Paul Mylvaganam

Paul regularly acts in the most high profile international cases, advising Governments and well-known individuals and companies. He has a particular expertise in international work and he works mainly in non-UK jurisdictions; in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Paul has particular experience in International Corruption, Fraud, Money Laundering, Sanctions and Counter-Terrorism. Between 2016-2017, he was appointed to undertake training assignments in Nigeria as a Technical Expert for the United Nations, Counter-Terrorist Division (UNODC). Paul has appeared in emblematic cases such as the “ The Oil for Food” case, possibly the most complex multi-jurisdiction corruption case ever investigated, involving sanctions-breaches of the Saddam Hussein Regime. He has also appeared in the first test case of the 2002 Terrorism Act, involving a proscribed organisation (ISYF), which was heard on appeal by the Lord Chief Justice in a reserved hearing, as well as appearing as Trial counsel in the London Underground Bombing case and the “Dirty Bomb” case.

Paul has been recommended in the “spotlight” category in International Criminal Law by Chambers and Partners 2021.  The edition notes that Paul is a junior who is highly regarded for his expertise in ICL and white-collar crime matters, and is praised by market sources for his sensitive and warm approach to clients.

Paul recently supported an amicus brief,together with a group of eminent international lawyers that is currently before the US Supreme Court in a case relating to customary international law and terrorist financing. He has also acted in cases in some of the most significant cases in the ICTR and the ICC and has lectured widely in Africa and Asia.

Paul graduated from Pembroke College, University of Oxford, in 1989 and worked in advertising in the business arm of the Saatchi group in London, before coming to the Bar. He worked on accounts relating to “political advertising” for campaigns such as ‘Friends of the Earth’ and has an acute understanding of managing political risk in complex, legal investigations. While in practice he completed an LLM in International Criminal Law at Sussex University specialising in international corruption, war crimes and transitional justice systems.

He has had an international upbringing and education, being of Sri Lankan heritage, born and raised in Nigeria, and spending his childhood in Zambia and Hong Kong. He studied at boarding school in England from the age of eleven and then completed his first undergraduate degree at University in Oxford.

Paul undertakes a substantial amount of pro bono work and appeared in the Privy Council case of Dookran by way of appeal from death-row in Trinidad and more recently, he headed a legal team for Christian Aid preparing submissions for the Govt. of Sierra Leone for their new constitution.