luciano Lliuya v. RWE AG
German Court dismisses landmark climate change case brought by Peruvian farmer

May 29, 2025

United Kingdom: In a case that has spanned almost a decade, the Higher Regional Court of Hamm has dismissed the landmark civil climate change claim of Lliuya v. RWE.

The UK-US Trade Deal

May 9, 2025

United Kingdom and the USA: On 8 May 2025, the United Kingdom and the United States announced a limited trade agreement, rolling back a small number of the tariffs imposed by President Trump in March and April 2025. Both sides referred to this agreement as an "Economic Prosperity Deal", and negotiations on the long-awaited post-Brexit free trade agreement are expected to continue. 

Climate change disputes: emerging trends for a global emergency

February 22, 2021

Global: The issue of climate change grows more urgent every year, with a recent global opinion poll revealing that almost two-thirds of the population view it as a global emergency. At the UN Global Climate Change Conference (COP 26) scheduled to take place in the UK in November 2021, states will update their Nationally Determined Contributions (emissions-reduction goals, NDCs) for the first time since they signed the Paris Agreement in 2016.

View all insights for Public International Law in the United Kingdom