Michael Polak (LLB, BPTC, LLM (Public International Law)
Michael Polak is a Barrister at the Bar of England & Wales practising from Chambers in London. As well as defending in trials for serious criminal offences in the domestic courts, Michael also carries out private prosecutions, a unique specialism which allows those who have been the victim of crimes to hold those responsible to account when the authorities fail to act.
Michael was awarded the prestigious International Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer in 2021. This award is given to one young lawyer every year in recognition of their ‘excellence in their work and achievements in their career to date, but also a commitment to professional and ethical standards as well as a commitment to the larger community.’ Michael was recognised as the most outstanding young lawyer in the world for his ‘commitment to defending human rights across the globe through his professional practice and personal endeavours’.
Michael’s international practice focuses on international legal assistance, the assistance of foreign nationals and lawyers who get into trouble around the world. In this area Michael has represented clients in Belarus, Myanmar, Cyprus, Australia, Spain, Mexico, the USA, China, Greece, the Middle East, and India. His expertise includes negotiating with client’s foreign ministries to garner support for them, briefing the media to create interest around a client’s cases, providing advices on the fairness of proceedings and whether clients have had trials which respected due process to be used to lobby for release, making applications to United Nation’s human rights bodies, and submitting applications for clemency and legal submissions.
Michael’s international practice also contains public international law where he represents marginalised groups who have had their human rights infringed upon. He also has experience making applications to remove INTERPOL Red Notices and has written for Westlaw on the law in this area.
Michael’s education includes a Master’s degree in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science and his dissertation on the Jadhav Case between India and Pakistan concerning the rights of imprisoned foreign nationals to have access to their consulate was published by Indian Journal of Public International law (available here).
You can find more details about Michael’s work here.