Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Sir James Eadie KC is one of the UK's leading advocates, with a practice spanning public and regulatory, commercial, EU and international law.
The Lawyer's Litigation Tracker's analysis has found James to be the top-ranked barrister at the Bar since 2015, by volume of court appearances, undertaking twice the share of court work of any other ranked barristers.
James was appointed First Treasury Counsel in January 2009, breaking the tradition of appointing Junior Counsel to this role. He had previously been Junior Counsel to the Crown, Common Law (1997-2008); alongside a private commercial and regulatory practice.
In the profession, he is called the ‘Treasury Devil’. As such, he is the KC to whom the Government turn first for their major pieces of advice and litigation.
He advises the Government across the entire range of Government activity – from terrorism to tax. He has acted in much of the major litigation brought against the Government (frequently in the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights).
He was named Human Rights and Public Law Silk of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2017; and again in 2021. He has been regularly named in The Times Law 100 listing the most influential lawyers in Britain.
James has been listed by both of the leading Legal Directories, Legal 500 and Chambers UK, as one of the Stars of the Bar and consistently in the first tier of Public and Administrative, and Human Rights, KCs. He is also currently ranked for his expertise in Immigration, Indirect Tax, Data Protection and EU law.
Recent comments include:
Previous comments include:
James is widely recognised as one of the leading public law advocates in practice at the English bar. As 'Treasury Devil' he leads of the Government in most of the key public law litigation, often in the Supreme Court.
“He is a joy to work with. He has a very charming way with the clients and strong powers of persuasion. He instils confidence.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“He's a master of his craft. He comes into cases and immediately gets the points and the big picture. He's an absolutely brilliant advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Phenomenal. An absolute heavyweight who is at the top of his game. It was a real privilege to see him in action.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Stands head and shoulders above the rest”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He's mind-blowingly good, he just grasps everything immediately.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Stands head and shoulders above the rest”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Stands head and shoulders above the rest”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Stands head and shoulders above the rest”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He's mind-blowingly good, he just grasps everything immediately.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Stands head and shoulders above the rest”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He's mind-blowingly good, he just grasps everything immediately.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He's mind-blowingly good, he just grasps everything immediately.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He's mind-blowingly good, he just grasps everything immediately.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is a pleasure to work with.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“A brilliant advocate who assimilates things quickly and is so effective in the big appeals.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“By far the best public law silk at the Bar.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“He is a brilliant individual and a towering giant at the Bar.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Simply phenomenal.”
Legal 500, 2021
“A tremendous silk.”
Legal 500, 2021
“His wide range of experience and the quality of his judgement make him unique.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“The star of his generation - he has such a volume of work to do, but I've never caught him missing a detail.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“He obviously has a level of innate confidence which is born of the most superb ability.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“An absolutely consummate advocate with a natural feel for the court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“The UK government's top choice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“He is a stand-out performer, especially on national security work.”
Legal 500, 2018
“Well known as one of the pre-eminent silks at the Bar”
Legal 500, 2017
“He is extremely popular as he has all the attributes of a first-class silk, such as intellectual and advocacy skills, and also a charming personality.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
“He has an avuncular air about him and a smile is never too far from his face”
Legal 500, 2016
“A tireless advocate.”
Legal 500, 2015
Article 50 at [2018] AC 61 and Prorogation at [2020] AC 373
Foreign Secretary intervening in proceedings to determine the ownership of gold held at the Bank of England to certify who was recognized as President of Venezuela.
EU law compatibility of restrictions on residence rights post Brexit to citizens of other member states
Challenge to power to make regulations specifying cost plus fees for applications for British citizenship
Limits on statutory power to obtain information by compulsion from foreign companies
Forum conveniens in cross border divorce and financial settlement
Retrospective application of HRA and required ingredients of an Article 2 compliant investigation
Criminal records certificates and whether system compliant with Article 8 ECHR
Discrimination and life sentence prisoners
Reference by UK government challenging proposed Scottish Parliament legislation post Brexit
Including: Mohamed v SS for Defence [2017] AC 821 and Ramatullah v MOD [2017] AC 649
Principles governing payment of compensation under ECHR for police negligence in investigation of crime (Warbuoys)
Belhaj v Straw [2017] AC 964 (on applicable law and ECHR); and Belhaj [2019] AC 593 (on closed material procedures and the meaning of criminal cause or matter)
Claimants are challenging provisions of the immigration rules requiring that spouses seeking entry have proficiency in English. (Judgement handed down 18 November 2015.)
Challenge to award of government contracts during pandemic
Challenge to UK Internal Markets Act on grounds of competence of Welsh Assembly
Challenge to immigration exemption in Data Protection legislation as incompatible with EU law
Challenge to non-availability of tax exemption for political donations to Brexit organisations
Challenge to Parole Board rules permitting Secretary of State to invite Parole Board to reconsider decisions
Challenge to decision not to hold public inquiry in relation to allegations of UK involvement in renditions – closed material procedures
Challenge to decision by local authority to permit facilitation of sex with a prostitute for a man in care of local authority – whether criminal offence risked being committed
Challenge to lawfulness of Covid regulations
Challenge by women born in 1950s to increase in/equalisation of state pension
Challenge to legislation governing details to be provided to landlords by immigrants
Challenges to the existence of the common law principle of foreign active state and the application of state immunity in the context of alleged unlawful rendition and torture. (Supreme Court hearing 9 – 12 November 2015.)
Raising the issue of whether or not it is permissible in principle for a domestic UK court to grant an injunction preventing the transmission of security sensitive material to the European court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. (Hearing in Supreme Court 2 November 2015).
The legality of fast track immigration detention processes in the Court of Appeal. (Judgment handed down 29 July 2015)
Injunction to prevent Panorama revealing the identity of a person they claimed to be an MI5 agent.
Challenge to ECGD decision to provide financial assistance to construction of major gas production plant in Mozambique.
Challenge to appointments to senior government posts during pandemic on grounds of discrimination
Challenge to decision by Prime Minister under the Ministerial Code on the allegations of bullying against the Home Secretary
Lawfulness of warrants authorising equipment interference
Challenge to diplomatic immunity of Anne Sacoolas wife of a US diplomatic agent following death of Harry Dunn in road traffic accident
Discrimination in relation to change in legislation governing early release provisions applicable to terrorist prisoners
A challenge to the legality of the imposition of a residence test in the context of legal aid reform (Judgement handed down on 25 November 2015.
James is widely recognised as one of the leading public law and human rights advocates in practice at the English bar. As 'Treasury Devil' he leads of the Government in most of the key public law and civil liberties litigation, often in the Supreme Court.
“Just sheer excellence.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“He is phenomenal, both in terms of the volume of extraordinary cases he takes on and the quality of his advocacy. Undoubtedly a star, and everyone agrees.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“James Eadie is exceptional. He can run the most difficult cases and technically is second to none”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is one of the finest of his generation”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“James Eadie is exceptional. He can run the most difficult cases and technically is second to none”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is one of the finest of his generation”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“James Eadie is exceptional. He can run the most difficult cases and technically is second to none”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“James Eadie is exceptional. He can run the most difficult cases and technically is second to none”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is one of the finest of his generation”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“James Eadie is exceptional. He can run the most difficult cases and technically is second to none”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is one of the finest of his generation”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is one of the finest of his generation”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“A stellar barrister and an excellent advocate.”
Legal 500, 2022
“He's a hugely gifted advocate, who is extremely persuasive.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“James Eadie is incredible.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“A stellar member of chambers and an excellent advocate.”
Legal 500, 2021
“James Eadie is a figurehead in the field of human rights.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“He is as impressive as it gets, you need him on a large case.”
Legal 500, 2019
“The way he manages his workload is very impressive; he is the busiest barrister in the country.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“One of the most impressive advocates at the Bar.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“A superstar.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“James Eadie is obviously just the best, what more can one say?”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“James Eadie is a household name in this area, he mixes a big brain with a simplicity of style.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“Respected throughout the courts.”
Legal 500, 2018
“The star individual for government work, a fantastic barrister. He's absolutely worthy of his reputation.”
Chambers and Partners, 2017
Ms
Begum challenging her deprivation of citizenship and the lack of ability to
participate in UK proceedings from the camp in Syria
Retrospective reach of the Human Rights Act in the context of allegations of breaches of the ECHR in the context of the Northern Ireland ‘troubles’.
Challenges to the ‘2 child’ restriction on benefits – the Supreme Court revisiting a series of generic issues relating to Human Rights Act challenges (including the working of margin of appreciation, the relevance of international law, the use of Parliamentary materials and the Ullah principle)
Rights of non-binary persons to have an ‘X’ marking on their passports
EU lawfulness of compensation arrangements for those detained pending removal
Provision of evidence to the US in support of prosecution on death penalty offence in the US of El Gizouli and El Sheikh
Deportation of foreign national offenders
Detention of juvenile offenders and Article 3 ECHR
Victims of trafficking – relationship between European convention against trafficking and the ECHR
Discrimination and rights of heterosexual couples to a civil partnership
Application of Refugee Convention in Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus
Whether international humanitarian law can provide a basis for detention in a non-international armed conflict situation. (Hearing in Supreme Court 1 February 2015).
Challenge to retention of DNA and other personal data re convicted persons. (Judgment handed down 13 May 2015).
Allegations of killing in 1948 by British soldiers in Malaya.
Issue 1 – should an article 2 ECHR compliant investigation be ordered in 2015
Issue 2 – should proportionality be a free standard ground of domestic judicial review so as to supplant the concept of rationality. (Judgment handed down on 25 November).
Challenge to Schedule 7 - powers to stop, question and search people at UK ports. (Judgment handed down on 22 July 2015).
Challenge to the compatibility with Article 3 ECHR of the UK system for imposing whole life sentences (hearing in ECHR on 21 October 2015).
A series of challenges in relation to the legality of detention and in relation to whether or not further investigation/enquiry was required under the ECHR. (Judgement from Court of Appeal on 30 July 2015).
Lawfulness of Intelligence Services authorisation of criminal conduct by covert human intelligence sources
Challenge to Abortion Act brought by Downs child
Application of diplomatic immunity in context of allegations of child abuse in the UK – relationship between Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Immunity and ECHR
Terrorist sanctions under UN regime – compatibility of domestic legislation with ECHR
Sir James Eadie KC practices extensively in environmental law. Key highlight cases may be found below.
“Represents the government in all its most challenging and complex environmental cases.”
Legal 500, 2018
Challenge to ECGD decision to provide financial assistance to construction of major gas production plant in Mozambique
Challenge to ECGD decision to provide financial assistance to construction of major gas production plant in Mozambique
Challenge to general licences for shooting birds
Challenge direction to Natural England in relation to badger culling
Challenge to Ivory Act 2018 prohibiting sale of ivory goods
Advising and representing DEFRA in relation to the proposed badger cull
Challenge to removal of the renewable source energy exemption from the climate change levy
Challenge to suspension of Guernsey fishing licences on grounds of over-fishing
Whether the system for dealing with costs in environmental cases is ‘prohibitively expensive’ under the Aarhuis Convention and EU law
Acting for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, in seeking to resist claims for damages for more than £200 million brought by participants in the solar panel industry. Manufacturers and distributors of solar technology alleged a violation of their property rights by the reason of the making of a proposal by the Department to reduce the subsidy available to the industry for energy produced from renewable resources. The present case follows an earlier challenge by Friends of the Earth alleging that the proposal was unlawful.
Sir James Eadie KC has acted in over 100 cases for the Government before the European Court of Human Rights.
Key highlight cases may be found below.
“He advises the government as the Treasury Devil.”
Legal 500, 2019
“The government’s go-to counsel for major advice and litigation.”
Legal 500, 2018
“The Treasury Devil, highly regarded by his peers.”
Legal 500, 2017
Bulk interception by intelligence agencies
Jurisdiction of contracting states in overseas embassies
Whether domestic law failed adequately to protect Max Mosley’s privacy rights under Article 8 ECHR
Wearing of crosses and other religious symbols at work
Greens & MT v the UK; for the UK in the intervention in Scoppola v Italy before the Grand Chamber; and then in the Supreme Court in Chester v Secretary of State for Justice
Christmas islands nuclear detonations
Night noise over London caused by Heathrow flights
Whether domestic law failed adequately to protect Countess Spencer’s privacy rights under Article 8 ECHR
Gibraltar shootings of IRA bombing unity by British forces
Investigative obligations under Article 2
Investigative obligations under Article 2
Homosexual personnel in the armed forces
Deportation and Article 3
Numerous cases relating to military operations abroad including in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan (eg. Bankovic v UK; Al Skeini v UK; Al Jedda v UK; Hasan v UK; Hanan v Germany; Al Jaloud v Netherlands)
Use of compelled material and self incrimination
Sir James Eadie KC is ranked in the current editions of both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his work in this area.
Key highlight cases may be found below.
“One of the people they bring in to take over when things get hot, because the court listens to everything he says.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“He is recommended for public sector work and has handled multiple freedom of information claims.”
Legal 500, 2019
“An incredibly authoritative speaker who manages to make any point sound perfectly reasonable.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“James Eadie is just the master.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“He's the Treasury Devil, which speaks for itself.”
Chambers and Partners, 2018
“well-regarded silk, who has represented the government in this area.”
Legal 500, 2018
Challenge to use of s.23 and s.24 FOIA (national security exemptions)
Challenge to immigration exemption in Data Protection legislation as incompatible with EU law
Injunction to prevent Panorama revealing the identity of a person they claimed to be an MI5 agent
Prohibiting local authorities from publishing and distributing free local newsletters more frequently than on a quarterly basis
Free space for Government decision making - risk registers
Exemptions applicable to Bush-Blair correspondence in advance of the decision to conduct military operations in Iraq
Affording access to BBC to interview Babar Ahmed
Whether Jon Venables new identity should be revealed to the press following his conviction on child pornography charges
Sir James Eadie KC has been involved in a large number of Inquiries, including the notable examples found below.
“He is extremely impressive.”
Legal 500, 2018
“He is in a different league – an outstanding advocate who deals with the most mind-blowing workload very effectively.”
Chambers and Partners, 2016
Acting for M15
Acting for MI5
Application of Public Interest Immunity in the context of inquests
Acted for the Secretary of State for Health
Acting for and advising the Government
Judicial review of the decision not to set up a 2005 Act public inquiry into the murder of Northern Irish solicitor, Patrick Finucane.
Challenge to refusal to set up public inquiry into handling of demonstration at an immigration centre
Acting for MI5
Whether the Chief Justice of Gibraltar should be removed from office
VAT registration number: 446932721
Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Derek Sutton
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7327
Adam Sloane
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7326
Dean Tolman
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7331
Billy Brian
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7339
Marc Armstrong
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7330
Adam Fuschillo
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7329
Danny Compton
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7338
Sophie Reeve
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7324
Toby Dennison
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7328
Daniel Higgins
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7322
Lilly-Grace Hilliard
Clerk
+44 (0)20 7822 7234