About Guernica 37
Chambers
Guernica 37 Chambers is a set of barristers’ chambers providing specialist advocacy and advisory services across a broad range of international legal practice areas.
Guernica 37 Chambers transcends national borders and embraces legal cultures in an innovative approach. It brings together a team of highly regarded and diverse legal practitioners, with a wealth of international experience and multilingual capability.
Members of Chambers have been involved in landmark cases before domestic and international courts and tribunals, including before the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Members have also advised in arbitrations governed by the rules of LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICSID, ICC.
Areas of expertise
Our barristers are specialised in the following areas:
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Arbitration
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Civil fraud and asset recovery
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Climate change and the environment
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Corporate responsibility
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Domestic crime
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Extradition, Interpol and MLA
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Government advisory work
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Human rights
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International crime
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Islamic commercial and financial law
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Public law and sanctions
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Public international law
Within these areas, members of chambers appear as advocates before domestic and international courts and arbitration tribunals, serving clients worldwide.
Our work has involved the following countries: Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Djibouti, DRC, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, the Gambia, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela and Yemen.
History
Guernica 37 Chambers was founded by Toby Cadman and Almudena Bernabeu. The two first met in 2011, and connected over their work in Syria. At the time, Almudena’s practice was primarily focused on representing plaintiffs and victims of human rights violations, and Toby specialised in advising and representing States and private clients.
Recognising a shared vision, Toby and Almudena established the Guernica 37 Group – comprising Guernica 37 Chambers, a barristers’ set in London, and the Guernica 37 Centre, a non-profit organisation headquartered in San Francisco, dedicated to advancing accountability for human rights violations.
The name “Guernica 37” commemorates one of the most infamous war crimes of modern history – the 26 April 1937 bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by German and Italian forces at the request of Spanish Nationalists, an atrocity immortalised by Pablo Picasso’s iconic painting.
Team
Members
Associate Members
Advisory Council
Administration
OUR MISSION
At Guernica 37 Chambers, our mission is to empower victims of human rights abuses by providing them with strong legal representation and pursuing accountability for perpetrators.
We are dedicated to effecting positive change by challenging systemic injustices and promoting human rights through legal avenues.
CORE VALUES:
Justice
We are driven by a deep commitment to justice and equality, and we strive to uphold these principles in every case we undertake.
Empowerment
Empowering individuals and communities affected by human rights violations is at the core of our approach, and we work tirelessly to ensure their voices are heard and their rights protected.
Advocacy
We are dedicated advocates for human rights, and we leverage our expertise to advocate for meaningful policy changes and legal reforms that safeguard the rights and dignity of all individuals.