Meet Kirsty Brimelow KC
Kirsty Brimelow KC (King’s Counsel) is a barrister with extensive experience in international law, human rights, criminal law, and more. She is a Bencher of Gray’s Inn and practices from Doughty Street Chambers.
Ace Attorney
Former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, Kirsty will serve as vice chair of the Bar Council in 2025. This association represents nearly 18,000 barristers in England and Wales.
“Kirsty is ranked in band 1 in protest law and spotlighted for international human rights law alongside ranking for civil liberties and criminal law. Kirsty also is ranked for criminal law in the Legal 500.”
Human Rights Champion
Kirsty has served as chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee. She has worked tirelessly to promote preventative measures to stop female genital mutilation (FGM) from taking place. Kirsty’s work takes her around the globe. In 2016, she worked on mediation between the government of Colombia and the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. The discussions between the two parties resulted in a historic peace accord, ending a 50-year war.
Expert on Addressing Harmful Practices
In September 2017, Kirsty moderated the first conference at the United Nations dedicated to tackling the crisis of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks.
In 2021, Kirsty worked on the drafting of UN Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8. This resolution encourages member states to take measures to end witch-hunting.
2021 UN Human Rights Council Session 47
- Vote on Resolution 47/8. Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks
- Report of the Human Rights Council on its 47th session
- United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8. Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks
Positions Held
- Bencher of Gray’s Inn
- Trustee of Civitas Maximas
- Chairwoman of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (2012 – 2018)
- Appointed legal adviser to the Constitution Commission of Fiji (2012)
- Appointed to the Legal Advisory Committee for Peace Brigade International (2012 -)
- Appointed Chair of Working Group responding to Law Commission Consultation on Contempt of Court (2012)
- Appointed by the Criminal Bar Association to respond to the DPP’s draft Guidelines on Social media prosecutions (2013)
- Called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
- Called to the Bar of Gibraltar
- Spokesperson for the Bar (1998-2008)
- Criminal Bar Association (CBA) executive (2004 – 2010) – Organiser of CBA seminars at Bar Conference 2006-2008
- CBA representative at DNA workshops organised by ACPO and CPS (2006 – 2009)
- Bar Council Public Affairs Committee (2000-2007)
- Pro Bono Bar Caribbean Committee (2005 -2008)
- Central London Bar Mess Committee (2004 – 2007)
- Opinion Leader Research Panel (2005-2008)
- Representative for the Bar Human Rights Committee on the Euro – Med Human Rights Network (2005 – 2010) Please see here
- Populus Research Panel (2006-2008)
- Founder and Chairwoman of 187 Fleet Street Chambers’ Human Rights committee (2005 – 2007)
- Bar Conference Organising Board 2006 and 2007
- Vice-Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee (2009 – 2012)