Leading Public International Law Lawyers
Ghahhary Thomas LLP is a leading Canadian firm advising on complex matters of public international law. Our partners are internationally recognized barristers, called to the Bars of Ontario, Canada and the United Kingdom.
We act as public international law lawyers for sovereign states, public bodies, international organizations, and private entities navigating complex international legal frameworks.
Our team combines courtroom advocacy with deep policy experience. We have practiced within leading global law firms, in government, international organizations, and NGOs. This allows us to approach international legal matters with both legal precision and geopolitical awareness.
Public International Law Representation
We represent clients in complex matters involving core principles of public international law, including:
- Treaty interpretation disputes
- Sovereign immunity litigation
- State responsibility claims
- Diplomatic and interstate disputes
- International institutional proceedings
- Cross-border public law conflicts
Our advocacy is grounded in strategy, clarity, and procedural command. We represent clients before international tribunals, domestic courts, and arbitral bodies where questions of international law arise.
Where appropriate, we work alongside domestic counsel, diplomats, and policy advisors to ensure that legal strategy aligns with broader diplomatic or institutional objectives.
Treaty Law & International Agreements
Treaties form the backbone of the international legal system. As experienced treaty lawyers, we advise on all aspects of treaty law, including:
- Bilateral and multilateral treaty negotiation
- Treaty drafting and interpretation
- Disputes concerning treaty obligations
- State compliance analysis
- Reparations frameworks
- Legal consequences of treaty breaches
Our work supports governments and international bodies in developing legal instruments that remain durable under international scrutiny.
Sovereign Immunity & State Responsibility
Questions of sovereign immunity and state responsibility frequently arise in international litigation and cross-border disputes.
As experienced sovereign immunity lawyers, we advise on:
- Jurisdictional immunity of foreign states
- Enforcement immunity and asset protection
- Litigation involving state-owned entities
- Diplomatic privileges and immunities
- Claims involving breaches of international obligations
Our lawyers help clients navigate the intersection of international legal doctrine and domestic legal proceedings.
Public International Law Advisory
Public international law often intersects with diplomacy, international policy, and global governance frameworks.
We advise clients on a wide range of international legal matters, including:
- International criminal law
- International humanitarian law
- International human rights law
- Transitional justice mechanisms
- Peace and security frameworks
- International institutional governance
- International policy development
We assist clients in navigating complex legal frameworks that intersect with diplomatic, political, and regulatory realities.
Strategic Counsel in Complex International Matters
International legal disputes are rarely confined to legal doctrine alone. They often involve:
- Diplomatic consequences
- Regulatory implications
- Reputational risk
- Cross-border enforcement challenges
We provide measured, strategic advice that accounts for these realities.
Why Clients Engage Ghahhary Thomas LLP
Clients choose our firm because we offer:
- Dual Bar qualification (Canada & UK)
- Advocacy experience at the highest levels
- Direct experience inside governments and international institutions
- Strategic clarity in politically sensitive matters
- Deep understanding of treaty law, sovereign immunity, and state responsibility
We operate with discretion, precision, and intellectual rigor.
Our partner, Leila Ghahhary, is an experienced Public International Law barrister who is a member of the UK Attorney General’s Public International Law Panel of Counsel. Leila completed a Master of Laws with Honours at Columbia Law School in New York City, graduating with Kent Scholar status and having been awarded the Parker School Certificate of Achievement in International and Comparative Law. Leila’s scholarship was focused on Public International Law, Global Governance, and International Human Rights. Leila served as an editor for the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, as a Board Member for the Columbia Society of International Law, and was selected to undertake a UN Externship with UN Women: Peace and Security, during which she spent time working at UN Headquarters New York on a number of matters relating to UN Women’s role on the Security Council. Professionally, Leila acts as Senior Legal Advisor to an international NGO alongside her private practice.
Speak With a Public International Law Lawyer
If you require advice or representation in a matter involving public international law, treaty disputes, or sovereign immunity, contact Ghahhary Thomas LLP to discuss your position in confidence.
