Clifford Chance
Joanne specialises in Public International Law, Business and Human Rights and other aspects of ESG law. Her areas of expertise include the intersection of climate change and human rights law, immunities, cyber, sanctions and international organisations.
Joanne represents governments, international organisations, multinational corporations and financial institutions across a range of sectors. She has represented clients before domestic and international courts, including the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights and the UK Supreme Court.
As a former legal adviser at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Joanne has extensive experience advising governments on intersecting issues of law, policy and crisis management. She was the first Deputy Director for Legal Affairs (International and Cyber) at Government Communications Headquarters, advising on cyber and national security.
As a former senior diplomat at the UK Mission to the United Nations, Joanne led the Human Rights, Peacekeeping and Conflict Prevention team. She currently advises corporate clients in complex matters arising in high-risk areas and conflict zones.
Joanne also has extensive experience negotiating legal instruments and representing the UK in multilateral fora, including the UN, Council of Europe and EU institutions.
- Representing governments before the International Court of Justice in advisory proceedings concerning States’ obligations in respect of climate change and, separately, the question of the legality of Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence.
- Acting for an international energy company in relation to major climate change litigation.
- Representing a government in challenges before the CJEU in relation to listings under the EU’s terrorist sanctions regimes and related JR proceedings before the UK Supreme Court.
- Advising a client on the applicability of PIL obligations relating to climate and the environment in its investment activities.
- Advising a client on the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
- Advising a sovereign wealth fund on the scope and effect of immunities in contractual provisions.
- Advising companies on international law, business and human rights risks in the conduct of their activities in conflicted-affected areas.
- Representing a government at the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Information Security (cyber).
- Negotiating legal instruments at the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council on issues including business and human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and the right to water and sanitation.
- Advising on a pro bono project relating to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment on children’s rights and the environment, with a special focus on climate change.
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, London
- +442070063923
- Email me
- Practice area Litigation, dispute resolution & risk management
Career and qualifications
- University of Oxford (BA Law with French Law, First Class hons) 2002
- London School of Economics (LLM in Public International Law, Distinction) 2008, awarded Lauterpacht/Higgins Prize for Best Performance in PIL
- Media barrister, One Brick Court Chambers 2003-2006 (including pupillage)
- Media lawyer, British Broadcasting Corporation 2007-2008
- European Commission 2008, DG External Relations (Human Rights and Democratisation)
- Senior lawyer and diplomat Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 2009-2016
- Research Fellow, Harvard Law School and London School of Economics 2016-2017
- Senior Legal Adviser, Government Communications Headquarters 2018-2019
- Deputy Director of Legal Affairs (International and Cyber), Government Communications Headquarters 2019-2022
- Joined Clifford Chance 2022
- Called to the bar of England and Wales 2003 (Lord Denning, Hardwicke and Levitt scholar, Lincoln’s Inn)
- Admitted as a barrister in England and Wales 2004
Professional bodies
- Guest lecturer/speaker at the United Nations, Harvard University, Oxford University, Chatham House
- Member of the Team of Experts, UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative
- Member of FCDO Advisory Board to develop a Platform of Action for Children Born of Sexual Violence in Conflict
- Member of Women’s Network on R2P, Peace and Security, European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
- Member of UN Gender Equality Network and UN Global Order Programme, University of Reading
- Research Fellow, Harvard University and London School of Economics, 2018
- Teaching Fellow In Public International Law, SOAS, 2009-2011