Amal Clooney
Born 1978 · Age 47
British-Lebanese international human rights lawyer, barrister, academic and co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, known for representing high-profile journalists, political figures and victims of mass atrocities.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Beirut, Lebanon
Amal Ramzi Alamuddin was born in Beirut to a Lebanese Druze father and a Sunni Muslim mother.
Family moves to the United Kingdom
At age two the family fled the Lebanese Civil War and settled in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Matriculated at St Hugh's College, Oxford
Began undergraduate studies in Jurisprudence at St Hugh's College, Oxford (earned an exhibition grant).
Awarded exhibition grant and Shrigley Award at Oxford
Received academic recognition (exhibition grant and the Shrigley Award) while studying at Oxford.
Graduated BA in Jurisprudence from Oxford
Completed undergraduate degree in law at St Hugh's College, Oxford (BA Jurisprudence).
Enrolled at NYU School of Law (LLM)
Commenced LL.M. studies at New York University School of Law (received Jack J. Katz Memorial Award).
Externship in Sonia Sotomayor's chambers
Worked one semester in the office of Judge Sonia Sotomayor (then Court of Appeals judge) while at NYU Law.
Admitted to the New York Bar
Qualified to practise law in the State of New York (admitted to the bar).
Joined Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (New York)
Became a litigation associate in the Criminal Defense & Investigations Group; worked on high-profile corporate matters including Enron/Arthur Andersen-related matters.
Judicial clerkship at the International Court of Justice
Completed a clerkship at the ICJ, serving under Judges including Vladlen S. Vereshchetin and Nabil Elaraby.
Worked at the ICTY as Judicial Assistant
Became a judicial assistant to Judge Patrick Robinson at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Refocused career to international law (UN work)
Transitioned from US corporate defence work toward international criminal and public international law, including work related to Lebanon/Hariri investigations.
Prosecutor at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Worked as a prosecutor on the tribunal established to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the assassination of Rafic Hariri and others.
Called to the Bar of England & Wales (Inner Temple)
Admitted to practice as a barrister in England & Wales and began practising at Doughty Street Chambers.
Joined Doughty Street Chambers
Began practising at prominent human-rights-focused chambers in London.
Appointed Senior Adviser to Kofi Annan on Syria
Served as an adviser to the UN and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria (Kofi Annan) during the Syrian crisis.
Counsel to UN Drone Inquiry
Appointed counsel to the 2013 UN inquiry into the use of armed drones in counter-terrorism operations (led by Ben Emmerson KC).
First met George Clooney
Reportedly first met actor George Clooney through a mutual friend in July 2013.
Represented Yulia Tymoshenko (high-profile client listing)
Cited as representing former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko; active in high-profile political prisoner cases.
Represented Mohamed Fahmy (Al Jazeera journalist) — release secured
Acted for Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy following unfair trial in Egypt; Fahmy was released in 2015.
Joined Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative
Invited to join taskforce by then-Foreign Secretary William Hague; worked to combat sexual violence used as a weapon of war.
Appointed to UK Attorney General's Public International Law Panel
Joined Panel C (2014–2019), a roster of experts advising the UK on domestic and international public international law matters.
Listed as representing Julian Assange (WikiLeaks)
Named among high-profile clients as having represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (timing noted in press around mid-2010s).
Co-edited book: Special Tribunal for Lebanon: Law and Practice
Co-editor (with D. Tolbert and N. Jurdi) of an Oxford University Press volume on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (published 2014).
Engaged to George Clooney
Engagement announced publicly on 28 April 2014.
Marriage licences obtained
Amal and George Clooney obtained marriage licences in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on 7 August 2014.
Married George Clooney in Venice
Married at Ca' Farsetti in Venice; ceremony officiated by friend Walter Veltroni.
Purchased Mill House, Sonning Eye
The Clooneys bought the Mill House on an island on the River Thames for around £10 million.
Joined legal team representing Armenia (ECHR appeal)
Became part of a team representing Armenia in an appeal before the European Court of Human Rights (Perinçek case).
Represented former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi (case involvement)
Participated in proceedings and litigation on venue and fairness issues in the Senussi/Gaddafi cases (international criminal law work).
Became visiting faculty at Columbia Law School
Joined Columbia Law School as visiting faculty / adjunct and co-taught the Human Rights course.
Represented Mohamed Nasheed (Maldives)
Represented former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, arguing his imprisonment was politically motivated; Nasheed later granted asylum in UK (2016).
Launched Amal Clooney Scholarship (Aurora Humanitarian Initiative)
Partnered with Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to establish a scholarship to send one female student from Lebanon to United World College Dilijan each year.
Represented Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbaijani journalist)
Represented Ismayilova in politically-motivated charges; her release and favourable European Court outcomes followed (case context cited 2016).
Co-founded Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ)
Co-founded CFJ with husband George Clooney to provide free legal aid defending free speech and women's rights; initiatives: TrialWatch and Waging Justice for Women.
Named World Economic Forum Young Global Leader
Honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.
Donated $1 million to Southern Poverty Law Center (with George Clooney)
Awarded a $1,000,000 grant to the Southern Poverty Law Center to combat hate groups in the U.S.
Gave birth to fraternal twins Ella and Alexander
Twins were born in June 2017 (reported date: 6 June 2017).
Joined Reuters journalists' legal team (Wa Lone & Kyaw Soe Oo)
Joined international legal team representing Reuters journalists detained in Myanmar (case involved imprisonment for reporting on Rohingya killings).
Appointed UK Special Envoy on Media Freedom
Served as the UK Foreign Office's Special Envoy on Media Freedom (2019–2020); spoke at the Global Conference for Media Freedom criticising vilification of press.
Appointed Deputy Chair, High Level Panel on Media Freedom
Named Deputy Chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom by Lord Neuberger (term 2019–2021).
Reuters journalists released after legal campaign
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were released in May 2019 after being imprisoned for over 500 days; Clooney had joined their legal team in 2018.
Became co-lead counsel for Maria Ressa
In July 2019 Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher led the international legal team representing Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa (Rappler).
Received Gwen Ifill Award (Committee to Protect Journalists)
Awarded for extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom.
Donated $1 million to COVID-19 relief
The Clooneys donated $1,000,000 toward coronavirus relief efforts, including support for the NHS and Lebanese Food Bank.
Recipient: Simon Wiesenthal Center Humanitarian Award
Honoured for humanitarian work.
Moved to Panel B of UK Attorney General's Public International Law Panel
Reassigned/appointed to Panel B (from 2020) within the Attorney General's panel of public international law experts.
Donated $100,000 to Lebanese charities after Beirut explosion
Amal and George Clooney donated $100,000 to three Lebanese charities providing aid after the August 2020 Beirut explosion.
NYU Law Alumni Achievement Award
Accepted NYU Law's Alumni Achievement Award at her 20-year reunion (recognition of career and contributions).
Represented victims in first known conviction of an ISIS member for genocide (Germany)
Was co-plaintiff's and victims' counsel in the conviction of Taha al-Jumailly for genocide and crimes against humanity (sentenced to life in Nov 2021).
Co-authored 'The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law' (publication year cited 2020)
Published with Philippa Webb (Oxford University Press); book later awarded ASIL Certificate of Merit.
Clooney Foundation partners with Obama Foundation and Melinda French Gates
Partnership to advance gender equality and reduce child marriage; part of 'Get Her There' / Girls Opportunity collaborations.
Clooney Foundation TrialWatch & Waging Justice impact milestone
CFJ reported activity: free legal aid in over 40 countries, dozens of journalists freed and thousands of women supported through legal services.
Named Time Magazine Woman of the Year
Recognized by Time in 2022 as one of the Women of the Year for impact on justice and human rights.
Delivered remarks at UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Ukraine
Spoke on ensuring accountability for atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine.
Named among BBC 100 Women (inspiring & influential)
Included in BBC's 100 Women list highlighting influential figures worldwide.
Filed civil suit on behalf of Yazidi-American plaintiffs vs. Lafarge (US)
December 2023: filed a civil case representing over 800 Yazidi-American plaintiffs alleging Lafarge conspired to provide material support to ISIS; Nadia Murad is lead plaintiff.
Awarded Doctor Honoris Causa (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Honoured with an honorary doctorate in recognition of contributions to human rights and international law.
Op-ed: NYT 'Why We’re Helping Yazidi Americans Get Justice'
Co-authored op-ed describing the Lafarge filing and the pursuit of accountability for Yazidi victims.
Appointed Special Adviser to the ICC Prosecutor (Karim Khan KC)
Named as a Special Adviser to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor (appointment referenced in profiles and press material).
Awarded Legal 500 'Lawyer of the Year'
Recognised by Legal 500 in 2024 for outstanding work in international law.
Co-edited 'Freedom of Speech in International Law' (Oxford Univ. Press)
Co-edited volume with David Neuberger on freedom of speech in international law (publication noted 2024).
Served on advisory panel reviewing ICC prosecutor's Gaza/Israel investigation
Panel convened January 2024; in May 2024 the panel recommended applying for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders and published an FT op-ed on 20 May 2024.
Op-ed in Financial Times on ICC prosecutions in Israel and Gaza
Co-authored an op-ed with five other legal experts in support of ICC prosecutions (published 20 May 2024).
Appointed Visiting Professor of Practice at Blavatnik School, Oxford
Named Visiting Professor of Practice at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford (announcement 6 February 2025).
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