Candidates
President
Marie O’Leary has had the privilege to spend the last two decades as an international law practitioner, focusing on international criminal & humanitarian law, as well as human rights. She was most recently Acting Principal Counsel of the Office of Public Counsel for the Defence (OPCD) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and was working with the Office since 2013. Prior to the ICC, she worked at the United Nations’ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) with Defence, Amicus Prosecution, and Trial Chambers, and has served as a Legal Consultant for the Defence Offices of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). She is the current President of the Association of Defence Counsel (ADC-ICT) and currently serves on the ICC Bar Association (ICCBA) Working Group on the Code of Conduct, having previously served in the executive bodies of each association and on several working committees. She has dedicated significant time to capacity-building and training initiatives specifically for defence lawyers, recently co-authoring both a defence needs assessment and a Defence Counsel Handbook for Ukrainian practitioners, both developed/conducted with USAID Justice for All Activity support. She is called to the Bar of the State of Minnesota (U.S.) where she started her career with the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office and the State Public Defenders Office.
MARIE O'LEARY
Executive Council
MÉLISSA BEAULIEU LUSSIER (Full Member)
Mélissa Beaulieu Lussier is a Canadian lawyer and a member of the Quebec Bar since 2014. Since her admission to the Bar, she has practised criminal law both in Canada and before the International Criminal Court (ICC). She has served on the Defence teams of Mr Bosco Ntaganda (DRC), Mr Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona (CAR), and Mr Al Hassan ag Abdoul Aziz (Mali). Over the years, Ms Beaulieu Lussier has represented accused persons at every stage of proceedings at the ICC, conducted investigations in multiple countries, drafted legal submissions at both trial and appellate levels, and presented a wide range of oral arguments before the Court. She is currently Counsel for Mr Al Hassan and a member of the team representing victims in the case of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman (Darfur) before the ICC. Ms Beaulieu has also been actively involved with the ICCBA for many years. As a member of the Training Committee for the past two terms, she has contributed to the development of many trainings, including the training for Rule 74 duty counsel which she has delivered on numerous occasions. She regularly lectures at universities and bar associations around the world and has also supervised Master’s theses at the University of Amsterdam. Ms Beaulieu strongly believes that sharing experiences across the legal profession strengthens international criminal law and that investing in the training and professional development of lawyers is essential to the effective functioning of the field.
PAUL BRADFIELD (Full Member)
Dr. Paul Bradfield a barrister and lecturer from Ireland. He was called to the bar in 2009 and holds a PhD from the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, Ireland, where he currently is a lecturer in international criminal law. Paul has worked at various international courts since 2010, including the tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court. This included working for the Petković, Karadžić, Nizeyimana and Ali defence teams. Paul has also worked in trial roles at the ICC Office of the Prosecutor and in the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. He is currently one of the Legal Representatives of the Victims in the Kony case at the ICC. In the field, he has worked for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Uganda and for Irish Rule of Law International in Malawi, on a range of transitional justice, human rights and access to justice issues. Domestically, he was previously a Prosecutor in Ireland’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, prosecuting murder and sexual offence cases.
DIMITRI DEBORD (Associate Member)
Dr Dimitri DEBORD is an international lawyer and trainee magistrate in France. He is the Founder of DIKE International, an NGO dedicated to assisting and supporting victims affected by armed conflicts and serious violations of international law. Dr Debord holds an MSc in International Humanitarian Law from the University of Oxford and is conducting research at the University of Cambridge (MSt) on the history of law and the protection of cultural property. He also holds a PhD in Compared Military Law and a Magistère in International Law from Paris Nanterre University, a Postgraduate Diploma in European Law from King’s College London, and is a graduate of Sciences Po Grenoble. A former elected member of the Executive Council in 2022, Dr Debord notably contributed to the work leading to the creation of the Trust Fund for Families, reflecting his commitment to strengthening solidarity within the profession and supporting members of the ICC Bar and their families. An accomplished advocate and public speaker, Dr Debord has been a laureate of more than ten advocacy and public-speaking competitions in both French and English, including six competitions held in Africa, reflecting his longstanding engagement with international legal communities across different regions and legal cultures.
HAYDEE DIJKSTAL (Full Member)
Haydee Dijkstal is a UK barrister and US attorney with over 15 years of experience practicing international criminal and human rights law before international tribunals including the ICC. Haydee’s practice includes work before the ICC, ICTY, SCSL, ECtHR, African Commission and Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and various UN bodies. Haydee has been a member of legal teams before the International Criminal Court since 2011 representing parties including the defence, victims and Governments. Haydee has extensive experience with victim representation before the ICC. She is currently representing victims at the ICC in the Situation in Afghanistan and Situation in Ukraine, and previously acted on legal teams for victims in a number of other situations and to raise victims’ interests in Article 15 submissions. Other instructions before the ICC include acting on the defence team for Abdullah Al-Senussi in the Libya Situation; and on the legal team for the Kenyan Government. In addition, she has been instructed as counsel for amicus curiae submissions before the Court.
DESPOINA ELEFTHERIOU (Associate Member)
Despoina Eleftheriou is a Greek lawyer admitted to the Thessaloniki Bar and a Case Manager and Legal Assistant before the International Criminal Court. She is currently serving on the Ngaïssona Defence team and she previously worked on the Blé Goudé Defence team. Within the ICCBA, she served as Chair of the Counsel Support Staff Committee, where she led the development of the ICCBA “Welcome Package” and promoted practical resources for counsel and support staff. Beyond the Court, she interned at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for International Relations in Thessaloniki. She holds an LL.B. from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an LL.M. in International Studies with Honours, and an LL.M. in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam, graduating cum laude in the joint programme with Columbia University in the City of New York.
ELISABETTA GALEAZZI (Full Member)
Elisabetta Galeazzi is an Italian Criminal Lawyer with thirty years of experience as Defence Counsel and Counsel for Victims before national courts and higher jurisdictions. After completing an LL.M. in International Law and Human Rights, she was admitted to the List of Counsel of the International Criminal Court in 2012. For decades, she has served as Lead Counsel in serious criminal cases (Immigration Law, Domestic and International Law, EU Criminal Law, Computer and Cybercrime, Sexual Offences). She is also a dedicated Human Rights defender. Elisabetta has been a member of several national and international bar associations and played an active role in the establishment of the ICCBA. She is currently representing victims at the ICC in the Situation in Ukraine. Since 2016 she has been a member of the International Committee of the Bologna Bar Association, with responsibility for liaising with the ICC. She is also a trainer in ICL for mandatory continuing education programs for lawyers, and has published articles on this topic. A former Chair of the ICCBA Membership Committee, Elisabetta has also served as a member of the Executive Council, as well as on the Victims Committee and the Defence Committee.
MEGAN HIRST (Full Member)
Megan Hirst is an Australian lawyer, practicing from the London bar. She has been working at and before the ICC since 2009, with a particular focus on victim participation. At the ICC she has undertaken victim representation in the Ongwen Case, the Bangladesh/Myanmar Situation and the Afghanistan Situation. From 2019 until 2022 she was International Lead Co-Lawyer for victims participating as civil parties in Case 002/02 at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. Megan was previously a legal officer in the Registries of the ICC and the STL, primarily working on victim participation. Megan has previously served four terms on the Executive Council (2019-2021, 2023-2024, 2024-2025) and in 2019-2021 was also Vice President for Victims and a member of the Victims’ Committee.
ANOUK JULIEN (Associate Member)
Anouk Julien has over five years of experience in international criminal and humanitarian law. A member of the Quebec Bar since 2020, she is currently works in a Defence team at the International Criminal Court. Anouk developed a specialisation in Defence at international tribunals by working at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, with a focus on case management and legal drafting. Her professional journey extends to diverse national and international initiatives, including organising and delivering specialised training in international criminal and humanitarian law. She has also conducted field research in Latin America and advised on humanitarian matters at Médecins Sans Frontières.
JUAN CARLOS MANRÍQUEZ (Full Member)
Chilean Lawyer, with 35 years of experience, Professor of Economic Criminal Law, Litigation, Cybercrimes, Data Protection and Privacy in Criminal Proceedings, and International Criminal Law in Universidad Catolica de Chile (LLM) and Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso (Chile). Lecturer and Speaker in different Congress and Doctoral and Magister Programs in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Spain, etc. Litigator, LLM (California Western School of Law, San Diego, USA, 2016); Specialist in Economic and Corporates Criminal Law (Universidad Castilla – La Mancha, Spain, 2011); Advanced Diploma in International Criminal Law and before the International Courts (The Syracuse Institute, Italy, 2018); Legal Advisor for Senate and Deputies Chamber in Chile. Former President of Valparaiso Bar Association (many periods), Chile. Full member of ICCBA, and Counsel before ICC – CPI (admitted in 2018), Member of AFBA, Member of Privacy Rules International. Special Advisor of UIBA (Iberoamerican Bar Association) for Universal Jurisdiction Cases.
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EVELYNE OMBENI (Full Member)
Called to the Bar in the D.R. Congo in 2013, Evelyne Ombeni is an international criminal law practitioner with over 15 years of experience in victims’ representation before the International Criminal Court. Her expertise focuses on victimhood in the D.R. Congo, complemented by extensive training, consultancy, and civil society engagement.
Defence Committee
HASSAN ALHATTAB
International Criminal Law, Defense, and Criminal Justice Specialist with 25 Years of Experience
A distinguished legal professional specializing in international criminal law and human rights, with 25 years of experience in legal practice, advocacy, and strategic legal analysis. He has participated in international criminal investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity, contributing to the examination and legal assessment of complex international criminal matters. In 2026, he was officially nominated by the United Nations Human Rights Council as one of eight qualified candidates worldwide for appointment to the mandate of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. He provides comprehensive legal analysis and strategic advice in legal proceedings, pleadings, and briefs. His professional experience includes public law, oral advocacy, legal research, litigation, and the defense of complex criminal matters, with a strong commitment to justice, due process, and the protection of fundamental rights. He holds certificates in Humanitarian Needs Assessment and Towards a Better Response from the Humanitarian Academy at Harvard University, as well as a certificate in the Fundamentals of Legislation and Federal Law program at Harvard Law School. He also has experience in mediation, arbitration, dispute resolution, and settlement negotiations.
ANTA GUISSÉ
Anta Guissé has been a practising lawyer at the Paris Bar in France since 1999. Her working language is French, while she also speaks English. As a criminal defence lawyer, she has appeared regularly before national criminal courts and the Assize Court in particular. In addition, Ms Guissé has several years of experience appearing before the international jurisdictions. Between 2002 and 2010, she worked with several different defence teams before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, firstly as a legal assistant and then as counsel. In 2010, Ms Guissé had an assignment in a team of Legal Representatives of Victims before the International Criminal Court. She was also Defence Counsel at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Since 2012, Ms Guissé has been acting as an international lawyer for former Chairman KHIEU Samphân before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and is currently Counsel for Mr. Yekatom at the ICC. Ms Guissé also regularly presents at training workshops for colleagues on the subject of international criminal justice.
PHILIPPE LAROCHELLE
Philippe Larochelle is the founder of Larochelle Avocats, www.larochelleavocats.com, a litigation boutique based in Montreal, Canada. Mr. Larochelle maintains an active practice in international criminal law since 2001, representing clients before the ICTR, the ICC and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He has also assisted groups of victims, including before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.After obtaining genocide acquittals for his clients before the ICTR and in Canada, and the release by the ICC of his most recent client, Maxime Mokom, Mr. Larochelle practices now includes a sharp focus on neglected post-acquittals matters : relocation, compensation and review. One of his ICTR pro bono mandate is that of André Ntagerura, acquitted by the ICTR in February 2004 and still trying to find an acceptable relocation plan in 2024, 20 years later.
EMMANUEL MOLINA
Emmanuel MOLINA is a French lawyer registered with the Marseille Bar and has been practicing as a specialist in Criminal Law for more than 20 years. Founder of MOLINA AVOCATS, member of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) and the European Bar Association (AEA), holder of a PhD in criminal sciences, author of numerous publications in specialized journals, he has taught at the Faculty of Law of Aix-Marseille and has carried out several international missions under the aegis of Avocats Sans Frontières France, the International Observatory of Lawyers and the Agence Justice coopération Internationale, particularly in Latin America. Member of the ICCBA for about ten years, and particularly involved in subjects related to international cooperation and the conditions of practice of lawyers committed to the protection of human rights and the rights of the defense, he contributed in 2025 to the activities of the ICC and the ICCBA as an ad hoc member of the Disciplinary Committee.
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JAMES ONALAJA
James is an English Criminal Barrister of 21 years’ experience, practising from 187 Chambers, London, with postgraduate qualification in ICL from Columbia Law School and a Master of Laws in ICL from Amsterdam University. His practise focuses on: serious, complex and violent crimes, including matters with transnational, international and human rights law complexities. Admitted to the ICC’s and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ lists of counsel. He is currently a Legal Consultant to ICC’s Office of Public Counsel for Defence (OPCD), assisting with representing, protecting and promoting interests of defence and unrepresented suspects. In 2023/24, he led the development of OPCD’s advocacy training programme for junior lawyers, delivering the inaugural training sessions. He conducts international trial monitoring and reporting on compliance with IHRL. He assisted Case 004 defence team before the ECCC. He worked with UNHRC in preparing rapporteurs for the 122nd Session and periodic oral dialogues with States re ICCPR compliance. He served on the: Amicus Committee (3 terms) including as Chair; Training Committee in 2020/21 and 2024-2026 terms, where he trained Indonesian and Cambodian lawyers in Jakarta and ICC Counsel in the Hague on ICL trial advocacy; as well as on the Legal Advisory Committee (2023-2026 terms) including as Chair.
GEOFF ROBERTS
Geoffrey Roberts is a New York qualified international lawyer based in The Hague, Netherlands specialising in defending individual and collective rights before international and regional criminal and administrative courts, tribunals and justice mechanisms. Working as a sole practitioner in the centre of The Hague, within a short distance from the new ICC permanent premises, the IRMCT (formerly ICTY), the new premises for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers as well as the other international organisations in The Hague, Geoffrey has limited overheads and flexibility to work alone or together with suitable other independent lawyers, investigators and experts from different countries and legal cultures in large multidisciplinary teams of professionals. As an early and experienced exponent of different legal technologies before different international tribunals, Geoffrey has also been at the forefront of its use in cases of real complexity, including those involving complicated DNA evidence, cell site data and other digital evidence.
ANA TUIKETEI
Ana Tuiketei an international lawyer and arbitrator that is the first Listed Pacific Counsel with ICC and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. She has served on the ICCBA Defense, Victims and Membership Committee- another first for the Pacific. She is also the only female Pacific Islander listed as an Arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (China), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, South China International Arbitration Centre, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority- FINRA (NY, USA). She is a South Pacific Task Force Member for the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA). She is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Small and Microstates based in the UK. She volunteers on the Save the Children’s Fund Fiji & Australia Boards. She is a Board Member for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Ethics Committee. In 2017 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Fiji by the President for her contribution to her country. Her qualifications include LLB, PDLP, PD Climate Change (USP, Fiji), LLM (USA), MBA Global (UK), MBA Sports Management (Switzerland). She is also pursuing her PhD.
INGO KLAUS WAMSER
Ingo Klaus Wamser is admitted to the German bar since 2005 and was awarded the title of a Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the Munich bar in 2009. He is working on criminal law, cross-border and international criminal law and extradition cases before national courts and was appointed as duty counsel before the International Criminal Court. He is a specialist in disciplinary and contempt cases, served as Alternate Commissioner at the ICC, co-drafted the Code of Conduct for Counsel at the KSC, serves as disciplinary judge in Germany in his third term and in disciplinary related positions in international bar associations. As a founding member of the ICCBA Ingo contributed to the Membership and Professional Standards Advisory Committees in previous years. He is co-author of a commentary on the German Federal Lawyer’s Act, published on international and national criminal law topics and was lector for international law at an Austrian state university.
Victims Committee
NOOR ALAZAB
Dr. Noor Alazab is a lawyer, legal researcher, and PhD candidate in Philosophy at the University of Jordan. She holds a Master’s degree in Women’s Studies, with a thesis examining the legal and social realities of single mothers in Jordan. Her doctoral research focuses on punishment and the body through philosophical and legal approaches, with particular attention to feminist perspectives on criminal justice. She is the Founder and President of Kuni for Justice and Equality, a Jordanian non-governmental organization. She has experience in legal research, legal analysis, strategic litigation, and advocacy, with a focus on gender-based violence, accountability, and international criminal justice. From 2023 to 2025, she served as the Gender and Natural Diversity Focal Point within the International Criminal Court Bar Association. Her combined legal and academic experience enables her to contribute to the Victims Committee and the Legal Advisory Committee through rigorous legal analysis, the advancement of victims’ rights, and the promotion of international criminal law and human rights standards.
YARÉ FALL
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ELISABETTA GALEAZZI
Elisabetta Galeazzi is an Italian Criminal Lawyer with thirty years of experience as Defence Counsel and Counsel for Victims before national courts and higher jurisdictions. After completing an LL.M. in International Law and Human Rights, she was admitted to the List of Counsel of the International Criminal Court in 2012. For decades, she has served as Lead Counsel in serious criminal cases (Immigration Law, Domestic and International Law, EU Criminal Law, Computer and Cybercrime, Sexual Offences). She is also a dedicated Human Rights defender. Elisabetta has been a member of several national and international bar associations and played an active role in the establishment of the ICCBA. She is currently representing victims at the ICC in the Situation in Ukraine. Since 2016 she has been a member of the International Committee of the Bologna Bar Association, with responsibility for liaising with the ICC. She is also a trainer in ICL for mandatory continuing education programs for lawyers, and has published articles on this topic. A former Chair of the ICCBA Membership Committee, Elisabetta has also served as a member of the Executive Council, as well as on the Victims Committee and the Defence Committee.
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EVELYNE OMBENI
Called to the Bar in the D.R. Congo in 2013, Evelyne Ombeni is an international criminal law practitioner with over 15 years of experience in victims’ representation before the International Criminal Court. Her expertise focuses on victimhood in the D.R. Congo, complemented by extensive training, consultancy, and civil society engagement.
CRISTINA PEROZZI
Lawyer since 1995 in Rome, I specialized in national and international criminal law (TRAWAW Project on Violence against Women; TALE Project on children defence) and I followed several cases of violence crimes defending victims before Supreme High Court in Rome and ECHR. I teach Human Rights international law, international humanitarian law and law of armed conflicts, military law and law of war violations in international missions and national courses for Italian Red Cross, Italian Defence University and Academies and Civilian Victims of War Association in Rome. I’m military legal advisor at Italian Defence Ministry and member of: Sanremo International Institute of Humanitarian Law; Rome Bar Commission of Criminal Military Law; International Society of military law and law of war; ECBA – European Criminal Bar Association; ADGI /FIFCJ – International Federation of Women in Legal Careers and ICCBA – International Criminal Court Bar Association. I’m working on Defence Ministry project on International PKO Italian Criminal Code, in Women Peace Safety Res ONU 1325 Course Net of Sapienza University in Rome and in an international criminal law and judicial cooperation in international crimes by Italian Justice Ministry and National Centre for Prevention and Social Defence Foundation.
ANA TUIKETEI
Ana Tuiketei an international lawyer and arbitrator that is the first Listed Pacific Counsel with ICC and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. She has served on the ICCBA Defense, Victims and Membership Committee- another first for the Pacific. She is also the only female Pacific Islander listed as an Arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (China), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, South China International Arbitration Centre, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority- FINRA (NY, USA). She is a South Pacific Task Force Member for the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA). She is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Small and Microstates based in the UK. She volunteers on the Save the Children’s Fund Fiji & Australia Boards. She is a Board Member for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Ethics Committee. In 2017 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Fiji by the President for her contribution to her country. Her qualifications include LLB, PDLP, PD Climate Change (USP, Fiji), LLM (USA), MBA Global (UK), MBA Sports Management (Switzerland). She is also pursuing her PhD.
JULIUS VON BONÉ
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ELKE ZIPPERER
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Counsel Support Staff Committee Committee
AIHAM ABOU DAHER (Affiliate Member)
I obtained my law degree from Damascus University in Syria in 2000. I have attended more than 150 court sessions and filed more than 150 lawsuits. From 2001 to 2003, I attended a three-hour-a-week legal training course at the Damascus Bar Association. In 2003, I received my license to practice law as a senior lawyer specializing in international criminal cases and defending the rights of war victims. I have practiced law in Syria and remain registered with the Damascus Bar Association as a senior lawyer to this day.
AHMAD AL-MUTAIRI (Affiliate Member)
Dear Colleagues, I am Ahmad H DH M Al-Mutairi, a senior Kuwaiti advocate registered before the Supreme Constitutional Court and Court of Cassation. Throughout my career, I have championed institutional fairness and the protection of professional rights. Crucially, as the founding member and former Chairman of the Ministry of Justice Employees Union, I possess deep, proven expertise in fighting for fair workplace standards, administrative transparency, and staff welfare.
As an international arbitrator and certified trainer, I know that a strong, secure support infrastructure is vital to the integrity of any judicial team.
My Platform for the CSSC:
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Protect Contractual & Workplace Rights: Utilizing my extensive union leadership experience to advocate for stable, secure, and equitable working conditions for all support staff.
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Enhance Institutional Transparency: Strengthening governance policies to protect the administrative interests of assistants, case managers, and investigators.
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Expand Professional Capacity: Designing advanced, specialized training pathways to support the career progression and skills of our support teams.
I respectfully ask for your vote to bring seasoned structural advocacy and dedicated governance to the CSSC.
EVA DANIEL (Associate Member)
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ALEXANDRE DESEVEDAVY (Associate Member)
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SAIF KASSIS (Associate Member)
Saif Kassis is an international legal professional working across international criminal justice, victims’ representation, strategic litigation and human rights advocacy. His work at the ICC covers different aspects of victim participation and representation, from legal and evidentiary analysis and case management to direct engagement with victims and affected communities. Alongside his work before the Court, he works as a human rights policy and strategy consultant, advising governmental and non-governmental actors on policy and strategy, programme designs, and the practical implementation of international standards.
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KHALED TAYEB (Affiliate Member)
My professional and academic interests have been strongly focused on International Criminal Law, international criminal justice, human rights, and transitional justice. I have conducted legal research and published academic works in the field of international criminal law, in addition to delivering lectures and contributing to legal discussions on international justice. I believe that my academic background, research experience, and commitment to international criminal justice would allow me to make a meaningful contribution to the Committee and to the ICCBA community. If elected, I would seek to contribute constructively to the Committee's work, promote greater exchange of legal knowledge and experience, support professional development, and help strengthen communication and cooperation among members. I would also be particularly interested in supporting initiatives that facilitate access to legal resources, training, and academic opportunities related to international criminal law. I am committed to serving with professionalism, independence, respect, and a genuine willingness to contribute to the work of the ICCBA.
DR. ABBAS POORHASHEMI (Affiliate Member)
Dr. Abbas Poorhashemi is a scholar and expert in international criminal law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international environmental law, with over two decades of academic and professional experience. He has served as a Registered Expert before the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2023, providing expertise under Regulation 44 of the Court’s Regulations across the fields of international criminal law, humanitarian law, human rights law, and environmental law. He is currently serving as an elected member of the Counsel Support Staff Committee at the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA), a position he has held since 2024, and has been an Affiliate Member of the ICCBA since 2020. He holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Strasbourg (2005) and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in International Law and Globalization at UQAM (2013). For over a decade, he served as Assistant Professor of International Law at IAU, teaching international criminal law, public international law, human rights, and international responsibility to J.D. and international LL.M. students, and has supervised more than 200 dissertations and theses. He is President of the Canadian Institute for International Law Expertise (CIFILE) and Editor-in-Chief of the CIFILE Journal of International Law (CJIL), a peer-reviewed publication advancing scholarship across international criminal law and related fields. He has authored or edited more than 100 publications.
KELSEY RYAN (Associate Member)
Kelsey has been an admitted Australian lawyer since 2017. Since 2025, she has been both a Case Manager and Legal Assistant on several external teams at the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the Abd-al-Rahman Victims Team and the Al Hassan Defence Team. Prior to commencing at the ICC, she was a Legal Consultant in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and practised domestically as a general litigation solicitor in Melbourne, Australia. Kelsey is a graduate of Masters of Public and International Law from the University of Melbourne, and previously served on the Counsel Support Staff Committee in 2024-2025.
MARCELA VELARDE (Associate Member)
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LILY ZANJANI (Associate Member)
Lily Zanjani is an international criminal law practitioner with experience across defence litigation, prosecutorial investigations, victims’ participation, academia, and international policy. She currently works as Legal Assistant with the Defence team of Mr. Al Hassan (Mali) before the International Criminal Court. Her broader ICC experience includes work with the Office of the Prosecutor, including sensitive investigative interviews involving vulnerable witnesses and survivors of conflict-related SGBV, as well as with the Victims Participation and Reparations Section in the Ongwen (Uganda) and Abd-Al-Rahman (Sudan) matters, focusing on victims’ applications, participation, and reparations. Her international criminal litigation experience also extends to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where she worked with the Defence teams of Rexhep Selimi and Pjetër Shala, and to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, where she supported Appeals Counsel in the Office of the Prosecutor. Alongside her legal practice, Lily has taught International Criminal Law, Public International Law, and European Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She has also conducted research on military artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, and international humanitarian law through ELSA Lab Defence, in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Her wider professional background includes policy and legal work with the United Nations Mine Action Service, including contributions to UN Security Council resolutions, and with the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, focusing on humanitarian law, protection of civilians, rule of law, and international accountability. Lily holds an Advanced LL.M. in Public International Law, specialising in International Criminal Law, from Leiden University, alongside graduate training in international law and a background in international relations.
AHMED ZUHAIR BAJALAN (Associate Member)
Ahmed Zuhair Bajalan (Ahmed Wali) has been a lawyer since 2011 and is on the List of Assistants to Counsel before the International Criminal Court. He has been a member of the ICCBA since 2020., he speaks Arabic, Kurdish, and English. Ahmed has dedicated his career, much of it on a pro bono basis, to addressing crimes against humanity and war crimes that committed by the Turkish army and their Jihadist terrorist groups. His work has included documenting and pursuing accountability for violations committed against Kurdish communities in the area of Rojava in the West of Kurdistan. In July 2025, when the same Jihadist terrorist groups started committing crimes against the Druze and Alawi communities, he started documenting some of these crimes and represented the victims of the Druze community in the area of Al-Swaydaa. He represents victims from minority ethnic and religious groups Also documented some crimes committed by the Turkish army in the Iraqi territories. Ahmed has worked pro bono with NGOs in representing vulnerable victims before national and international courts, including victims of gender-based violence, LGBTI victims, children, women, and internally displaced persons. He has also submitted cases before the Special Rapporteur and mandates of the UN Human Rights Council. he hopes to continue supporting colleagues and victims in future proceedings for October 7 victims, and aspires to contribute to global efforts to combat antisemitism. Alongside his international work, Ahmed has practiced criminal justice since 2011 as a defence and prosecution lawyer in various courts, with extensive experience and strong skills in criminal justice. Also covering family law, company registration, and civil law matters.
Professional Standards Advisory Committee
AURÉLIE BERTHET
Admitted to the Paris Bar since 2003 and registered in England and Wales since 2015, Aurélie Berthet is also a Mediator, listed with several Courts of Appeal in France. A dual French-British national, she practices both locally and internationally, with a strong specialization in criminal law, asylum law, and international humanitarian law. With degrees in science, law, and mediation, and over 20 years of field experience, Aurélie Berthet teaches the fundamentals of the legal profession in law schools, having previously lectured in criminal law at the university level. A former Member of the National Bar Council (CNB) and several other representative bodies of the legal profession in France, Honorary President of the Paris Young Lawyers’ Union (UJA), and Honorary Member of the National Federation of Young Lawyers’ Unions (FNUJA), Aurélie Berthet approaches all entrusted tasks with passion and dedication.
JENS DIECKMANN
Jens Dieckmann is a German Lawyer. He is Founding and Senior Partner of Becher&Dieckmann in Bonn (Germany) as well as Associate Member of Chamber 9BR International (London, UK). Jens Dieckmann can offer clients more than 27 years of high level international litigation and negotiation practice in high profile cases. He has worked in and lead international teams of lawyers at various international criminal tribunals. In addition, he has a varied national and international practice as Counsel in International Human Rights Law as well as Asylum and Immigration Law. He provides consultancy to Governments and NGOs in the field of International Criminal Law and Asylum Law. He is appointed to the Expert Commission on Asylum by the Federal Board of Amnesty International, Germany. Since 2006, he is an elected member of the Board of ADC-ICT. In 2015/16, he was a member of the Drafters Committee and the Interim Board of the ICCBA. He served the ICCBA inter alia as Vice President for Victims (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) and was Chair of the Victims Committee in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. He was member of the Executive Council 2016-2019 and of the Victims Committee 2023/2024. Since 2011 he is CLR, Associate Counsel, for Victims in the ICC Banda Case.
LYMA NGUYEN
www.lymanguyen.com - Lyma Nguyen is an Australian barrister who also practises in international criminal law, transnational crimes and human rights. In 2018, she was appointed List Counsel before the ICC and has served on the ICCBA Legal Advisory Committee (2022) and Amicus Committee (2023). Domestically, Lyma has chaired disciplinary inquiries including the Local Government Disciplinary Committee and Teachers Registration Board, which govern standards of fitness and adherence to the relevant Codes of Conduct governing those professions. Lyma edited the College of Law Practice Papers on Professional Conduct and Discipline; The Lawyer and Client Relationship; A Lawyer's Relationship with the Court and A Lawyer's Relationship with the Public (2016). In 2020, Lyma won the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians Leadership Awards and was the youngest of 45 “Trailblazing Women Australian Lawyers” whose oral history is archived in Australia’s National Library (2014), recognised for her service as International Civil Party Counsel at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, where she represented the ethnic Vietnamese minority victims in the tribunal’s historic genocide case. In 2024, as a prosecutor before a People’s Tribunal, The Court of the Citizens of the World, Lyma presented an Indictment charging President Xi Jinping for crimes against humanity against the Tibetan civilian population, in an unprecedented Confirmation Hearing in which charges of genocide of the Uyghur minority population in Xinjiang were also confirmed. Lyma is as an Advisor to the United Nations Association Australia, NT Division and the Justice and Accountability Network Australia (PacificJust). She served as inaugural President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association, NT Branch (2021 – 2024); Law and Justice Civilian Expert on the Australian Civilian Corps (2012) and Director on the Board of Australian Volunteers International (2014 – 2023).
INGO KLAUS WAMSER
Ingo Klaus Wamser is admitted to the German bar since 2005 and was awarded the title of a Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the Munich bar in 2009. He is working on criminal law, cross-border and international criminal law and extradition cases before national courts and was appointed as duty counsel before the International Criminal Court. He is a specialist in disciplinary and contempt cases, served as Alternate Commissioner at the ICC, co-drafted the Code of Conduct for Counsel at the KSC, serves as disciplinary judge in Germany in his third term and in disciplinary related positions in international bar associations. As a founding member of the ICCBA Ingo contributed to the Membership and Professional Standards Advisory Committees in previous years. He is co-author of a commentary on the German Federal Lawyer’s Act, published on international and national criminal law topics and was lector for international law at an Austrian state university.
Legal Advisory Committee
FRANCK ARNAUD (Full Member)
Depuis quinze ans, j’interviens sur des affaires complexes à dimension internationale. Mon activité s’est concentrée sur des dossiers impliquant des mandats d’arrêts européens, des saisies pénales internationales, des affaires de corruption, des affaires criminelles, ainsi que sur des enquêtes relatives à des morts suspectes. Mon expérience s’est également enrichie par mon engagement auprès des demandeurs d’asile. Dans ce cadre, j’ai travaillé sur des affaires portant sur des crimes de guerre, des crimes contre l’humanité et des détentions arbitraires, autant de thématiques en lien direct avec le droit international pénal et la compétence de la Cour pénale internationale. En parallèle, je suis membre du Cybercrime Committee (ItechLaw, USA), où je contribue aux réflexions internationales sur la criminalité numérique et ses implications pour la protection des droits fondamentaux. Je suis également officier de réserve auprès de l’état-major de l’armée de terre en qualité de Legal Advisor (LEGAD). À ce titre, j’apporte mon expertise en droit international humanitaire (DIH) pour accompagner les forces armées dans la prise de décision et l’adaptation aux normes internationales.
NOOR ALAZAB (Full Member)
Dr. Noor Alazab is a lawyer, legal researcher, and PhD candidate in Philosophy at the University of Jordan. She holds a Master’s degree in Women’s Studies, with a thesis examining the legal and social realities of single mothers in Jordan. Her doctoral research focuses on punishment and the body through philosophical and legal approaches, with particular attention to feminist perspectives on criminal justice. She is the Founder and President of Kuni for Justice and Equality, a Jordanian non-governmental organization. She has experience in legal research, legal analysis, strategic litigation, and advocacy, with a focus on gender-based violence, accountability, and international criminal justice. From 2023 to 2025, she served as the Gender and Natural Diversity Focal Point within the International Criminal Court Bar Association. Her combined legal and academic experience enables her to contribute to the Victims Committee and the Legal Advisory Committee through rigorous legal analysis, the advancement of victims’ rights, and the promotion of international criminal law and human rights standards.
HASSAN ALHATTAB (Full Member)
International Criminal Law, Defense, and Criminal Justice Specialist with 25 Years of Experience
A distinguished legal professional specializing in international criminal law and human rights, with 25 years of experience in legal practice, advocacy, and strategic legal analysis. He has participated in international criminal investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity, contributing to the examination and legal assessment of complex international criminal matters. In 2026, he was officially nominated by the United Nations Human Rights Council as one of eight qualified candidates worldwide for appointment to the mandate of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. He provides comprehensive legal analysis and strategic advice in legal proceedings, pleadings, and briefs. His professional experience includes public law, oral advocacy, legal research, litigation, and the defense of complex criminal matters, with a strong commitment to justice, due process, and the protection of fundamental rights. He holds certificates in Humanitarian Needs Assessment and Towards a Better Response from the Humanitarian Academy at Harvard University, as well as a certificate in the Fundamentals of Legislation and Federal Law program at Harvard Law School. He also has experience in mediation, arbitration, dispute resolution, and settlement negotiations.
GIOVANNI CHIARINI (Associate Member)
Giovanni Chiarini is a professor of international criminal law at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia, where he serves as Vice-Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Law and International Relations, and a Visiting Fellow at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge. He is the author of several publications in journals such as the Cambridge International Law Journal, Harvard International Law Journal, Texas Law Review, and Case Western Reserve University Law Review, including the book The Evolution of International Criminal Procedure (Routledge, 2025) and the Law of War, Use of Force, and International Criminal Court - International Handbook of Legal Language (Springer, 2026). Chiarini is also a criminal defense attorney and a Senior Associate at MEPLAW in Rome. He previously worked at the University of Huddersfield and Texas Tech University. He is an awarded Fellow of the Asian Law Institute in Singapore, and former International Fellow at the National Institute of Military Justice in Washington, DC. His publications (https://hud.academia.edu/GiovanniChiarini) have been awarded the Gold Medal for Best Article by the Cork Law Review (Arthur Cox Prize), Best PhD Publication by the American Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and Best Article by the Center for Studies in International Affairs.
EMMANUEL MOLINA (Full Member)
Emmanuel MOLINA is a French lawyer registered with the Marseille Bar and has been practicing as a specialist in Criminal Law for more than 20 years. Founder of MOLINA AVOCATS, member of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) and the European Bar Association (AEA), holder of a PhD in criminal sciences, author of numerous publications in specialized journals, he has taught at the Faculty of Law of Aix-Marseille and has carried out several international missions under the aegis of Avocats Sans Frontières France, the International Observatory of Lawyers and the Agence Justice coopération Internationale, particularly in Latin America. Member of the ICCBA for about ten years, and particularly involved in subjects related to international cooperation and the conditions of practice of lawyers committed to the protection of human rights and the rights of the defense, he contributed in 2025 to the activities of the ICC and the ICCBA as an ad hoc member of the Disciplinary Committee.
HEYBATOLLAH NAJANDI-MANESH (Associate Member)
Heybatollah Najandi-Manesh is Associate Professor of International Law at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran. He is a member of the International Criminal Court Bar Association and is included in the ICC List of Assistants to Counsel. His academic and professional work focuses on international criminal law, public international law, international humanitarian law, the law on the use of force, and international adjudication. Alongside his academic work, he has participated as a member of defence teams in domestic criminal proceedings involving the exercise of universal jurisdiction, giving him practical experience at the intersection of international criminal law and domestic proceedings. His combination of academic expertise and professional engagement enables him to bring a rigorous, independent, and practically informed perspective to the Legal Advisory Committee. If elected, he would contribute through careful legal analysis, constructive professional dialogue, and sensitivity to the perspectives of practitioners from diverse legal traditions and regions. He is committed to strengthening the ICCBA’s role as an independent professional association and to promoting high standards of legal practice and professional integrity before the International Criminal Court.
HARIHARA ARUN SOMASANKAR (Associate Member)
Harihara Arun Somasankar is an advocate with extensive experience in litigation, international law, criminal law, constitutional law, arbitration and human rights. He has appeared before the High Courts and various courts and tribunals, handling complex civil and criminal matters and advising on significant legal and constitutional issues. He has a particular interest in international criminal law and the relationship between domestic justice systems and international legal institutions. His professional work reflects a commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, professional integrity and the advancement of the legal profession. He was elected as a member of the ICCBA Legal Advisory, contributing to the Committee’s work in advising the ICCBA Executive Committee, other committees and its membership on legal issues. This experience provided him with valuable insight into the functioning of the Committee and the legal needs of the international criminal law community. He is the author and originator of “Staragonism: The Theory of Correctional Administration and Prison Reform,” an original legal theory proposing a new perspective on correctional administration, rehabilitation and prison reform, with the objective of contributing to contemporary legal thought and the development of criminal justice systems. Having previously served on the ICCBA Constitutional Organs, he seeks the opportunity to serve once again with experience, independence and a commitment to advancing the interests of the international criminal law community.
DANIEL WALYEMERA (Full Member)
Dr Daniel M. Walyemera is Managing Partner at Walyemera & Co. Advocates in Kampala, Uganda, and an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda. Daniel is also a Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public. He practices before the International Criminal Court and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. He holds an LLD in Criminal Justice from the University of the Western Cape and is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UNISA’s College of Law, in the Department of Criminal and Procedural Law. He is also a Senior Lecturer at Cavendish University Uganda, where he teaches International Criminal Law. Dr Walyemera’s research focuses on international criminal law, anti-corruption, governance, and AI accountability, integrating transformative constitutionalism, TWAIL, and Ubuntu jurisprudence. He has a forthcoming publication on extending Article 28 of the Rome Statute to include algorithmic command responsibility, and has published extensively on the ICC’s ability to prosecute corruption, with contributions to Brill, Springer Nature, Asser Press, and Edinburgh University Press. He is on the editorial boards of various law journals. Dr Walyemera’s experience in doctrinal drafting, ICC practice, and academic research supports his candidacy for the Legal Advisory and Amicus Committees.
LILY ZANJANI (Associate Member)
Lily Zanjani is an international criminal law practitioner with experience across defence litigation, prosecutorial investigations, victims’ participation, academia, and international policy. She currently works as Legal Assistant with the Defence team of Mr. Al Hassan (Mali) before the International Criminal Court. Her broader ICC experience includes work with the Office of the Prosecutor, including sensitive investigative interviews involving vulnerable witnesses and survivors of conflict-related SGBV, as well as with the Victims Participation and Reparations Section in the Ongwen (Uganda) and Abd-Al-Rahman (Sudan) matters, focusing on victims’ applications, participation, and reparations. Her international criminal litigation experience also extends to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where she worked with the Defence teams of Rexhep Selimi and Pjetër Shala, and to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, where she supported Appeals Counsel in the Office of the Prosecutor. Alongside her legal practice, Lily has taught International Criminal Law, Public International Law, and European Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She has also conducted research on military artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, and international humanitarian law through ELSA Lab Defence, in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Her wider professional background includes policy and legal work with the United Nations Mine Action Service, including contributions to UN Security Council resolutions, and with the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, focusing on humanitarian law, protection of civilians, rule of law, and international accountability. Lily holds an Advanced LL.M. in Public International Law, specialising in International Criminal Law, from Leiden University, alongside graduate training in international law and a background in international relations.
ARMAN ZRVANDYAN (Associate Member)
Arman Zrvandyan is an Armenian academic and practicing lawyer. A member of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia since 2012, he represents clients before the Armenian courts and the European Court of Human Rights. He spent four years working at the European Court of Human Rights, including on cases arising from criminal proceedings, gaining substantial experience in fair-trial guarantees, defence rights, judicial legal reasoning, and the functioning of an international court. He has extensive experience with international organizations as a senior adviser on human rights and justice reforms matters. Arman is an Associate Professor of Law at the American University of Armenia, teaching international criminal law, transitional justice, human rights in criminal justice, and the European Convention on Human Rights. He holds graduate degrees in international criminal law from the University of Turin/UNICRI, human rights from the University of Essex, and law from the American University of Armenia. His academic research and litigation practice focus on questions of international law and their practical application. He is on the ICC List of Assistants to Counsel and is an Associate Member of the ICCBA. Arman speaks Armenian, English, French, Russian, and brings experience spanning international judicial practice, litigation and legal scholarship.
AHMED ZUHAIR BAJALAN (Associate Member)
Ahmed Zuhair Bajalan (Ahmed Wali) has been a lawyer since 2011 and is on the List of Assistants to Counsel before the International Criminal Court. He has been a member of the ICCBA since 2020., he speaks Arabic, Kurdish, and English. Ahmed has dedicated his career, much of it on a pro bono basis, to addressing crimes against humanity and war crimes that committed by the Turkish army and their Jihadist terrorist groups. His work has included documenting and pursuing accountability for violations committed against Kurdish communities in the area of Rojava in the West of Kurdistan. In July 2025, when the same Jihadist terrorist groups started committing crimes against the Druze and Alawi communities, he started documenting some of these crimes and represented the victims of the Druze community in the area of Al-Swaydaa. He represents victims from minority ethnic and religious groups Also documented some crimes committed by the Turkish army in the Iraqi territories. Ahmed has worked pro bono with NGOs in representing vulnerable victims before national and international courts, including victims of gender-based violence, LGBTI victims, children, women, and internally displaced persons. He has also submitted cases before the Special Rapporteur and mandates of the UN Human Rights Council. he hopes to continue supporting colleagues and victims in future proceedings for October 7 victims, and aspires to contribute to global efforts to combat antisemitism. Alongside his international work, Ahmed has practiced criminal justice since 2011 as a defence and prosecution lawyer in various courts, with extensive experience and strong skills in criminal justice. Also covering family law, company registration, and civil law matters.
Training Committee
MÉLISSA BEAULIEU LUSSIER (Full Member)
Mélissa Beaulieu Lussier is a Canadian lawyer and a member of the Quebec Bar since 2014. Since her admission to the Bar, she has practised criminal law both in Canada and before the International Criminal Court (ICC). She has served on the Defence teams of Mr Bosco Ntaganda (DRC), Mr Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona (CAR), and Mr Al Hassan ag Abdoul Aziz (Mali). Over the years, Ms Beaulieu Lussier has represented accused persons at every stage of proceedings at the ICC, conducted investigations in multiple countries, drafted legal submissions at both trial and appellate levels, and presented a wide range of oral arguments before the Court. She is currently Counsel for Mr Al Hassan and a member of the team representing victims in the case of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman (Darfur) before the ICC. Ms Beaulieu has also been actively involved with the ICCBA for many years. As a member of the Training Committee for the past two terms, she has contributed to the development of many trainings, including the training for Rule 74 duty counsel which she has delivered on numerous occasions. She regularly lectures at universities and bar associations around the world and has also supervised Master’s theses at the University of Amsterdam. Ms Beaulieu strongly believes that sharing experiences across the legal profession strengthens international criminal law and that investing in the training and professional development of lawyers is essential to the effective functioning of the field.
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MYLÈNE DIMITRI (Full Member)
Ms. Dimitri brings over two decades of experience to her role before international courts. Currently, she serves as the Lead Counsel for Alfred Yekatom in the Central African Republic II Situation at the International Criminal Court and has also worked as Associate Counsel for Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba (Article 70). At the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Ms. Dimitri represented Dr. Augustin Ngirabatware, the Minister of Planning, as his Lead Counsel through both trial and appeal stages. Additionally, she was Co-Counsel for Arsène Shalom Ntahobali, the son of the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, in their trial and appeal proceedings. Ms. Dimitri has also navigated trials in absentia, notably co-representing Mustafa Badreddine’s rights and interests at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon until the proceedings were terminated. Subsequently, she transitioned to a Legal Consultant role for Mr. Hassan Habib Merhi. In Canada, she undertook a ground-breaking trial under universal jurisdiction, defending Désiré Munyaneza against charges related to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide before both the Quebec Superior Court and the Quebec Court of Appeal. Ms. Dimitri is also an esteemed speaker, having delivered numerous lectures and conferences on open-source investigations and the intricacies of defending suspects in wartime. She was also part of a group of experts invited by the Nuremberg Academy to debate on the length of the proceedings before the ICC. Additionally, she has conducted specialized training for Ukrainian lawyers, further showcasing her commitment to legal education and international human rights. She was also invited to provide a presentation on international criminal courts and tribunals to the appeals judges in Quebec, Canada during their annual training.
DESPOINA ELEFTHERIOU (Associate Member)
Despoina Eleftheriou is a Greek lawyer admitted to the Thessaloniki Bar and a Case Manager and Legal Assistant before the International Criminal Court. She is currently serving on the Ngaïssona Defence team and she previously worked on the Blé Goudé Defence team. Within the ICCBA, she served as Chair of the Counsel Support Staff Committee, where she led the development of the ICCBA “Welcome Package” and promoted practical resources for counsel and support staff. Beyond the Court, she interned at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for International Relations in Thessaloniki. She holds an LL.B. from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an LL.M. in International Studies with Honours, and an LL.M. in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam, graduating cum laude in the joint programme with Columbia University in the City of New York.
HANEEN GHALI (Associate Member)
Haneen is an international criminal law practitioner from Syria; she has experience in the defence in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. She is currently part of the defence team of Mr. Ali Abd Al Rahman as a legal assistant. Prior to her current position, she was a member of the defence teams of Mr Mokom and Mr. Al Hassan. Haneen has experience working on SGBV (UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence), reparations, and a wide range of procedural issues related to international criminal proceedings, namely disclosure and management of evidence. Haneen is a graduate of LLM Public International Law from Leiden University and the Sorbonne.
ANTA GUISSÉ (Full Member)
Anta Guissé has been a practising lawyer at the Paris Bar in France since 1999. Her working language is French, while she also speaks English. As a criminal defence lawyer, she has appeared regularly before national criminal courts and the Assize Court in particular. In addition, Ms Guissé has several years of experience appearing before the international jurisdictions. Between 2002 and 2010, she worked with several different defence teams before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, firstly as a legal assistant and then as counsel. In 2010, Ms Guissé had an assignment in a team of Legal Representatives of Victims before the International Criminal Court. She was also Defence Counsel at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Since 2012, Ms Guissé has been acting as an international lawyer for former Chairman KHIEU Samphân before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and is currently Counsel for Mr. Yekatom at the ICC. Ms Guissé also regularly presents at training workshops for colleagues on the subject of international criminal justice.
ANOUK JULIEN (Associate Member)
Anouk Julien has over five years of experience in international criminal and humanitarian law. A member of the Quebec Bar since 2020, she is currently works in a Defence team at the International Criminal Court. Anouk developed a specialisation in Defence at international tribunals by working at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, with a focus on case management and legal drafting. Her professional journey extends to diverse national and international initiatives, including organising and delivering specialised training in international criminal and humanitarian law. She has also conducted field research in Latin America and advised on humanitarian matters at Médecins Sans Frontières.
AUDREY MATEO (Associate Member)
Audrey MATEO currently serves as legal adviser on Mr Abd-Al-Rahman’s defence team before the ICC. She is listed on the ICC’s roster of counsel. She is also an active member of the ICCBA Executive Council (2023–2026). In this capacity, she has acted as the ICCBA Executive Council’s point of contact with States Parties within the working group on legal aid. She also co-organised, in collaboration with the Court, training sessions on the prevention of all forms of harassment in the workplace. She subsequently organised the conference marking the 10th anniversary of the ICCBA in July 2026. In 1997, she obtained her law degree in Aix-en-Provence and Montpellier, France. She then studied in Cape Town, South Africa, where she obtained an LL.M. in human rights and international law from the University of the Western Cape (UWC). She has extensive experience in international criminal law: three years working for the Defence as an assistant counsel, followed by ten years as a legal officer in the Chambers of the ICTY and the ICC during the Katanga trial. She lived in Cambodia for two years, where she worked both as a legal consultant and as a volunteer for human rights NGOs, providing support to victims’ lawyers before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). She has also worked as a consultant at KSC-SPO. Since 2021, Audrey has served as a UNHCR judge at the National Asylum Court in Paris, and has delivered training sessions as a consultant on the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. She also teaches international criminal law at the Toulouse School of Political Science. She is, moreover, an active member of the Association of International Magistrates (AMIF)
CRISTINA PEROZZI (Full Member)
Lawyer since 1995 in Rome, I specialized in national and international criminal law (TRAWAW Project on Violence against Women; TALE Project on children defence) and I followed several cases of violence crimes defending victims before Supreme High Court in Rome and ECHR. I teach Human Rights international law, international humanitarian law and law of armed conflicts, military law and law of war violations in international missions and national courses for Italian Red Cross, Italian Defence University and Academies and Civilian Victims of War Association in Rome. I’m military legal advisor at Italian Defence Ministry and member of: Sanremo International Institute of Humanitarian Law; Rome Bar Commission of Criminal Military Law; International Society of military law and law of war; ECBA – European Criminal Bar Association; ADGI /FIFCJ – International Federation of Women in Legal Careers and ICCBA – International Criminal Court Bar Association. I’m working on Defence Ministry project on International PKO Italian Criminal Code, in Women Peace Safety Res ONU 1325 Course Net of Sapienza University in Rome and in an international criminal law and judicial cooperation in international crimes by Italian Justice Ministry and National Centre for Prevention and Social Defence Foundation.
HARIHARA ARUN SOMASANKAR (Associate Member)
Harihara Arun Somasankar is an advocate with extensive experience in litigation, international law, criminal law, constitutional law, arbitration and human rights. He has appeared before the High Courts and various courts and tribunals, handling complex civil and criminal matters and advising on significant legal and constitutional issues. He has a particular interest in international criminal law and the relationship between domestic justice systems and international legal institutions. His professional work reflects a commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, professional integrity and the advancement of the legal profession. He was elected as a member of the ICCBA Legal Advisory, contributing to the Committee’s work in advising the ICCBA Executive Committee, other committees and its membership on legal issues. This experience provided him with valuable insight into the functioning of the Committee and the legal needs of the international criminal law community. He is the author and originator of “Staragonism: The Theory of Correctional Administration and Prison Reform,” an original legal theory proposing a new perspective on correctional administration, rehabilitation and prison reform, with the objective of contributing to contemporary legal thought and the development of criminal justice systems. Having previously served on the ICCBA Constitutional Organs, he seeks the opportunity to serve once again with experience, independence and a commitment to advancing the interests of the international criminal law community.
Amicus Committee
FRANCK ARNAUD (Full Member)
Depuis quinze ans, j’interviens sur des affaires complexes à dimension internationale. Mon activité s’est concentrée sur des dossiers impliquant des mandats d’arrêts européens, des saisies pénales internationales, des affaires de corruption, des affaires criminelles, ainsi que sur des enquêtes relatives à des morts suspectes. Mon expérience s’est également enrichie par mon engagement auprès des demandeurs d’asile. Dans ce cadre, j’ai travaillé sur des affaires portant sur des crimes de guerre, des crimes contre l’humanité et des détentions arbitraires, autant de thématiques en lien direct avec le droit international pénal et la compétence de la Cour pénale internationale. En parallèle, je suis membre du Cybercrime Committee (ItechLaw, USA), où je contribue aux réflexions internationales sur la criminalité numérique et ses implications pour la protection des droits fondamentaux. Je suis également officier de réserve auprès de l’état-major de l’armée de terre en qualité de Legal Advisor (LEGAD). À ce titre, j’apporte mon expertise en droit international humanitaire (DIH) pour accompagner les forces armées dans la prise de décision et l’adaptation aux normes internationales.
MATTHIEU BAGARD (Associate Member)
Matthieu Bagard is a lawyer at the Paris Bar with ten years' practice in criminal law. As President, then administrator, of Lawyers Without Borders France for ten years, he led capacity-building and training missions for defence lawyers in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Syria and Iraq, before domestic, European and international jurisdictions. In that capacity he drafted and submitted an amicus curiae memorandum to the ECtHR on fair-trial standards in the prosecution of foreign nationals charged with terrorist offences in Iraq, Syria, Turkey and France. As administrator of Defense Without Borders, he submitted a further amicus curiae memorandum to the ECtHR on fair-trial standards in the trials of defence lawyers prosecuted for terrorist offences. As counsel, he defends notably a former Libyan Interior Security Agency official prosecuted under universal jurisdiction for torture and complicity in crimes against humanity; thirty French nationals detained in Iraq and facing the death penalty; and around one hundred former Syrian employees in the Lafarge proceedings on complicity in crimes against humanity and financing of terrorism. He lectures at La Sorbonne University and belongs to the ECBA, Fair Trials' LEAP and the ADAP.
AURÉLIE BERTHET (Full Member)
Admitted to the Paris Bar since 2003 and registered in England and Wales since 2015, Aurélie Berthet is also a Mediator, listed with several Courts of Appeal in France. A dual French-British national, she practices both locally and internationally, with a strong specialization in criminal law, asylum law, and international humanitarian law. With degrees in science, law, and mediation, and over 20 years of field experience, Aurélie Berthet teaches the fundamentals of the legal profession in law schools, having previously lectured in criminal law at the university level. A former Member of the National Bar Council (CNB) and several other representative bodies of the legal profession in France, Honorary President of the Paris Young Lawyers’ Union (UJA), and Honorary Member of the National Federation of Young Lawyers’ Unions (FNUJA), Aurélie Berthet approaches all entrusted tasks with passion and dedication.
PAUL BRADFIELD (Full Member)
Dr. Paul Bradfield a barrister and lecturer from Ireland. He was called to the bar in 2009 and holds a PhD from the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, Ireland, where he currently is a lecturer in international criminal law. Paul has worked at various international courts since 2010, including the tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court. This included working for the Petković, Karadžić, Nizeyimana and Ali defence teams. Paul has also worked in trial roles at the ICC Office of the Prosecutor and in the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. He is currently one of the Legal Representatives of the Victims in the Kony case at the ICC. In the field, he has worked for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Uganda and for Irish Rule of Law International in Malawi, on a range of transitional justice, human rights and access to justice issues. Domestically, he was previously a Prosecutor in Ireland’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, prosecuting murder and sexual offence cases.
GIOVANNI CHIARINI (Associate Member)
Giovanni Chiarini is a professor of international criminal law at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia, where he serves as Vice-Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Law and International Relations, and a Visiting Fellow at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge. He is the author of several publications in journals such as the Cambridge International Law Journal, Harvard International Law Journal, Texas Law Review, and Case Western Reserve University Law Review, including the book The Evolution of International Criminal Procedure (Routledge, 2025) and the Law of War, Use of Force, and International Criminal Court - International Handbook of Legal Language (Springer, 2026). Chiarini is also a criminal defense attorney and a Senior Associate at MEPLAW in Rome. He previously worked at the University of Huddersfield and Texas Tech University. He is an awarded Fellow of the Asian Law Institute in Singapore, and former International Fellow at the National Institute of Military Justice in Washington, DC. His publications (https://hud.academia.edu/GiovanniChiarini) have been awarded the Gold Medal for Best Article by the Cork Law Review (Arthur Cox Prize), Best PhD Publication by the American Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and Best Article by the Center for Studies in International Affairs.
DIMITRI DEBORD (Associate Member)
Dr Dimitri DEBORD is an international lawyer and trainee magistrate in France. He is the Founder of DIKE International, an NGO dedicated to assisting and supporting victims affected by armed conflicts and serious violations of international law. Dr Debord holds an MSc in International Humanitarian Law from the University of Oxford and is conducting research at the University of Cambridge (MSt) on the history of law and the protection of cultural property. He also holds a PhD in Compared Military Law and a Magistère in International Law from Paris Nanterre University, a Postgraduate Diploma in European Law from King’s College London, and is a graduate of Sciences Po Grenoble. A former elected member of the Executive Council in 2022, Dr Debord notably contributed to the work leading to the creation of the Trust Fund for Families, reflecting his commitment to strengthening solidarity within the profession and supporting members of the ICC Bar and their families. An accomplished advocate and public speaker, Dr Debord has been a laureate of more than ten advocacy and public-speaking competitions in both French and English, including six competitions held in Africa, reflecting his longstanding engagement with international legal communities across different regions and legal cultures.
Daniel WALYEMERA (Full Member)
Dr Daniel M. Walyemera is Managing Partner at Walyemera & Co. Advocates in Kampala, Uganda, and an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda. Daniel is also a Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public. He practices before the International Criminal Court and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. He holds an LLD in Criminal Justice from the University of the Western Cape and is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UNISA’s College of Law, in the Department of Criminal and Procedural Law. He is also a Senior Lecturer at Cavendish University Uganda, where he teaches International Criminal Law. Dr Walyemera’s research focuses on international criminal law, anti-corruption, governance, and AI accountability, integrating transformative constitutionalism, TWAIL, and Ubuntu jurisprudence. He has a forthcoming publication on extending Article 28 of the Rome Statute to include algorithmic command responsibility, and has published extensively on the ICC’s ability to prosecute corruption, with contributions to Brill, Springer Nature, Asser Press, and Edinburgh University Press. He is on the editorial boards of various law journals. Dr Walyemera’s experience in doctrinal drafting, ICC practice, and academic research supports his candidacy for the Legal Advisory and Amicus Committees.
ARMAN ZRVANDYAN (Associate Member)
Arman Zrvandyan is an Armenian academic and practicing lawyer. A member of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia since 2012, he represents clients before the Armenian courts and the European Court of Human Rights. He spent four years working at the European Court of Human Rights, including on cases arising from criminal proceedings, gaining substantial experience in fair-trial guarantees, defence rights, judicial legal reasoning, and the functioning of an international court. He has extensive experience with international organizations as a senior adviser on human rights and justice reforms matters. Arman is an Associate Professor of Law at the American University of Armenia, teaching international criminal law, transitional justice, human rights in criminal justice, and the European Convention on Human Rights. He holds graduate degrees in international criminal law from the University of Turin/UNICRI, human rights from the University of Essex, and law from the American University of Armenia. His academic research and litigation practice focus on questions of international law and their practical application. He is on the ICC List of Assistants to Counsel and is an Associate Member of the ICCBA. Arman speaks Armenian, English, French, Russian, and brings experience spanning international judicial practice, litigation and legal scholarship.