Rhys Davies and Ben Keith named International Pro Bono Barristers of the Year
2021 Bar Pro Bono Awards
We are pleased to announce that Rhys Davies and Ben Keith have been jointly named as International Pro Bono Barristers of the year.
Advocate, the Bar's national pro bono charity, presented Rhys and Ben with the award on 3rd November 2021 at a ceremony at Gray’s Inn.
The award was for their work on the case of Ryan Cornelius. Ryan is a British national who has arbitrarily detained in prison in Dubai. He was arrested in 2008 and has been held in custody ever since.
For a full list of nominees and to find out more about Advocate and the pro-bono work they undertake, click HERE.
“We are delighted to accept this award and are pleased that we are able to raise awareness of the importance of pro bono work in the international area. However, the most important people are our clients.
“Ryan Cornelius has been the victim of the most egregious human rights breaches imaginable and will almost certainly die in prison unless we can help secure his release. We have been working with his family we've asked the UN and the UK and US governments for assistance and in his campaign for justice. His case is a perfect example of how pro bono lawyers can try to help those most in need.”
Chris Pagett CMG, OBE, who supported their nomination, said:
“Rhys and Ben have throughout this displayed unfailing attentiveness and sensitivity, never losing sight of the fact that they are working to help a frightened and vulnerable family. That family now has grounds for hope.”
About the nomination
Rhys and Ben have worked extensively on a pro bono basis to achieve justice for Ryan, a British national who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Dubai for over 13 years. They have acted as legal counsel on his campaign and have provided the client’s family with advice, written advocacy, legal submissions and in-depth legal assistance.
In a real-life David and Goliath situation, their work has involved gaining a detailed understanding of the complex commercial beginnings of the case in order to bring out the full extent of the injustice done to the client, as well as taking on powerful international adversaries who can fund expensive litigation.
Their work has centred around the UN conventions against torture and arbitrary detention, and what is conventionally referred to as the Global Magnitsky Sanctions legislation now in force in the UK, US and Canada. They have made submissions under UN Conventions to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva and the UN Special Rapporteur against Torture in Geneva. They have also made Global Magnitsky Sanctions submissions to the UK FCDO and the US governments.