For Rightsholders

Our Clients

Arendt Chambers represents individuals from across the globe who have experienced serious human rights violations.

If you or someone you care about may have been affected by such a violation, we encourage you to reach out. We can assess whether international or regional legal mechanisms may offer a path to justice.

Examples of potential violations that may be actionable include:

Grave infringements on fundamental rights and freedoms (such as violations of free speech, freedom of assembly, privacy rights, or fair trial guarantees).

Severe forms of discrimination, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics.

Arbitrary detention, whether by state authorities or private actors (including cases involving institutionalisation of persons with disabilities).

Violations of the rights to truth, justice, reparation, and non-recurrence (such as a failure by law enforcement to investigate crimes or systemic impunity).

Enforced disappearance, particularly in conflict or post-conflict contexts.

Forced labour, human trafficking, or modern slavery (including exploitation by private or state actors).

Sexual or gender-based violence, especially where domestic justice systems have failed to respond.

Cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, in any setting.

As a Canadian firm, we are committed to working with Canadian citizens and newcomers to Canada seeking justice for violations that occurred at home or abroad. However, you do not need a connection to Canada to seek our services. We are particularly committed to working with survivors from the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Liberia, Palestine, Russia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Syria, and Ukraine.

Our Services

We represent rightsholders in their submissions before international human rights mechanisms and international criminal tribunals. These include:

United Nations treaty bodies – that is, the committees responsible for monitoring state compliance with international human rights instruments, like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

United Nations Special Procedures – for example, the Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls.

Regional human rights mechanisms – for example, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the European Court of Human Rights.

International courts and hybrid tribunals – for example, the International Criminal Court, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and the hybrid tribunal for Liberia.

Truth commissions, inquiries, and other transitional justice mechanisms – for example, Australia’s Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Claims under universal jurisdiction – that is, criminal prosecutions under national law for atrocities committed in armed conflicts elsewhere, like in Afghanistan, Syria, or Israel/Palestine.

Please note that submissions to many of these bodies require the prior exhaustion of domestic remedies, though this condition may be waived in certain circumstances where local remedies are unavailable or ineffective.

Our Process

Consultation and Legal Roadmap

When you reach out to Arendt Chambers, you can expect a reply within 5 business days. If you are experiencing an urgent or ongoing rights violation requiring immediate attention, please clearly indicate this, and we will prioritise your response.

The first step of our process is a consultation with our Principal, Kate McInnes. The initial consultation is a flat rate of $350 CAD (plus tax). This fee includes a one-hour video consultation and a detailed written strategy outlining your legal options. You will receive an assessment of your case’s viability, along with clear, actionable guidance on preparing and filing submissions, including key jurisprudence to support your arguments. Whether or not we decide to work together, you will walk away with a roadmap you can act on.

We are committed to accessibility and may reduce or waive the consultation fee in exceptional circumstances. We are particularly open to doing so for those from low-income countries and persons with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Please note that we are required under the Law Society of British Columbia to verify your identity prior to the payment of any fees. If you are unable to provide government-issued ID, please contact us so we can craft an alternate arrangement that complies with our professional obligations.

Legal Representation

If we agree that Arendt Chambers will represent you following our consultation, we begin by conducting a thorough investigation to develop a tailored legal strategy. This process includes a detailed review of all available records, interviews with relevant parties or site visits where appropriate, and a careful assessment of the facts in light of the applicable legal framework.

We work closely with you to determine the most appropriate forum for your complaint — whether domestic, regional, or international — based on the nature of the case, the strength of the evidence, and the strategic likelihood of success before the relevant mechanism.

At Arendt Chambers, clients can expect:

A clear and transparent fee structure, based on significantly reduced, below-market legal fees, with no hidden costs.

Direct access to our Principal throughout your case. Given the sensitive and complex nature of our work, we do not delegate representation to junior associates or interns.

Exceptional legal representation grounded in a strong command of international human rights and international justice.

Strategic, high-impact advocacy aimed not only at securing justice for our clients, but also at contributing to the broader development of international accountability.

As a boutique practice, Arendt Chambers intentionally limits its caseload to maintain the highest standards of personalised service and focused attention. This approach allows us to dedicate the necessary time and resources to thoroughly investigate each matter, craft tailored legal strategies, and provide responsive, hands-on advocacy. By prioritising quality over quantity, we ensure that every client receives the level of commitment and expertise their case demands.

After filing your submissions, our work continues with careful monitoring of the progress and developments in your case. At Arendt Chambers, we maintain close communication with you, providing regular updates on any responses, requests for additional information, or procedural steps from the relevant bodies. We remain vigilant in advocating for your interests, preparing replies or supplementary submissions as needed to strengthen your position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your fees?

We serve two different clientele: individual rightsholders, and law firms and human rights organisations. We offer significantly reduced fees for all individual rightsholders, regardless of their personal circumstances.

Our fees can be paid as a block payment or on an hourly basis, depending on your preference and the matter at issue. In all cases, we require a retainer.

How do you keep my information confidential?

Your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information, including the lawyer-client relationship, is our top priority.

We are required under the Law Society of British Columbia to verify your identity. We will ask you to send a scan of the front and back of current, government-issued ID. This data is not saved by anyone but our Principal, using encrypted technology for your privacy and protection and saved to a cloud service based in Canada.

Why do you charge a consultation fee?

Arendt Chambers charges a consultation fee because the consultation is not just a brief conversation — it is a substantive legal service.

Unlike a brief, informal conversation, our consultation includes a thorough one-hour video call where we carefully listen to your situation, assess the legal issues involved, and begin to identify potential avenues for action. Following this, you receive a comprehensive strategy package tailored specifically to your case. This package outlines your legal options, offers our professional opinion on the viability of your claims, and provides clear, practical guidance on how to proceed — including how to prepare and file submissions and which legal precedents to rely on.

Charging a consultation fee allows us to dedicate the necessary time and expertise to provide you with valuable, actionable advice from the outset. It ensures that every client receives thoughtful attention and a strong foundation on which to build their case, whether or not they decide to engage us further.