Remi Reichhold

Remi has almost two decades’ experience as a public international law practitioner. He advises and acts for States and international organisations in inter-State litigation before international courts and tribunals, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

He is recognised in Chambers & Partners as having “great expertise in complex and highly sensitive cases” and acting for an “impressive array” of national governments.

Remi advised and represented the government of Mauritius for 15 years on its dispute with the UK concerning sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, from the outset of the UNCLOS arbitration in 2010, through to the negotiation of the Mauritius/UK Agreement as initially agreed on 3 October 2024.

He is currently advising States and non-State actors on disputes concerning land and maritime boundaries, self-determination and decolonisation, the protection of cultural heritage, State immunity and judicial cooperation.

Remi is counsel for the International Seabed Authority in two disputes brought by State-sponsored contractors under Part XI of UNCLOS. Remi is also counsel for the Republic of Ghana in the maritime delimitation case against Togo before an ITLOS Special Chamber.

Since 2008, Remi has acted for States and international organisations in 20 cases before the ICJ, ITLOS and UNCLOS Annex VII arbitral tribunals:

• Case concerning an inquiry by the International Seabed Authority (Nauru Ocean Resources Inc v International Seabed Authority), ITLOS Seabed Disputes Chamber, present, counsel for the International Seabed Authority
• Case concerning an inquiry by the International Seabed Authority (Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd v International Seabed Authority), ITLOS Seabed Disputes Chamber, present, counsel and advocate for the International Seabed Authority
• Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Ghana and Togo in the Gulf of Guinea (Ghana/Togo), ITLOS Special Chamber, present, counsel for Ghana
• Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes/Cayos Zapotillos (Belize v Honduras: Guatemala intervening), ICJ, present, advising Honduras
• Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change (Advisory Opinion), ICJ, 2023-2025, counsel for Mauritius
• Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Advisory Opinion), ICJ, 2023-2024, counsel for Mauritius
• Request for an Advisory Opinion submitted by the Commission of Small States on Climate Change and International Law (Request for Advisory Opinion from the Tribunal), ITLOS, 2022-2024, counsel for Mauritius
• Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea), ICJ, 2021-2025, counsel for Equatorial Guinea
• Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Mauritius and Maldives, ITLOS, 2019-2023, counsel for Mauritius
• The M/T “San Padre Pio” No. 2 Case (Switzerland/Nigeria), ITLOS, 2020-2021, counsel for Switzerland
• Legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 (Advisory Opinion), ICJ, 2017-2020, counsel for Mauritius
• The South China Sea Arbitration (Philippines v China), UNCLOS Annex VII arbitration, 2014-2016, counsel for the Philippines
• Maritime and Land Boundary Dispute (Croatia v Slovenia), arbitration under the auspices of the European Commission, 2012-2014, counsel for Croatia
• The “ARA Libertad” Case (Argentina v Ghana), ITLOS, 2012-2013, adviser for Ghana
• Maritime Boundary Dispute between Bangladesh and Myanmar (Bangladesh v Myanmar), ITLOS, 2010-2012, counsel for Bangladesh
• Chagos ‘Marine Protected Area’ Arbitration (Mauritius v UK), UNCLOS Annex VII arbitration, 2010-2015, counsel for Mauritius
• Bay of Bengal Maritime Boundary Arbitration (Bangladesh v India), UNCLOS Annex VII arbitration, 2010-2014, counsel for Bangladesh
• Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v Serbia), ICJ, 2009-2014, adviser for Croatia
• Application of Article 11 of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995 (North Macedonia v Greece), ICJ, 2008-2011, adviser for North Macedonia
• Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Georgia v Russia), ICJ, 2008, adviser for Georgia

In 2025 and 2026, Remi lectured at the Summer Academy of the International Foundation for the Law of the Sea. He has provided substantive and editorial input to leading textbooks, including:

• Principles of International Environmental Law (P. Sands, J. Peel, A. Fabra & R. MacKenzie, Cambridge University Press, 4^th Edition)
• Bowett’s Law of International Institutions (P. Sands, P. Klein, Sweet & Maxwell, 6^th Edition).

Remi also acted as counsel to two claimants in Gruner Stucky Ltd & Bernard Gruppe ZT GmbH v Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (PCA Case No. 2022-08) and was junior counsel to three claimants in CMC v Mozambique (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/23) (both led by Luis González García). Before joining chambers, Remi worked as Research Associate to Professor Philippe Sands KC and assisted in more than a dozen investment treaty claims under ICSID and UNCITRAL rules.

As a member of the Attorney General’s civil panel (C Panel), Remi is frequently instructed by the Government Legal Department to represent and advise government departments in civil proceedings, including the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

Remi regularly acts in judicial review proceedings, both as sole and junior counsel. Current and recent work includes public law challenges concerning:

• the statutory regime for mandatory referral of complaints to the IOPC (R (Rose) v GMP [2021] EWHC 875 (Admin))
• the recording of public complaints under Part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002
• the retention of non-conviction data on the Police National Computer
• alleged failures to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010
• the provision of child maintenance
• a public authority’s disclosure of information to a potential employer
• Remi recently acted for the Charity Commission in proceedings pursuant to s.114 of the Charities Act 2011 to recover more than £100,000 from a charity trustee
• Human rights concerns arise throughout Remi’s practice, both domestic and international. He has advised on liability and damages under the Human Rights Act 1998 and often acts in cases where human rights are engaged, either on a freestanding basis or in conjunction with other issues. Remi also regularly defends public bodies in discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010.

Remi has considerable experience of information law and data protection. He regularly acts in claims relating to:

• alleged failures to comply with subject access requests and requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
• the processing and sharing of information by public bodies under the Data Protection Act 1998 and 2018, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• alleged breaches of Article 8 ECHR
• misuse of private information and breach of confidence

Remi regularly acts in appeals to the First-tier Tribunal on behalf of appellants, respondents and the Information Commissioner.

He recently represented the Information Commissioner in an appeal brought by the Department for Work and Pensions concerning the applicability of s.43(2) FOIA in the context of the administration of a welfare scheme (EA/2022/0240 [2023] UKFTT 350 (GRC))

Remi also recently acted for the Secretary of State for the Home Department (led by Sir James Eadie KC and Alan Payne KC) in a judicial review challenge concerning the retention and extraction of data from mobile phones seized from migrants crossing the Channel. The main issues are:

• the lawfulness of the exercise of search and seizure powers;
• whether the retention and extraction of data from mobile phones was lawful pursuant to Article 8 ECHR; and
• whether the processing of migrants’ personal data was consistent with the SSHD’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.

The High Court gave judgment on 25 March 2022 (R (HM, MA & KH) v SSHD [2022] EWHC 695 (Admin))

Remi also acted for the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police in an appeal and cross-appeal relating to a FOIA request concerning the design and implementation of a new policing computer system (Bacon v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police & Information Commissioner (EA/2021/19&20)).

He is currently acting in a judicial review challenge concerning the retention of non-conviction data on the Police National Computer. Remi is also defending a claim for loss of earnings where the claimant alleges that a data controller unlawfully disclosed information to potential employers.

Remi’s current advisory work on matters of data protection and information law includes:

• advising in relation to the digitalising of all stop-and-search records
• advising a law enforcement agency on obtaining traders’ personal details from a cryptocurrency exchange located outside the jurisdiction
• delivering training on compliance with obligations under Part 2 and Part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018

Remi has represented and advised more than 30 chief officers of police in civil proceedings.

Actions against the police

Remi regularly defends civil claims in the County Court and High Court for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, assault/battery, malicious prosecution, misfeasance, trespass, discrimination and alleged violations of the Human Rights Act 1998. His experience extends to claims encompassing complex personal injury as well as aggravated and exemplary damages. Remi is instructed in Fast-Track and Multi-Track trials, including civil jury trials. He is currently acting for the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police in the High Court (Chancery Division) in civil proceedings arising from the death of Paula Leeson.

Advisory work on operational and tactical matters

Remi has advised chief officers in relation to sensitive operational and tactical matters including:

• whether a suspect in a criminal investigation has diplomatic immunity (R (Charles & Dunn) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [2020] EWHC 3185 (Admin))
• the use of police powers to manage protests
• reliance on police intelligence and material subject to public interest immunity in civil proceedings

He co-authored Coronavirus: A Guide for Police Forces in England and the corresponding Guide for Police Forces in Wales (which were published in March and April 2020, at the height of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic).

Public law family proceedings

Remi is frequently instructed by chief officers in public law proceedings in the Family Division of the High Court, particularly in complex disclosure matters and applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs). He recently advised a chief officer on the enforcement of an ­ex parte FMPO in relation to non-British children who were kidnapped in England and taken to a foreign jurisdiction.

Police discipline

Remi represents appropriate authorities in misconduct hearings against serving and former officers. His experience includes allegations of corruption, discrimination, serious criminal offences and dishonesty. He recently acted on behalf of North Wales Police in proceedings against PC Ashton, who was dismissed for gross misconduct following an allegation that he disclosed the name of a police informant.

Remi acts in sensitive and high-profile inquests (including Article 2 and jury inquests) for a range of interest persons, including chief officers of police, local authorities and corporate bodies.

Current and recent coronial work includes:

• Acted for an employer following a death by suicide (5-day jury inquest)

Remi has also acted in inquests arising from deaths following police pursuits and the restraint of a man with acute behavioural disturbance.

Remi is regularly appointed ad hoc clerk in appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes five recent appeals relating to anti-doping rule violations by Russian athletes at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2013 IAAF World Championships.

Remi also recently advised an international sports governing body on amendments to its constitution.