Michel Massih K.C.

Michel Massih K.C.

Call 1979 | Silk 1999

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Michel Massih K.C.

Call 1979 | Silk 1999

Michel read Law at London University. In 1979 he was called to the Bar and began to practise soon after in criminal defence work. In 1999 Michel was appointed Queen’s Counsel. He has been awarded the prestigious ‘Outstanding Criminal Lawyer’ of the year award by the Society of Asian Lawyers.

Over the last 40 years Michel has defended in some of the most notorious leading criminal cases in the UK and Internationally. Michel has appeared in a number of reported cases in the Court of Appeal and in the House of Lords. Michel won a landmark Court of Appeal case on the Law of Terrorism. (R v Iqbal & Others).

Expertise

Notable International Work cases

Sudan

Michel has been instructed to lead a team of lawyers to advise the Sudan Government in relation to the International Criminal Court investigation of alleged Genocide and war crimes in Darfur against President Al-Bashir. The strong team of international lawyers – comprises both criminal practitioners and professors of Law.

Palestine

Michel pioneered the concept of putting on trial senior Israeli officials in the United Kingdom Courts for war crimes. Thus Michel was instructed on behalf the ex officers of the British Palestine Police seeking a warrant for the arrest of Israeli prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

His next case was an attempt at seeking the arrest of General Ariel Sharon.

The third case was brought against general Shaul Mofaz. In that case Michel was instructed on behalf of the family of Tom Hurndal. Tom had been murdered by an Israeli soldier in Gaza.

Syria

United Nations Security Council investigation in the Hariri murder. Michel is leading an international team of lawyers advising and acting for the Syrian Government and Senior Syrian Officials.

Maldives

Michel has been to the Maldives retained by Mohammed Nasheed, the then Opposition Leader in the Maldives who faced charges in the Maldives. Mr. Nasheed was subsequently elected as president before being deposed.

Egypt

Michel was recently instructed by a leading international law firm to advise on ‘Due Process’ and Case Management in one of the leading cases in Egypt.

In addition Michel was admitted to the Paris Bar to defend in the case of the British Solicitor who drove his car at the crowds in the Champs D’Elysee after the France-Brazil World Cup Final.

Michel has been involved in the defence of a large number of cases where people have been tried on terrorism charges. Thus early on in his career he defended the Mujahideen of Iran. He defended the occupiers of the Iranian Embassy. In one such case a large number of defendants refused to be represented by anyone other than Michel and he had to act for over 50 defendants – divided over a number of courts. He also acted for the Mujahideen leader in the Court of Appeal. Michel was instructed in a large number of IRA cases including R v O’Dwyer (the Brighton Bombing) and the Harrods bombing.

Notable Terrorism cases

R v Said

R v Said. The shooting of the Israeli Ambassador (Shlomo Argov in London. Said was the gunman.

R v Hindawi

R v Hindawi. The attempted blowing-up of the EI-AI plane by using the defendant’s pregnant girl friend as innocent carrier of the semtex bomb.

R v Abdallah & Others

R v Abdallah & Others – Reported. The Hijacking of the Sudanese Airline. This was the 1st hijacking to Stansted airport. It involved Iraqi dissidents escaping from Saddam Hussein. Michel led the defence of two of the alleged hijackers. Both defendants were acquitted on appeal.

Michel has been instructed in a number of leading extradition cases.

Notable Extradition cases

R v Proulx

Reported. Where the Canadian police used undercover UK police officers to obtain a confession from Proulx on video.

R v Karpichkow

R v Karpichkow. The requested person was the ex-head of the KGB.

R v Auchi

R v Auchi. This involved the French Government seeking the extradition of Nazmi Auchi the billionaire British national living in the UK. to France to try him regarding his role in the ‘Elf scandal’.

R v Solimanpoor

R v Solimanpoor. The Iranian Ambassador to Argentina. His extradition was sought by the Argentine authorities in connection with the blowing-up of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires.

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