Rhys specialises in international criminal law and international human rights law. He is based in London and the Hague and is ranked in the legal 500 as a leading lawyer in international crime.
Rhys was named International Pro Bono Barrister of the year by Advocate, the Bar’s national pro bono charity, in November 2021.
Rhys has a particular focus on the Middle East and the rights of journalists and has significant experience of in-country legal advice and assistance, most recently in the West Bank. Rhys has particular expertise and interest in matters concerning Interpol and co-edits the Red Notice Monitor blog. He is experienced in leading campaigns to free British and other citizens detained abroad. He is a frequent speaker at human rights events at the United Nations in Geneva and the House of Commons. Rhys often comments for Al-Jazeera Television, and has recently written for the Times, Guardian and Independent newspapers. He is frequently asked to advise non-governmental organisations on matters across the spectrum of international human rights law issues.
Rhys is recognised as a leading junior in international criminal law and is a member of the lists of Counsel for the International Criminal Court, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Rhys is also a member of the list of lawyers for the United Nations Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
Rhys has significant experience in matters before the United Nations Special Procedures mechanisms, with numerous ongoing cases concerning matters of torture, arbitrary detention and forced displacement. He has acted in matters before diverse international tribunals including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the World Bank Sanctions System.
Rhys has in-depth experience of both the UK and US Magnitsky sanctions regimes and has worked closely with leading global campaigners on efforts to sanction human rights abusers and corrupt officials. Rhys assisted former UK DPP Sir David Calvert-Smith in the drafting of the report “Undue Influence: The UAE and Interpol” published in April 2021 examining the UAE’s influence over Interpol. Rhys acted as counsel to a Fact-finding panel of UK parliamentarians, investigating breaches of the rights of British women in the UAE. He has significant experience of commissioning panels and investigations concerning international human rights abuses.
In addition to his work as a commentator, Rhys is much in demand as a speaker and moderator on panels concerning a broad range of international criminal law and international human rights law issues, with a focus on the Middle East, oppressive state conduct and the rights of journalists. Rhys has recently spoken at, and chaired, events at numerous sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and at meetings at the House of Commons on matters including the use of the death penalty and the protection of prisoners in international law. He is the author of numerous articles concerning justice in the Middle East and is co-author of a recent article on the rule of law in despotic regimes.
For more information about Rhys’s International Law, Reputation Management and Legal and Litigation Campaigns expertise please visit ihr-advisors.com
Rhys retains a domestic common law practice with a focus on fraud. His recent experience in this area includes advising in civil fraud and contempt proceedings, private criminal prosecutions, and pro-active litigation in cases of suspected dishonesty.
Winner International Pro Bono Barrister of the year, 2021/22, Bar Pro Bono Awards.
Rhys is recommended as a Leading Junior in International Crime in the Legal 500.
The 2022 edition describes him as “A standout international lawyer. He is the go to barrister for submissions to the United Nations in complex cases.”
The 2021 edition described him as “An excellent advocate. He is a sophisticated and highly effective communicator with a fierce intellect” and “fearless in his defence of Human Rights and individual freedoms”. The 2021 edition notes that Rhys has “particular expertise in the Middle East and representing clients before the United Nations Special Procedure Committees and Special Rapporteurs.”
Rhys was described in the 2020 edition of the Legal 500 as a “polished performer who provides tactically astute advice”.
BVC Inns of Court School of Law
MA (Hons) Law, Trinity College, University of Cambridge
Undertakes Public Access work
20th June 2022
Rhys Davies was quoted in the Guardian following a finding by the United Nations that his client, Ryan Cornelius, has been arbitrarily detained. The UN has called for Mr Cornelius’s immediate release as well as the payment of reparations.
Read more31st May 2022
In a landmark moment in the case of Ryan Cornelius, a British national imprisoned in the UAE, the United Nations has ruled that Mr Cornelius has been arbitrarily detained.
Read more11th April 2022
Rhys Davies was profiled in Counsel Magazine as part of a feature on the winners of the Bar Pro Bono Awards, given every year in recognition of outstanding commitment to pro bono work by barristers or chambers. Rhys was jointly named International Pro Bono Barrister of the year for his work in the case of Ryan Cornelius, a British national who has been arbitrarily detained by the UAE since 2008.
14th February 2022
The Telegraph reports on an application for sanctions filed with the FCDO by Rhys Davies and Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill Chambers on behalf of Ryan Cornelius. The application is supported by a cross-party group of Peers and MPs, and activist Bill Browder.
Read more20th December 2021
Rhys Davies is quoted in the week’s Economist magazine concerning the case of Ryan Cornelius, a British national who has been arbitrarily detained in Dubai. In an article in the Economist’s 1843 supplement, Rhys commented on the lack of assistance from the UK Foreign Office available to British nationals who are arrested and prosecuted in the UAE. Rhys is instructed to act as international counsel to Ryan Cornelius in his submissions to the United Nations and to the UK and USA governments.
18th November 2021
Rhys Davies authors an opinion piece in the Times today concerning the use of sanctions to target high profile individuals responsible for corruption and human rights abuses.
4th November 2021
Chambers wish to congratulate Rhys Davies on his award as International Pro Bono Barrister of the year. Advocate, the Bar’s national pro bono charity, presented Rhys with the award on 3rd November 2021 at Gray’s Inn. Rhys won the award along with fellow barrister Ben Keith for their work at International Human Rights Advisors. Rhys and Ben set up the organisation to deal with their international case work which focusses on international human rights law and campaigns. They were nominated for their work on the case of Ryan Cornelius. Ryan is a British national who has been arbitrarily detained in prison in Dubai. He was arrested in 2008 and has been held in custody ever since.
Read more13th October 2021
Rhys Davies and Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill have been instructed to represent Zack Shahin in submissions to the US State Department and to the United Nations. Mr Shahin, 57, is the longest serving American in a foreign jail accused of a white-collar crime.
Read more7th October 2021
TGC are pleased to announce that Marcus Grant has been nominated for the Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year, and Rhys Davies (as a team with Ben Keith, 5 St Andrews Hill) have been nominated for the International Pro Bono Barrister of the year in the 2021 Bar Pro Bono Awards.
Read more28th September 2021
Rhys Davies spoke at a seminar of international human rights experts at the 48th Session of the UNHRC, concerning UAE and Interpol. The panel questioned the UAE’s influence over Interpol in light of the UAE Police General Inspector’s candidacy for next Interpol President.
15th April 2021
Rhys Davies co-authors an opinion piece in the Times today, calling for transparency in the elections for the presidency of Interpol, following the recent publication of a report examining the links between Interpol and the UAE.
Read more7th April 2021
A new report by former UK DPP, Sir David Calvert-Smith, assisted by Rhys Davies and Ben Keith, questions the UAE’s influence over Interpol including a €50m donation and the UAE Police General inspector reported to be the leading candidate for next Interpol President.
The report contends that Interpol’s presidential voting and nominations are completely opaque with no list of candidates made public. The UAE candidate for Presidency of Interpol is accused of human rights violations including presiding over the detention and torture of British citizens. Furthermore, the UAE has a history of abusing Interpol Red Notice system and practising forced rendition of individuals form overseas. The UAE also has an abysmal track record of human rights both at home and abroad and it is concerning that they might have an even stronger influence over Interpol. The report therefore recommends that Interpol publishes the other candidates for the role and does not elect UAE candidate.
Read more19th February 2021
Rhys Davies was interviewed on Al Jazeera television and asked to comment on the ongoing detention of journalists in Egypt.
Read more23rd September 2020
Rodney Dixon and Rhys Davies have submitted an urgent communication to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous people, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.
Read more24th August 2020
Former Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef was arrested five months ago and has been detained since without charge.
Read more17th July 2020
Last week the Foreign Secretary imposed sanctions on nationals of four countries following the enactment the UK’s “Magnitsky law.”
Read more3rd July 2020
A Turkish court has opened the trial of 20 Saudi nationals indicted with killing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Read more23rd January 2020
Rhys Davies appeared on Al Jazeera Television and was asked to analyse the legality of threats to attack Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli.
Read more6th January 2020
Rhys was asked to comment on the legality of President Trump’s threat to target Iranian cultural sites.
Read more5th December 2019
Rhys Davies, International Counsel for social rights activist Suha Jbara, has submitted urgent communications to both the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Read more30th August 2019
Rhys was asked to comment on the legal implications following air raids conducted by the UAE in southern Yemen.
Read more18th June 2019
Former president Morsi collapsed and died during a court appearance on the 17th of June, having been in custody since he was deposed in 2013.
Read more12th June 2019
Rhys Davies attended court in Jericho, in the West Bank, on behalf of Suha Jbara, a US/Panamanian citizen detained and tortured by the Palestinian Authority. Following her arrest in November 2018, Ms Jbara was detained for over two months during which time she was subjected to repeated acts of torture, and held in solitary confinement.
Read more20th May 2019
Rodney Dixon QC, counsel for jailed Moroccan journalist Toufik Bouachrine, assisted by Rhys Davies, have submitted an urgent request to Dr. Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur investigating the killing of Jamal Khashoggi to obtain and examine Mr. Bouachrine’s mobile phone.
Read more1st April 2019
Rhys Davies was asked to comment on information obtained by the Guardian newspaper that the country’s ruler, King Salman, has ordered reports to be prepared on the condition of Saudi political prisoners.
Read more29th March 2019
Rhys Davies appeared on Al Jazeera Television as part of a panel of human rights and international law experts to discuss the release yesterday of three prominent Saudi Arabian human rights activists.
Read more13th March 2019
Rhys Davies authors an opinion piece in the Guardian today, on the recent Arab–EU summit and challenges the UK and the EU to stand up for human rights and justice.
Read more7th March 2019
Rhys and Aidan took part in a seminar at the House of Commons, hosted by Alastair Carmichael MP.
Read more30th January 2019
Rhys was asked to comment on the steps taken by the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions to investigate the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Read more21st January 2019
7th January 2019
Rhys appeared on Al Jazeera television to discuss the most recent movements in the Khashoggi case, following the commencement of proceedings in Saudi Arabia.
Read more2nd January 2019
Rhys Davies was interviewed on Al Jazeera television and asked to comment on the likely outcomes following a request by the Detention Review Panel to visit women activists currently imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.
Read more10th December 2018
In light of the refusal by Saudi Arabia to accede to a Turkish request for the extradition of key suspects in the Khashoggi killing, Rhys Davies was interviewed on Al Jazeera television and asked to comment on legal and political remedies. Rhys spoke on the next steps available to Jamal Khashoggi’s family, and the international community at large.
29th October 2018
TGC is pleased to announce that Rhys Davies has been admitted List of Specialist Counsel as Defence Counsel before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in the Hague.
24th October 2018
Rhys has written an article in the Times, in light of the Khashoggi scandal, calling for the international community to take to the opportunity to prevent catastrophe in Yemen.
22nd October 2018
Following the admission by Saudi Arabia that Jamal Khashoggi was killed at their Turkish Consulate, writing in the Independent newspaper, Rhys Davies addresses possible remedies in international law. Rhys sets out the next steps that might be taken at against both Saudi Arabia and the individuals allegedly involved in the killing.
9th October 2018
Rodney Dixon QC was a speaker at an event held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
Read more5th October 2018
Following the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Rhys Davies and Sian Reeves joined other lawyers and human rights activists at a press conference outside the Saudi embassy in London.
Read more17th September 2018
Rhys was asked for his comments on the criticism of the International Criminal Court by President Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton.
Read more17th July 2018
As part of a series of articles on international justice and the rule of law in other jurisdictions, Rhys Davies & Ben Keith ask whether, following the success of the Dubai International Financial Centre and the imminent launch of the Astana International Financial Centre, countries such as Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates are using the reputation of English law and lawyers to shield their poor human rights records.
27th June 2018
Sian Reeves, Rhys Davies and Myles Grandison spoke at a side event at the 38th session of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva.
Read more25th June 2018
TGC is pleased to announce that Rhys Davies has been admitted to the List of Counsel for the International Criminal Court, in the Hague. Rhys joins chambers’ increasing panel of barristers approved to provide legal assistance in relation to proceedings before the International Criminal Court.
25th June 2018
Rhys chaired, and spoke at, a seminar of international human rights experts in the Grimond Room at the House of Commons concerning the unfolding crisis in Yemen. Rhys was joined by a panel of international lawyers and experts to consider the humanitarian impact of the ongoing international blockade, as well as remedies in international law.
8th June 2018
TGC is delighted to announce that Rhys Davies has been admitted to the List of Counsel for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, in the Netherlands, as Co-counsel.
13th March 2018
Rhys Davies spoke at an event at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva. Rhys chaired a meeting relating to the use of mercenaries in the conflict in Yemen, with particular reference to their deployment by the UAE.
Read more28th February 2018
Rhys Davies and Aidan Ellis spoke at an event at the House of Commons, hosted by Andy Slaughter MP, on the use of the death penalty in Egypt.
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