Seán Binder

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“Red Lion Chambers offers a great depth of talented, approachable counsel.”
Legal 500, 2022

Personal profile

Seán built a foundation in defence work during his first six by assisting his supervisor, Genevieve Reed, in complex cases including murder, rape and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

He comes to the Bar with a strong academic background having graduated with Distinctions in his GDL and bar exams. Previously he studied Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology at Trinity College Dublin and International Relations at the London School of Economics. He has won several academic prizes and scholarships.

Seán’s journey to the Criminal Bar began when he was detained in pre-trial detention for what Human Rights Watch described as “the criminalisation of saving lives.” He was arrested following his coordination of civilian maritime search and rescue efforts in the North Aegean Sea in 2017-18. The charges against him have been broadly condemned, including by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders, Amnesty International, and prominent members of the Bar of England and Wales. Since this experience, Seán has been advocating for justice and the rule of law in Europe.

Education

• BVS, City Law School (2024) – Distinction
• GDL, London Metropolitan (2023) – Distinction
• MSc International Relations Theory, London School of Economics (2017) – Merit
• BSc Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology, Trinity College Dublin (2016) – First Class Honours

Awards

Scholarships

• Ann Goddard Scholarship (Pupillage) – The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
• Prince of Wales Scholarship (bar course) – The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
• Edmund James Lawson Scholarship (GDL) – The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
• JUSTICE Scholarship – Kalisher Trust
• BVS Scholarship – City Law School

Academic prizes

• GDL Prize for Top Graduating Student – LMU
• Mansfield Law Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement – LMU
• Mansfield Law Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the University – LMU
• Mansfield Law Pro Bono Prize – LMU
• Lady Oliver Mooting Cup
• CPE Moot Prize – LMU
• Book Prize – TCD

Civil and human rights recognition

• Democracy Award – Ordfront Förlag
• Honorary Council Member – Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union

Memberships

The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
Criminal Bar Association

Publications

Binder, Seán and Carmine Conte. “Strategic litigation: the role of the EU and international law in criminalising humanitarianism.” RESOMA. July, 2019.

Binder, Seán and Michele Levoy. “Sea Watch: Lack of EU action is criminalising solidarity.” EU Observer. July, 2019.