Amanda Bostock

Call: 2008

"An amazing advocate who has a legal mind that is second to none."

Chambers UK 2023: Extradition

"Unflappable when in the courtroom."

Chambers UK 2023: Extradition

"A tenacious advocate who grasps the issue quickly. She is always impressive."

Chambers UK 2022: Extradition

"Amanda is a very confident and experienced advocate. She is calm, concise and coherent with a good eye for detail."

Legal 500 2022: International Law & Extradition

"A meticulous eye for detail."

Legal 500 2022: International Law & Extradition

Instructing Amanda

To instruct Amanda please contact our Clerks on +44 (0)20 7400 6400 or email clerks@3rblaw.com.

Amanda is a criminal barrister and highly ranked extradition specialist identified as a leader in the field by both Legal 500 and Chambers UK for several years. She appears regularly in the Divisional and Administrative courts and in February 2021 was led by James Hines KC before the Supreme Court in the lead case on diplomatic assurances. Amanda has extensive experience in Mutual Legal Assistance matters having regularly advised the Home Office in relation to the same.

Alongside her busy extradition practice, Amanda continues her work in criminal law, sitting as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court). She also acts in professional discipline and prison law matters.

Legal Expertise

Extradition overview

Amanda is a renowned extradition practitioner acting for both foreign governments and those seeking to resist extradition. Having been appointed as a researcher to the Home Office Extradition Review and spending 12 months’ seconded to the CPS extradition unit she has a depth of academic understanding which is unrivalled. She has acted in many of the guideline authorities in this niche area of law.

Notable Extradition cases

Zabolotnyi v Hungary [2021] UKSC 14

Led by James Hines QC acting for Hungary in guideline case on diplomatic assurances post Brexit.

Kalinowski v Poland [2019] EWHC 3734 (Admin)

Amanda successfully overturned an order for the extradition of K who was wanted for a stabbing in Slovenia which caused life threatening injuries. She succeeded due to a technical argument centred on dual criminality and the validity of the request.

Fuzesi & Balasz v Hungary [2018] EWHC 1885 (Admin)

Led by James Hines QC for the Hungarian authorities, this case ensures extradition between Hungary and the UK can continue as a result of assurances guaranteeing adequate conditions in prison.

Sobczyk v Poland [2017] EWHC 3353 (Admin)

Led by Helen Malcom KC, Amanda argued that culpable delay by foreign authorities should weigh in the balance against extradition even in the case of fugitive offenders.

Fox v Germany [2017] EWHC 3396 (Admin)

The guideline authority in relation to s.12A of the Extradition Act for German cases establishes that the decision to try can be made by a prosecutor. This decision applies to all cases from Germany and has made the s.12A bar obsolete.

Klenovszki v Hungary [2017] EWHC 2560 (Admin) 

Divisional Court consideration of whether assurances provided by the Hungarian government had been breached.

Purcell v Belgium [2017] EWHC 1981 (Admin)

The guideline authority considering whether Belgium prison conditions comply with human rights standards.

Sulaiman v France [2016] EWHC 2868 (Admin)

Representing the French authorities as junior alone against leading Counsel in a complex case concerning abuse of process, extra-territoriality and specialty.

Puceviciene & Others v Lithuania & Others [2016] EWHC 1862 (Admin)

Led by John Hardy KC before the then Lord Chief Justice (Lord Thomas of Cymgiedd). This case provides the definitive guidance on the practical operation of section 12A of the Extradition Act 2003 (in relation to all extradition cases) intended to ensure that extradition only takes place when the requesting country has made a clear decision to charge and try.

Szegfu v Court of Pecs, Hungary [2015] EWHC 1764 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 273

Instructed alone before the Divisional Court including the now Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon. This case provides the first and only judicial guidance and interpretation of s.26 (5) of the Extradition Act 2003 relating to the time limits in which to bring an extradition appeal under section 26(4).

Zagorskij v Vilnius County Court, Lithuania [2015] EWHC 2335 (Admin)

Before the Divisional Court including Lord Thomas of Cymgiedd LCJ as junior alone against leading and junior Counsel opposing extradition on the grounds of likely ill treatment of homosexual men within the Lithuanian prison estate.

Durdevic v Croatia

Amanda secured the extradition of a war criminal to Croatia.

Crime overview

Amanda’s practice encompasses all areas with a particular emphasis in violent crime.

Recent instructions include led junior in the case of R v Angela Ayre (Luton Crown Court) in which the 74 year old Defendant was accused of murdering her partner of over twenty years because of a dispute centred around his urinating in their conservatory whilst drunk. After trial and detailed defence analysis and challenge of blood patterns and pathology reports, the Defendant was acquitted of murder, being convicted instead of manslaughter, the defence team having successfully demonstrated no intention to cause serious harm.

Inquests & Inquiries

Inquests & Inquiries overview

Amanda regularly accepts instructions on matters relating to inquests and public inquiries.

Prison Law overview

Amanda has significant experience in representing individuals before the parole board and during prison disciplinary adjudications.

Professional Discipline overview

Amanda appears before disciplinary tribunals seeking the removal of or sanctions against professional individuals.

Current/Recent instructions include:

Nemeth & Others v Hungary
Leading Counsel in complex multi-handed request for offenders said to have defrauded hundreds of pensioners in Hungary of their life-savings.

Ireland v Flynn
Extradition sought in relation to an armed robbery in which a police officer was shot and killed at point blank range.

Bogdan v Hungary
Lead case alleging a lack of judicial independence and interference with the rule of law in Hungary.

Lithuania v SK
 Amanda successfully represented SK in resisting extradition and prosecution in Lithuania for gang rape and GBH following successful liaison with the Lithuanian authorities alongside human rights arguments.

Montenegro v Knezevic
Request seeking the return of a high profile business man alleging political interference and corruption.

Notable cases include:

Zabolotnyi v Hungary
[2021] UKSC 14
Led by James Hines QC acting for Hungary in guideline case on diplomatic assurances post Brexit.

Kalinowski v Poland
[2019] EWHC 3734 (Admin)
Successfully defeated extradition order for Kalinowski in extra-territorial stabbing.

Fuzesi v Hungary
[2018] EWHC 1885 (Admin)
Led by James Hines QC in leading case on Hungarian prison assurances.

Sobczyk v Poland
[2017] EWHC 3353 (Admin)
Led by Helen Malcolm QC acting for Sobczyk in Divisional Court consideration of delays by foreign authorities alongside fugitive status.

Szegfu v Hungary
[2016] 1 WLR322
Instructed alone for Hungary before the Divisional Court in first interpretation of S.26(5) EA ’03 for out of time appeals

Puceviciene v Lithuania
[2016] 1 WLR 4937
Led by John Hardy KC for IJAs in the guideline overarching s.12A authority.

Sulaiman v France
[2016] EWHC 2868 (Admin)
Successfully acted for France against Mark Summers KC in complicated validity, specialty and abuse of process case.

Instructing Amanda

To instruct Amanda please contact our Clerks on +44 (0)20 7400 6400 or email clerks@3rblaw.com.

Extradition – Legal 500 (Tier One), Chambers UK (Band 2)

“An amazing advocate who has a legal mind that is second to none.” Chambers UK 2023:  Extradition

“Unflappable when in the courtroom.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Extradition

“A tenacious advocate who grasps the issue quickly. She is always impressive.” Chambers UK 2022:  Extradition

“Amanda is a very confident and experienced advocate. She is calm, concise and coherent with a good eye for detail.” Legal 500 2022:  International Law & Extradition

“A meticulous eye for detail.” Legal 500 2022:  International Law & Extradition

“Extremely well versed in the law and has incredibly good advocacy skills. She is extremely well prepared.” Chambers UK 2020: Extradition

“A tenacious advocate who has a great way with clients and a lovely manner.” Chambers UK 2020:  Extradition

Called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) 2008
Bar Vocational Course – Inns of Court School of Law
LLB (Hons) Liverpool

Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court)

Professional memberships

CPS Specialist Panel for Extradition – Level 4
Extradition Lawyers Association – Committee Member (Court Liaison)
Defence Extradition Lawyers Forum
Criminal Bar Association
European Criminal Bar Association

Prior to joining chambers, Amanda worked in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa advising pro bono in land rights claims, chieftainship disputes and cross border class actions against international mining corporations for inhalation induced silicosis.

In May 2016, South Africa’s High Court granted class- action status to the case in which Amanda was involved to enable around 500,000 miners and their families to seek damages from some of the world’s biggest gold bullion producers for illnesses and death caused by silicosis and tuberculosis as a result of unsafe working conditions.

I, Amanda Bostock, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at amanda.bostock@3rblaw.com.  My Data Protection Policy can be found below.

All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien.  The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child.  When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here.  When I process data which has not been obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:

  1. my Chambers, which supplies professional and administrative support to my practice;
  2. Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;
  3. my lay and professional clients;
  4. potential witnesses, in particular experts, and friends or family of the data subject;
  5. solicitors, barristers, pupils, mini pupils and other legal representatives;
  6. ombudsmen and regulatory authorities;
  7. current, past or prospective employers;
  8. education and examining bodies;
  9. business associates, professional advisers and trade bodies.

I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.

I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, or otherwise permitted by UK data protection legislation.

Under the UK GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability.  Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services.  A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide those legal services.

Rev 2.1  29.06.2022

Data Protection Policy

Legitimate Interests Assessment

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