Chris Stephen

About/Bio

Chris Stephen is an Advocate at the Scottish Bar. He was also called to the Bar of England & Wales (Gray’s Inn) in July 2021. He was formerly an Assistant Legal Adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for five years.

Recently Published

Diplomatic Immunity, Modern Slavery and the “Commercial Activity” Exception:  The UK Supreme Court in Basfar v Wong

Can a diplomat assert their immunity from suit in a claim for breach of employment rights brought by a domestic servant working for them in their residence, in circumstances in which that diplomat has trafficked that servant into the United Kingdom and forced that servant to work in conditions of modern slavery? In the landmark decision…

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Clarifying the Principle of Complementarity: the ICC Confirms Admissibility of Case Despite Investigation by Kenya

Chris Stephen is an associate at Volterra Fietta practising public international law. He previously worked as judicial assistant to Lord Hope of Craighead and Lord Mance in the House of Lords (now the UK Supreme Court). It is trite to state that the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”)…

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