Cherie Booth QC

is a leading barrister specializing in public law, human rights, media and information law, employment law and European Community law. She has appeared in a number of leading cases at home and abroad. She is also a noted speaker on human rights and a staunch supporter of women’s rights.

Cherie studied law at the London School of Economics (LSE) and graduated with a First Class Degree in 1976. While studying for her Bar exams she also taught Law at the University of Westminster. Later Cherie came top of her year in her Bar examinations and was called to the Bar in 1976. Initially she was a general common law junior with a broad practice, including personal injury, crime and family. Cherie moved to 4-5 Grays Inn Square in 1991, and became a Queen's Counsel in 1995.

In 2000 Cherie and 21 other prominent Barristers set up a ground breaking legal practice, Matrix Chambers. They were looking to achieve a different working model from the traditional English Chambers and to break down the barriers between providers of legal services. With a focus on human rights and public law and an expanding scope into criminal, commercial and EU law, Matrix has quickly built an impressive reputation.

In employment and discrimination work, Cherie acts for applicants and respondents in both individual and collective disputes. In public law she has a strong practice advising local authorities and other public bodies, as well as acting for individuals and commercial organisations who wish to challenge decision of these bodies in the Courts. She also lectures widely on human rights. She has appeared in the European Court of Justice and in Commonwealth jurisdictions, and sits as an international arbitrator.

Cherie is a Recorder (a permanent part-time judge) in the County Court and Crown Court, a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn and an Honorary Bencher of King’s Inn, Dublin. She is an accredited mediator under the ADR Chambers / Harvard Law Project scheme. Cherie is a members of Clerksroom's Elite Mediator Panel.

She is Chancellor and Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University, Governor and Honorary Fellow of the LSE and the Open University (D.Univ.Open 1999), LLD (Hons), University of Liverpool (2003) Hon.D.Lit UMIST (2003), Doctor of Laws honoris causa of Roehampton University. Cherie is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, a Doctor of Laws (Westminster University) and a Fellow of the International Society of Lawyers for Public Service. Cherie is an ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Arbitrator

Cherie has extensive charitable and public involvements including: President of Barnardo’s; a Trustee of Refuge; a Trustee of Citizenship Foundation; Vice-President of Family Mediators Association. She is also Patron of among other charities: Breast Cancer Care; Sargent Cancer Care for Children; Victim Support London; SCOPE [Patron for Education]; Mary Ward Legal Centre, and Islington Chinese Association (since November 2008).

Cherie is married to the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and has 4 children, Euan, Nicholas, Kathryn, and Leo.