We are delighted to announce that Monckton Joint Head of Chambers Tim Ward KC has been shortlisted for “Barrister of the Year” at The Lawyer Awards 2026.
The winners will be announced at the ceremony taking place on 16th June 2026.
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Geopolitical conflicts and space: considering the law of war and sanctions
Perhaps space activities have never been wholly peaceful, but recent years have seen the heightened militarisation and weaponisation of outer space.
Of course, in a full-blown military situation, dispute resolution may not be the primary area of anyone’s concern. But space has always been a place in which states engage in activities that entail geopolitical positions or support national security. The activities of one state will often have the potential to interfere with or negatively affect the activities of another. This could involve common day-to-day radio interference, laser interference, inadvertent damage caused by orbital debris, or now active threats posed by satellites deliberately interfering with the activities of those of another state.
Against that backdrop, it is increasingly necessary for both states and private actors to consider the legal ramifications of their military or military-adjacent space activities. This article examines the international legal position on the above and how this affects the abilities of both states and private actors to protect their rights in space.
Read the full article, published in the Global Arbitration Review’s The Guide To Aviation and Space Disputes (2nd edition): Geopolitical conflicts and space: considering the law of war and sanctions
Michael Bowsher KC and Jenn Lawrence feature in A&O Shearman’s ‘Disputes in Space’ podcast series
‘Disputes in Space’ is a podcast series from A&O Shearman’s Future Disputes Group, bringing together lawyers and leading industry experts to examine where disputes are most likely to emerge in the space sector, and how businesses can prepare. Monckton members feature in two of the three episodes on areas shaping the future space economy.
‘Collisions in space: who is responsible to whom?’
The rapid growth in satellites and orbital debris has heightened the risk of in orbit collisions. This episode examines why fault-based liability is difficult to apply in space, the challenges of attribution and evidence, and the growing importance of space situational awareness data. This is a particularly current topic given the breaking news that in December 2025 a second Starlink satellite suffered an anomaly which generated debris.
Michael Bowsher KC features alongside A&O Shearman partner Arthur Sauzay and CEO of Aldoria Romain Lucken to examine the disputes risks arising from an increasingly congested orbital environment.
Listen here: ‘Collisions in space: who is responsible to whom?’
‘The asteroid gold rush: space mining and the disputes of the future’
As launch costs fall and technology advances, commercial space mining is moving closer to reality. However, while our commercial ambitions have raced forward, our legal frameworks have not. The global regulatory landscape is fragmented and ill-equipped to deal with overlapping claims, competing rights, or conflicts concerning extraction in space. The result is an environment primed for complex, multi-layered disputes. This episode looks ahead to emerging off-Earth supply chains and examines why current legal frameworks are unfit to manage competing claims over space resources.
Jenn Lawrence features alongside A&O Shearman partner Andrew Denny and Global Head of Arbitration Marie Stoyanov to explore why space mining is poised to become a major source of future disputes.
Listen here: ‘The asteroid gold rush: space mining and the disputes of the future’
Law Talks x Monckton Chambers Mini-Series Part 3: International Women’s Day with Khatija Hafesji
In this episode of Law Talks Khatija Hafesji describes moving from studying history into legal practice, finding her passion via advocacy for children in care, using the Children Act 1989 and judicial review to challenge unlawful local authority decisions.
She explains why she pursued a mixed practice spanning public, competition, procurement, and information law and describes her role as Editor-in-Chief of the Human Rights Law Reports. In an International Women’s Day context, she discusses the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026, her pro bono work with the Centre for Women’s Justice on data protection issues, and reflects on what public law reveals about women’s lives. Finally, she explains her trustee role at the Public Law Project and how aspiring barristers can get involved and prepare for the Bar.
01:32 Discovering Law in Care Work
04:04 Building a Mixed Practice
06:07 Choosing Practice Balance
07:45 Editing Human Rights Reports
10:48 Women and Diversity Awards
14:17 Centre for Women’s Justice Panel
16:23 Law Reform for Mothers
18:59 Women’s Lives Through Public Law
24:52 Trustee at Public Law Project
29:12 Advice for Aspiring Barristers
Listen to the full episode “International Women’s Day with Khatija Hafesji” on Spotify.
Monckton Chambers celebrates International Women’s Day 2026
We marked International Women’s Day with a special lunchtime gathering in Chambers, bringing everybody together to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and ongoing impact of women within the legal profession. We were pleased to celebrate the occasion together and to continue fostering an environment in which talent and ambition can flourish for everyone at Chambers.
This year’s IWD theme, #GiveToGain, emphasises the power of sharing knowledge, support, and opportunities to help others thrive — reinforcing the idea that by lifting others, we strengthen our entire community.
You can read more about International Women’s Day.
Michael Bowsher KC and Jenn Lawrence speak in Legal 500 podcast on space law
Michael Bowsher KC and Jenn Lawrence have featured in an episode of The Legal 500 Podcast, hosted by Marie Johansen Nordland, on the topic of space law.
The episode commences with a general introduction to space law, focusing on the interplay of legal regimes and the current state of affairs. Michael and Jenn then move on to discuss a number of topical issues: the problems posed by increasing amounts of space debris in orbit, the ramifications of dual-purpose infrastructure in space participating in armed conflict on earth, concerns surrounding the lack of a coherent and proscriptive international legal regime and the potential to look to other existing international legal regimes as the starting point for a framework to regulate certain aspects of space law. The episode ends with reflections on why space law is becoming increasingly relevant for lawyers today, including from a competition law standpoint.
The episode can be found here.
Lord Bellamy KC appointed as Honorary Professor of Practice in the Faculty of Laws at University College, London
Monckton Chambers is pleased to congratulate Lord (Christopher) Bellamy KC on his recent appointment as Honorary Professor of Practice in the Faculty of Laws at University College, London. In addition to his Chamber arbitral and consultative work, Christopher is looking forward to working with the UCL Centre for Law, Economics and Society, one of the leading academic institutions in the UK and Europe, on issues affecting competition law, regulation and more broadly the judicial system in the UK and EU.
Read the UCL press release.
Jenn Lawrence elected as a Trustee of Human Rights Watch UK
Jenn Lawrence has been elected as a Trustee of Human Rights Watch UK, the UK legal entity of the New York-headquartered nonprofit watchdog. Jenn said:
“I’m delighted to have been elected to the Board of Trustees at Human Rights Watch UK.
HRW investigates and reports on human rights abuses worldwide, campaigning to change policy and intervening in strategic litigation where appropriate. HRW’s recent work has included investigations into the human rights implications of the curtailing of the right to protest in the United Kingdom, the Israel-Gaza war, the treatment of the Uyghurs in Türkiye and state censorship in Russia.
I’ve been following the organisation for some time now and am looking forward to working with the Board to further matters of particular impact for those in the UK.”
Khatija Hafesji shortlisted for Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2026
Khatija Hafesji has been shortlisted for “Returner of the Year” at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2026.
Hosted by The Global Legal Post, the awards honour outstanding women leaders and practitioners, as well as legal teams and businesses driving meaningful change.
The shortlist was selected from nearly 350 entries across 32 categories and includes 82 law firms and chambers, alongside 27 other businesses and more than a dozen not-for-profit organisations.
You can read the full Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2026 shortlist, the winners will be announced at the ceremony taking place on 28th April.
Khatija Hafesji appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Human Rights Law Reports
Khatija Hafesji has been appointed Editor in Chief of the Human Rights Law Reports – UK Cases, published by Sweet & Maxwell.
She takes over from Eric Metcalfe who was Editor in Chief for eleven years.
Tim Ward KC, who founded the Reports in 2000 and was the first General Editor, said:
“I am delighted that Khatija is continuing the tradition of Monckton involvement in the Reports. Eric did a fantastic job and I look forward to the Reports going from strength-to-strength under Khatija’s stewardship.”
The first issue of 2026 has been published today and features the following significant judgments:
- The Supreme Court’s decision in Re JR87’s application for Judicial Review [2025] UKSC 40; [2026] HRLR 1, which held that the religious education and collective worship specified by the Northern Ireland Department for Education in its core syllabus was not conveyed in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner and thereby breached A2P1, read with art.9 ECHR.
- The Court of Appeal’s decision in R (L1T Holdings Ltd.) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Cabinet Office [2025] EWCA Civ 1528; [2026] HRLR 2, dismissing the company’s appeal that an order made under s.26 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (requiring it to divest its shareholding in another company due to its links with certain Russian nationals) was a disproportionate interference with its A1P1 rights.
- R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42; [2026] HRLR 3, which held that the contribution condition for the receipt of Bereavement Support Payments did not discriminate against the surviving partners of those with a lifelong inability to work through disability. The judgment also provides important guidance on the approach to be taken to decisions made by different appellate courts of the United Kingdom.
Khatija Hafesji is ranked across three practice areas, with a focus on Public Law and Data Protection, Competition, and Procurement. She has a particular interest and expertise in human rights law, particularly cases involving the rights of children. She is a Trustee at the Public Law Project.
Please see The Law Reports, published by Sweet & Maxwell.