MANILA, Philippines—British barrister Peter Haynes KC (King's Counsel) has been named as the new lead counsel for former president Rodrigo Duterte in proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC) according to information circulating within ICC legal circles and records from his chambers in the United Kingdom.
Haynes is a King’s Counsel affiliated with St Philips Chambers in Birmingham, England, where his professional profile describes him as “one of the foremost practitioners in International Criminal and Humanitarian Law.” He will replace Nicholas Kaufman.
His credentials are also listed in the United Kingdom’s official Bar Standards Board register, which confirms that he is a practicing barrister specializing in criminal and international law.
According to his chambers profile, Haynes has spent more than two decades appearing before international tribunals in The Hague, including the ICC, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Among the most prominent cases he handled before the ICC was the defense of former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, whose conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity was overturned on appeal.
In 2024, Haynes was assigned to represent Joseph Kony in the ICC’s first in absentia proceedings, according to a statement released by St Philips Chambers.
His profile further states that he has handled cases involving genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and international terrorism, and served as president of the International Criminal Court Bar Association from 2019 to 2021.
Duterte is facing proceedings before the ICC in connection with alleged crimes linked to his administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign. The tribunal said its investigation covers alleged crimes committed in the Philippines between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019.