St Philips Chambers is pleased to confirm that Peter Haynes KC has been appointed lead defence counsel for Rodrigo Duterte, the former President of the Philippines, in proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Mr Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity arising from alleged killings during his time as Mayor of Davao City and subsequently as President of the Philippines.
Peter Haynes KC is internationally recognised as one of the foremost advocates practising in the field of international criminal and humanitarian law, with more than 25 years’ experience appearing before international tribunals in The Hague, including the ICC, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
He served two consecutive terms as President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association between 2019 and 2021, becoming the first person to be re-elected to the role.
His previous international work includes:
- Securing the successful appeal of Jean-Pierre Bemba against convictions for war crimes and crimes against humanity before the ICC — one of the Court’s most significant appeal decisions and among the few full acquittals secured before the ICC;
- Acting for General Vinko Pandurević before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in proceedings relating to the Srebrenica massacre, described as the largest criminal trial in Europe since the Second World War;
- Representing victims of the Beirut bombing before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon;
- Acting for Joseph Kony, former leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, in the ICC’s first in absentia confirmation proceedings.
In addition to his international practice, Peter Haynes KC has advised governments, heads of state and international organisations on complex issues of international law and human rights.
St Philips Chambers is proud to see one of its members instructed in proceedings of such international significance before the ICC.
