Professional practice

Having completed his distinguished nine-year term as judge at the European Court of Human Rights elected in respect of the United Kingdom, Tim Eicke K.C. now brings his extensive experience in public international law and international dispute settlement back to full-time practice.

During his term at the Court, Tim was involved in a large number of important cases and assumed different roles of responsibility. Some of the key cases in which he has been involved, as a judge, include decisions and judgments concerning:

  • climate change[1] and large scale environmental pollution;[2]
  • the relationship between Article V of the New York Convention (in the context of sports arbitration) and the Convention.[3]
  • the 2008 armed conflict between Russia and Georgia[4] as well as the (2014 and current) armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine (including the downing of MH17);[5] and
  • the relationship of the ECHR and the 1913 Treaty of Athens, the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres and the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty, including consideration of the general principles applicable to the assessment of just satisfaction for losses incurred in third country and the Monetary Gold principle.[6]

Before he became a judge at the Court, Tim was considered one of the leading advocates at the Bar of England and Wales, focussing on international and domestic disputes involving public international, European Union, International Human Rights and Public and Constitutional Law. In practice, Tim  combined his advocacy with a broad advisory practice, advising the UK and foreign governments, government departments, companies and individuals. Tim has particular expertise in cases involving the conflict between and/or the inter-relationship and interaction between different legal systems and jurisdictions , exemplified by his work on economic sanctions in the context of domestic, UN, EU and ECHR obligations.

He was a highly experienced and internationally respected advocate and his extensive litigation practice involved frequent appearances in international courts and tribunals as well the highest domestic, including the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights. Tim also acted as counsel and expert in investor-State arbitrations and was one of a small number of advocates who, by the time of his appointment, had already appeared in more than 20 reported cases in the UK Supreme Court. In October 2025, Tim was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Tim has native/bi-lingual fluency in English and German and professional proficiency in French.

[1] Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and 32 Others and Carême v France

[2] Cannavacciuolo and Others v. Italy

[3] Semenya v Switzerland (due to be handed down on 10 July 2025)

[4] Georgia v. Russia (II) (merits and just satisfaction)

[5] Ukraine v Russia (re Crimea) (admissibility and merits) and Ukraine and the Netherlands v Russia (admissibility; merits judgment due to be handed down on 9 July 2025)

[6] Molla Sali v. Greece (merits and just satisfaction)

 

What Others Said

“His work on EU cases is well known. He’s the government lawyer of choice, and his knowledge of EU cases is better than everybody else.” Chambers UK – Immigration

“One of the strongest advocates in EU law and its application to human rights.” Legal 500 – Immigration

“Highly recommended for cases that involve elements of EU law and treaties.” Legal 500 – Public international

Career

Judge in respect of the United Kingdom, European Court of Human Rights, since September 2016 (term expires September 2025)

  • Participated in more than 900 reported judgments, advisory opinions and decisions (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee) covering a vast range of national legal systems and subject areas from banking resolution, regulatory and tax law, VAT, bioethics, historic injustices, the legality of military activities outside Europe, armed conflict (Russia/Ukraine, Russia/Georgia and Armenia/Azerbaijan), immunities (parliamentary, diplomatic and international organisational) and the legality of covert interception/intelligence operations as well as bulk data interception, to the application of the ECHR to climate change and to international (sports) arbitration, criminal law and procedure, international child abduction, family law, immigration, mental health and modern slavery;
  • Wrote Separate Opinions in ca 42 important Grand Chamber or Chamber cases
  • Vice-President of Section IV and Duty Judge, responsible for interim measures, October 2020 – October 2024
  • Decided ca. 830 requests for interim measures against Member States
  • Decided more than 3200 applications as Single Judge

Barrister, Essex Court Chambers, London, 1993 to 2016 (Q.C. in 2011)

  • Junior Counsel to the Crown, 1999 – 2011
  • Independent expert at negotiations of Protocol 14 to the ECHR (reforming the control system of the Convention) 2003
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission List of Counsel, 2011 – 2015
  • Bencher, Lincoln’s Inn, 2014

Legal Consultant (p/t), Petroconsultants (UK) Ltd., London, 1991 – 1993

  • Advising on Russian constitutional/administrative law, foreign investments, natural resources and commercial law
Education

Passau University (1986 – 1988)

  • German Law (with English Law), intermediate exam

University of Dundee (1988 – 1992)

  • Studied English and Scottish law, LL.B (Hons) in English law
  • Awarded LL.D. (h.c.) by Dundee University, 2017
Academic and Publications
  • Vice-President, Irish Centre for European Law, 2023 to date
  • Member British Institute of International and Comparative Law Public International Law Advisory Panel, 2011 to date
  • Editor, European Human Rights Reports, Thomson Reuters, 1995 – 2016
  • Joint Author, “Human Rights Damages – Principles and Practice”, loose-leaf, Sweet&Maxwell 2002
  • Joint Author, “Study Guide – Human Rights Act 1998”, published by the UK Home Office and the General Counsel of the Bar on 2 October 2000 on the occasion of the entry into force of the Act
  • Lectured in EU law, international law and human rights in more than 20 countries
  • Trustee/member of Board of Directors of INTERIGHTS, The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights, London, 2004 – 2015
  • Member of the Board of Directors of the A.I.R.E. Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe), London, 2000 – 2008