Kate Cook

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT KATE COOK

Climate change is a common concern. Co-operation is not a matter of choice for States but a pressing need and a legal obligation.\"(ICJ Advisory Opinion 2025)Kate is recognized as a leading specialist in environmental law with particular expertise in public international law (including human rights law) and climate change. Kate has been a member of Matrix Chambers since and appeared in leading cases before international tribunals, including the International Court of Justice: the Request for an Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, Pulp Mills, Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v Japan) and Croatia v Serbia. She has appeared before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Advisory Opinion on Climate Change). Her domestic cases include the Friends of the Earth challenge to the UK decision to provide $1.15bn of export credit in relation to the development of LNG in Mozambique) and a pending challenge to North Sea oil and gas licenses (Oceana). She also has an established advisory practice on all aspects of environmental/climate law and is the author of two legal guides published by UNFAO (on due diligence obligations of law firms in relation to land tenure and small scale fisheries and climate change). Before joining Matrix, Kate was a lawyer in the UK Department of the Environment working on international, EU and domestic legal issues. She has extensive experience of UN and EU environmental negotiations.Kate has a particular interest in access to justice and legal solidarity initiatives and was one of the founders of Legal Response International (LRI) which provides pro bono support to developing countries at the climate change negotiations.