Direct Access Barrister
Tom Hamilton
Direct Access Barrister
Tom Hamilton
Tom's practice covers international law, extradition, crime, business and human rights, and professional discipline.
Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2011, Tom worked for over 13 years in UN mechanisms and international tribunals, developing expertise in drafting compelling legal arguments and managing complex, evidence-heavy cases. His skillset is invaluable for clients facing intricate cross-border challenges.
Recognised as an expert on the arms trade, Tom’s book 'The Arms Trade and International Criminal Law' was published by Oxford University Press in 2025. He has a regional specialism in Southeast Asia from his work on Cambodia and Myanmar.
Area of Law
Crime
Private instruction in Crown Court and Magistrates' Court matters.
Extradition
Extradition defence in the High Court and Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Human Rights
Applications based on human rights claims before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and within the UN human rights system.
Professional Discipline
Available for public access instruction in regulatory proceedings before tribunals of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the General Medical Council (GMC), and General Dental Council (GDC).
Public International Law
All matters relating to international criminal law.
What sort of work do I do?
Tom is instructed in international criminal law, extradition, criminal law, and professional discipline.
Tom’s international practice focuses on serious rights violations, corporate accountability, and environmental rights. He provides advice to states, NGOs and individuals in relation to cases before domestic and international courts, as well as those involving UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures.
In extradition proceedings, Tom is regularly instructed in cases at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he has advised Requested Persons on matters ranging from prison assurances to extraneous considerations based on persecution. He recently represented a high-profile political dissident in complex Part 2 proceedings.
In crime, Tom appears in the Crown Court and the Magistrates’ Court on a regular basis. Adept at navigating Defendants through the challenges of the criminal justice system, he prepares thoroughly and gives careful consideration to every case. Prior to the Bar, he worked at Bark & Co Solicitors on serious prison offences.
Who do I work for?
Tom is available for public access instruction from individuals, states and non-governmental organisations.