INTERPOL and the rule of law

Michael Polak is a barrister specialising in public international law, international crime, human rights, private prosecutions, strategic litigation, and serious criminal offences. He is known for his work before international courts, United Nations bodies, human rights-related arbitrations, and proceedings worldwide. Michael was awarded the prestigious International Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer in 2021. This award is given to one young lawyer every year in recognition of their ‘excellence in their work and achievements in their career to date, but also a commitment to professional and ethical standards as well as a commitment to the larger community.’ Michael was recognised as the most outstanding young lawyer in the world for his ‘commitment to defending human rights across the globe through his professional practice and personal endeavours.’ Michael Polak also serves as the Director of Justice Abroad, where he has represented families and individuals in various cases, including those detained arbitrarily or involved in suspicious death circumstances. In this role, he represented the family of George Lowe who was murdered in Ayia Napa in their pursuit of justice, a number of Uyghur clients who have been arbitrarily detained in the Uyghur Region, Chau Van Kham, a Vietnamese-Australian democracy activist who has been found by the United Nations to be arbitrarily detained in Vietnam, and the family of Dean Wright who was found dead on a luggage trolley inside a Cancun resort in suspicious circumstances. He was also part of the team pushing for the release of Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem who was subject to enforced disappearance in 2016 and release in early August 2024. Mr Polak's contributions to the legal field also include authoring articles on legal topics, such as INTERPOL Notices, and participating in legal research and advocacy at the international level.

Ben Keith is a leading UK barrister specialising in Extradition, Immigration, Interpol and International Law, as well as dealing with Serious Fraud, and Public law. He has extensive experience of appellate proceedings before the Administrative and Divisional Courts, Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Court of Appeal as well as applications and appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and United Nations. Ben Keith won the International Pro Bono Barrister of the Year in November 2021. Ben is a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). He has significant expertise in the challenge and removal of INTERPOL Red Notices for clients based nationally and internationally and edits the Red Notice Monitor blog. https://www.rednoticemonitor.com He has significant expertise in human rights and extradition proceedings in post-soviet states including Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Kazakhstan. He is sought after to represent politically exposed persons in extradition, immigration and financial proceedings, including sanctions. He has expertise in the Middle East including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt dealing with cases of torture, disappearance and universal jurisdiction. He has dealt with cases from many jurisdictions in the Far East including: China, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia. Ranked in Chambers and Partners as a band 1 leader in the field of Extradition at the London Bar and in the Legal 500 as a Tier 1 leading individual in international crime and extradition.

Former General Counsel and Executive Director of Legal Affairs, INTERPOL From March 2016 to February 2024, Mary served as Executive Director of Legal Affairs and General Counsel of INTERPOL where she led a team of over 80 attorneys and staff in providing legal advice on international police cooperation among INTERPOL’s 196 member countries. She also oversaw legal compliance with INTERPOL’s information exchange and wanted person alert systems. Mary is currently the Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, United States Department of Justice. Prior to her assignment to INTERPOL Mary served in various capacities in the U.S. Department of Justice, including Acting Director and Trial Attorney in the Office of International Affairs. Mary’s experience includes 5 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Trial Attorney in the Voting Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division, and several years as General Counsel and Attorney-Advisor in the General Counsel’s offices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. Mary received two Atorney General Awards and several Assistant Atorney General Awards Mary holds a juris doctor degree (JD) from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego.