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To be part of any legal team at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a major accomplishment given the Court’s stature and prominence. After all, it is the World Court. Per the Court’s webpage on 17th July 1998, the international community reached an historic milestone when 120 States adopted the Rome Statute, the legal basis for establishing the permanent International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute entered into force on 1st July 2002 after ratification by 60 countries. The Court, which is located in The Hague, Netherlands, has heard several cases such as workers’ rights, territorial dispute/controversy, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
In 2018, the Government of Guyana, under the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo leadership, took the decision to take the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy to the World Court in acknowledgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award is a full, perfect and final settlement on the border between the two countries, which successive Venezuelan governments, from the 1960s, have rejected.
Guyana sought out the best legal minds to help prosecute our case before the Court and among those minds is Ms. Christina L. Beharry.
Christina was born in Canada to Guyanese heritage. She is multilingual and a partner of the Foley Hoag legal team presenting Guyana’s case on the Venezuela border controversy at the ICJ.
On the second day of hearings Christina, during her presentation, she told the Court she felt a special privilege representing Guyana where several generations of her family were born.
With over 30 cases defending States, Christina prides herself in knowing the importance of a comprehensive legal strategy that does not leave her client’s goal unattended.
May this year, Foley Hoag LLP named Christina a Co-Partner in Charge of the firm’s Washington, D.C. Office. According to the firm’s website, Christina is an active participant in firm leadership committees and regularly contribute to the culture and events available in the Washington, D.C. office. In this role, she will work with firm leadership to grow the Washington D.C. office, champion and support its lawyers and business services professionals, and work to uplift the local community. Her elevation is seen as further support of the firm’s commitment to superior client service in each of its office.
Christina is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, the State of New York, England and Wales, and the Law Society of Ontario.
According to her LinkedIn profile:-
“Her practice focuses on public international law, investor-State and commercial arbitration, and trade and investment policy.
“Ms. Beharry repeatedly assumes responsibility for damages arguments in high-stakes disputes with multi-million-dollar claims. She works extensively with quantum experts on complex financial matters relating to the valuation of businesses and the quantification of compensation for environmental damages and adverse human health impacts.
“In addition, Ms. Beharry publishes regularly on compensation and valuation topics and has edited a book titled Contemporary and Emerging Issues on the Law of Damages and Valuation in International Investment Arbitration (Brill Nijhoff, 2018).
“Prior to joining Foley Hoag, she practiced in the Trade Law Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade where she represented the Government of Canada in investment disputes brought under NAFTA Chapter 11 and assisted in the negotiation of bilateral investment treaties.”
On the Foley Hoag’s website Christina’s honours and involvement are a mile long:-
HONOURS
- Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration – Future Leaders 2019, 2020, 2021 (Most Highly Regarded), 2022, 2023
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Columbia University, 2003
INVOLVEMENT
- Foley Hoag AAPI Affinity Group (for Asian American Pacific Islander community members), partner advisor
- Panel of Arbitrators, BVI International Arbitration Centre (BVI IAC)
- Member, Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, Foley Hoag LLP (2015 – present)
- Program Director, International Dispute Resolution Committee, DC Bar
- Member, Interest Group Committee, American Society of International Law (ASIL) (2020 – present)
- Member, Annual Meeting Committee, American Society of International Law (ASIL) (2020)
- Co-Chair, Minorities in International Law Group, American Society of International Law (ASIL) (2017-2020)
- Coordinator, D.C. Women in International Arbitration
- Review Board Member, Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot (2021 – present)
- Moot Coach (international arbitration), American University (2018-2020)
- Peer Reviewer, ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal
- Peer Reviewer, The Law and Practice of International Courts and Tribunals
- Peer Reviewer, Journal of International Dispute Settlement
- Advisory Board Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration
- Member, Arbitral Women
- Member, ICDR Young & International
- Member, Lincoln’s Inn
- Member, LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
- Member, Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners
To know more about Christina visit her page https://foleyhoag.com/people/beharry-christina/