Matrix Podcasts

In this podcast, Jamas Hodivala KC discusses with his guests Théa Bounfour and Jean-Philippe Fogle a money laundering complaint filed with prosecutors by the French NGO, Sherpa, alleging that banks are laundering the proceeds of environmental crimes committed by large Brazilian cattle companies.

As the Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to Parliament, Helen Mountfield, Murray Hunt and Richard Hermer discuss the myriad ways it breaches international law and undermines the rule of law.

How do we begin to understand the events in both Israel and Gaza from a legal perspective? In this short podcast Richard Hermer KC talks to Professor Andrew Clapham about the relevant international law framework

In Season 2 Episode 4 of the Matrix Pod: The Rule of Law, Richard Hermer KC, Zoe McCallum and Dr Tim Lillicrap (Research Director at Google DeepMind) discuss Artificial Intelligence and the future of law and humanity. This episode examines fast-moving developments in Artificial Intelligence technology, “the existential threat” that AI is said to generate and its implications for the rule of law. T...

Richard Hermer KC, Jessica Jones and Martha Spurrier (Director at Liberty) discuss the new Public Order Act 2023. The episode analyses the legislation including its connection to the recent Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and what the new Act means for trust in policing - seen within the context of the current problems faced by the Met Police.

This episode examines the events unfolding in Israel over the past weeks in which tens of thousands of citizens have taken to the streets to protest against legislation designed to increase governmental control over the appointment of judges and to limit the powers of the judiciary.

Richard Hermer KC speaks with Raza Husain KC (Matrix Chambers) and Sile Reynolds (Freedom from Torture) about the pressing Migration Bill being pushed through UK Parliament. The bill is designed to deter refugees arriving into the UK on small boats. Richard, Raza and Sile discuss the role of the courts and whether the bill can be overruled by the ECHR or the Refugee Convention.

Richard Hermer KC and Helen Mountfield KC discuss colonialism and the rule of law with Professor Caroline Elkins. They explore how law can be used as a weapon and how it might be utilised to seek redress and accountability.

Richard Hermer QC, Helen Mountfield QC, Murray Hunt and Adam Wagner dissect the last three years of rule under Boris Johnson. How has it fared, what have been the points of concern and what should the new leader do to restore any damage done? Later this year, Adam’s will publish his latest book “Emergency State” which will exam examining how, from a rule of law perspective, the country’s response...

Roe v Wade - Endgame? by Matrix Chambers

The Laws of War – A Guide by Matrix Chambers

The Rules of War by Matrix Chambers

Richard Hermer QC and Professor Andrew Clapham discuss the current crisis occurring on the Russia Ukraine border including the international legal obligations to offer assistance should a threat be recognised. For those interested in learning more about the legal framework governing war, we recommend Andrew’s latest book “War”.

Richard Hermer QC and Helen Mountfield QC talk to Tatiana Glushkova, member of the Council of Memorial Human Rights Centre, and Jess Gavron, the Legal Director at European Human Rights Advocacy Centre regarding the recent events in Russia and the wider context of the rule of law. Many would agree that our global judiciaries should remain apolitical however in many authoritarian states there have b...

The Elections Bill - how worried should we be? by Matrix Chambers

This week, we speak to Lord David Neuberger about the rule of law and the role of courts and judges. Together with Helen Mountfield QC and Murray Hunt, Richard Hermer asks what are the essential ingredients that determine whether a judicial system is able, or willing, to protect the rule of law and fundamental rights? What role, if any, have judges to play when the rule of law is at risk and what...

Richard Hermer QC speaks to fellow Matrix barrister Raza Husain QC and Sile Reynolds the Lead Asylum Policy Advisor at Freedom from Torture about the Nationality and Borders Bill currently being steered through Parliament by the Home Secretary, Pritti Patel. The Bill, at least on its face, appears to be a radical redrawing of domestic law application of our commitments under the Refugee Convention...

This week Samantha Knights QC talks to Rahela Sidiqi, Director of the Farkhunda Trust, and Michael Ryder CMG, CEO of the Royal Society of Asian Affairs, about the current situation in Afghanistan. Together they explore what should and can be done to provide practical assistance for Afghans whose lives are in mortal danger, and what the recent Taliban takeover means for the future of the country.

This week Samantha Knights QC is joined by Masha Karp and Owen Matthews to speak about curbs on free expression, protest, political opposition and together they look at what is happening right now in Russia. Masha is a London-based freelance journalist and writer, trustee of Rights in Russia and for many years she worked with the BBC Russian Service, Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. Owen Matthew...

Karon Monaghan QC and Professor Carrie Bettinger-Lopez, University of Miami School of Law join Samantha Knights QC to talk about violence against women in both the US and UK. Together they explore what has happened over the past year during the pandemic, gaps in policy and practice, reform and the new domestic abuse act in the UK, and the scope of the duty on police to protect victims of domestic...

This week’s episode focuses on Gaza and the current conflict in the region from an international law perspective. Richard Hermer QC speaks to Professor Andrew Clapham, to provide an overview of the legal framework that governs not only the current hostilities but the overall legal context of the conflict between Israeli and Palestinian people.

This week the Matrix Law Pod returns to India to speak with Colin Gonsalves, a prominent human rights lawyer, focusing not only on the emergency on the ground but the impact on the rule of law. Together with Richard Hermer QC and Helen Mountfield QC, they explore what role the courts have had to play in ensuring that the state acts to protect the life and health of its population, the response of...

Following the verdict in the George Floyd court case in the USA, Richard Hermer QC and Helen Mountfield QC speak with Prof. Craig Futterman, a Professor at the University of Chicago and the founder of the Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project of the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, and Raju Bhatt, a leading civil rights lawyer in the UK and a founding member of the Police Action Lawyer Group. Lis...

The Matrix Law Pod is back for a third season. This week Samantha Knights QC and Raza Husain QC are joined by Maya Goodfellow, author of 'Hostile Environments: How Immigrants Became Scapegoats'. Together they cover the history and origins of Hostile Environment, the broad consensus between Conservative and Labour parties on being tough on immigration, the Windrush scandal and the limits of the Cou...

This week Samantha Knights QC is joined by Christina Lamb OBE (Chief Foreign Correspondent of Sunday Times) and Caroline Buisman (International Criminal Defence and Human Rights Lawyer at Stapert Advocaten). Based on Christina Lamb's new book 'Our Bodies Their Battlefield: What War Does to Women', together they discuss how and why in modern warfare rape is used by combatants as a weapon of war, wh...