International Criminal Court Bar Association

James Onalaja is an English Criminal Barrister with over 20 years’ experience, practising from 187 Chambers, London. He has undertaken postgraduate studies in ICL at Columbia Law School and obtained a Master of Laws in ICL (Cum Laude) from Amsterdam University. His practise focuses on: serious, complex and violent crimes, including matters with transnational and international law complexities; military court martials and; cases involving alleged human rights violations. He is admitted to the ICC’s and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ lists of counsel.  In 2023/24, he completed a posting with the ICC’s Office of Public Counsel for the Defence (OPCD), assisting with its duties representing, protecting and promoting the interests of the defence and unrepresented suspects. Here, he led the development of OPCD’s advocacy training programme for junior lawyers and the delivery of the inaugural training sessions. He is an advocacy tutor to trainee lawyers in England and is experienced at providing Continuing Professional Development training to legal professionals. He conducts international trial monitoring and reporting on compliance with IHRL on behalf of EuroMed Rights. He assisted the defence team in Case 004 before the ECCC. He has also worked with members of the United Nations Human Rights Committee in preparing them for their 122nd Session and periodic oral dialogues with States re compliance with the ICCPR. He was recently appointed to the role legal consultant to the OPCD.  James has served on the Amicus Committee for 3 terms, including as Committee Chair. He served on the Training Committee in 2020/21 and in the 2024/25 term where he was involved in the training of Indonesian and Cambodian lawyers in Jakarta on International Criminal Court trial advocacy. He has served 2 terms on the Legal Advisory Committee including recently as Chair. He looks forward to continuing to serve the ICCBA wherever required.

Giovanni Chiarini (PhD) teaches international criminal law and the use of force in international law at Alfaisal University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he serves as Vice-Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Law and International Relations in Riyadh. He recently published the book "The Evolution of International Criminal Procedure" (Routledge, 2025). Chiarini is also a criminal defense attorney, and a Senior Associate at MEPLAW International Law Firm in Rome. He is admitted to the ICC list of assistants-to-counsel and to the KSC list of co-counsel, and he has carried out legal consultancy for UNAKRT. He previously taught at Huddersfield University in the UK and the Royal Academy of Police in Bahrain, and he held teaching experience in different educational and legal systems in Asia and the Gulf. He has been a Scholar-in-Residence at Texas Tech University and a Visiting Professor at Mississippi College School of Law in the US, and he was a visiting researcher at the following universities: Institute of International Peace and Security Law, Universität zu Köln; Centre for Criminal Justice, University College Cork; Université Côte d'Azur; Centre for Global Law, University of Edinburgh; Centre for Critical Legal Studies, Warwick University. 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.

Astrid Odete Escobedo Barrondo is a Guatemalan attorney currently living in exile. She holds a Ph.D. in Advanced Studies of Human Rights from the University Carlos III of Madrid, two Master's Degrees in International Human Rights Law and Fundamental Rights from the same university, and a Master’s in International Criminal Law from the University of Granada. Her legal career began with a law degree from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, complemented by numerous international diploma courses. Escobedo's expertise includes litigating human rights cases within the Inter-American Human Rights System. She has also worked as a jurist for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, handling high-impact cases involving corruption, organized crime, and drug trafficking. Since July 2023, she has been recognized as the first Central American attorney on the counsel list before the International Criminal Court.  Escobedo has been an active member of the Guatemalan Bar Association since 2001 and is affiliated with several international networks and associations dedicated to anti-corruption, human rights, and environmental governance, further solidifying her position as a leading figure in international law.

Ariel Salomón Liniado is a South American criminal lawyer from Argentina, admitted to practice before both Federal and local Bars. He is a founding partner of Pastor, Villanueva & Liniado, where he represents individuals and corporations in complex criminal proceedings, with particular focus on international criminal law, transnational crime, and human rights. He obtained a Master’s degree in Criminal Law from Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina), where he graduated with distinction and received the award for the best thesis. He also pursued advanced studies in international criminal law and human rights in Europe, at the René Cassin Foundation in Strasbourg, France, and at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Since 2024, Ariel has been a member of the ICCBA’s List of Assistant Counsel. His professional career combines defense in high-profile cases with academic contributions to the development of comparative and international criminal law. As a young South American lawyer, Ariel is deeply committed to criminal defense and to the protection of fundamental rights. His passion for justice drives him to strengthen international cooperation and to contribute actively to the global dialogue on human rights and the future of international criminal justice.

Chilean Lawyer, with 30 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.​