Catherine Holmes
Catherine Holmes is currently a Legal Director in the FCDO leading on Defence & Security, Operations and Treaties. She has worked for the UK Government since 2004, principally as a public international lawyer.
Her previous roles have included legal and policy roles at the FCDO, with a particular focus on national security, sanctions, arms exports and international criminal justice. She headed up the International Team at the AGO during the Brexit negotiations, also leading on matters of international trade and national security. She was posted to the British Embassy Baghdad from 2008-2009 as the Head of Justice and Human Rights section. She acted as the lead lawyer to the UK delegation which negotiated the UN Arms Trade Treaty from 2010-2012.
Prior to joining the FCDO, she worked as a corporate lawyer in private practice and in Directorate General Trade in the European Commission. She holds degrees from the Universities of Edinburgh (LL.B Hons and Diploma in Legal Practice) and Kings College London (LL.M), where she is also a visiting Fellow in the Department of War Studies. She has been the National Security Community Social Mobility Champion since 2022. She sits as a part time Independent Member of the Parole Board for England and Wales.