Jonathan is recognised as a leading junior, with a practice spanning all areas of public, commercial and international law. He is regularly instructed in high-profile and significant cases, often at the intersection of private, public and international areas of law. Jonathan has a particular focus on disputes with an international dimension. He has been nominated for ‘International Law Junior of the year’ previously at the Legal 500 Bar Awards.

Jonathan’s clients are wide-ranging and include States (seven different States in the last eight years), UK Government departments (e.g. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Business and Trade, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster), businesses and multinational corporations, high-net worth individuals, NGOs, civil society groups and international organizations (multinational development banks and specialised agencies of international organizations). Jonathan appears as sole counsel and as part of a team before domestic and international courts and tribunals.

Jonathan has experience acting in cases before a variety of courts and tribunals, including: all levels of the English courts (High Court; Court of Appeal; Supreme Court); the courts of British Overseas Territories; specialist domestic tribunals (Special Immigration Appeals Commission, Investigatory Powers Tribunal); international arbitration tribunals; the International Court of Justice; the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; the European Court of Human Rights; the International Criminal Court; internationalised tribunals such as the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. He also has experience working on cases before UN Special Procedures (UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; UN Special Rapporteurs; UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances) and the UN Human Rights Council (e.g. during Universal Periodic Reviews). He appears in a range of public, commercial and international law cases, including commercial judicial reviews, jurisdiction challenges and inter-State disputes.

Recent examples of Jonathan’s practice include:

  • R (C3) v State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Syria consular assistance and repatriation; applicability of Article 6 ECHR to consular decisions; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs);
  • R (Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade (exports in the Gaza conflict, the Lawyer Top 20 Cases 2025; acting for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade);
  • R (FTDIHL Holdings Limited) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (divestment under the National Security and Investment Act 2021);
  • Ferguson and others v United Kingdom (same sex marriage rights in Bermuda; acting for the UK before the European Court of Human Rights);
  • Viegas and others v Cutrale and Fundao Group Litigation (competition group action; anti-suit injunctions in the context of group litigation);
  • Chagos Archipelago (acting for the UK and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in litigation and negotiations concerning the Chagos Archipelago, from 2015-present);
  • Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (acting for the Government of Sudan in respect of its dispute with the Government of Ethiopia relating to the GERD dam).

Jonathan commenced practice at the Bar in 2015. Prior to this, he worked as a consultant in international law and in the arbitration team at WilmerHale, London. He was also a Visiting Lecturer at King’s College London. In 2024, Jonathan was appointed as Constitutional Counsel to the Overseas Territories Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to advise the Secretary of State on disallowance procedures in the British Overseas Territories. He is on the Attorney General’s B panel of civil and public international law counsel. He is also a Senior Legal Adviser at the Public International Law & Policy Group in Washington DC.

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Expertise

TogglePublic & regulatory

Jonathan has a broad public and regulatory practice. He is particularly experienced acting in fact and document heavy, often expedited, judicial reviews, including commercial judicial reviews.

  1. R (C3) v State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 

    (Syria consular assistance and repatriation; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs);

  2. R (Alhoubi) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and others 

    (challenge to Government decisions in respect of assistance to student dependants departing Gaza);

  3. R (Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade 

    (exports in the Gaza conflict, the Lawyer Top 20 Cases 2025; acting for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade);

  4. R (FTDIHL Holdings Limited) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 

    (divestment under the National Security and Investment Act 2021);

  5. Ferguson and others v United Kingdom 

    (same sex marriage rights in Bermuda; acting for the UK before the European Court of Human Rights);

  6. KIB v Secretary of State for Home Department 

    (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Order; acting for the Secretary of State for the Home Department);

  7. QP1 and QP2 v Secretary of State for Home Department and Defence

    (the Government’s response to the Afghan data incident; acting for the Government);

  8. R (AS and MS) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

    (challenge to in respect of the Government’s extended eligibility criteria);

  9. Lorenzo v Spain

    (employment law and State immunity; declaration of incompatibility; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs);

  10. R (L1 FM Holdings and LetterOne Core Investments) v Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office

    (junior counsel for the defendant in a judicial review under the National Security and Investment Act 2021);

  11. Evtushenkova v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

    (Court review challenge to sanctions designations; acting for the Secretary of State);

  12. Slivnik and others v Martin Dinning and others

    (damages claim arising out of the collapse of the Anguillan banking system; Anguilla Crown Proceedings Act / ability to sue the Crown in Right of UK in Anguilla; Anguilla High Court and Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs).

Download Public CV

ToggleCivil Liberties & Human Rights

onathan has considerable expertise in civil liberties and human rights, particularly cases at the intersection of human rights and national security.

  1. R (C3) v State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 

    (Syria consular assistance and repatriation; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs);

  2. R (Alhoubi) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and others 

    (challenge to Government decisions in respect of assistance to student dependants departing Gaza);

  3. R (Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade 

    (exports in the Gaza conflict, the Lawyer Top 20 Cases 2025; acting for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade);

  4. R (FTDIHL Holdings Limited) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 

    (divestment under the National Security and Investment Act 2021);

  5. Ferguson and others v United Kingdom 

    (same sex marriage rights in Bermuda; acting for the UK before the European Court of Human Rights);

  6. KIB v Secretary of State for Home Department

    (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Order; acting for the Secretary of State for the Home Department);

  7. QP1 and QP2 v Secretary of State for Home Department and Defence 

    (the Government’s response to the Afghan data incident; acting for the Government);

  8. R (AS and MS) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 

    (challenge to in respect of the Government’s extended eligibility criteria);

  9. R (L1 FM Holdings and LetterOne Core Investments) v Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office 

    (junior counsel for the defendant in a judicial review under the National Security and Investment Act 2021);

  10. Evtushenkova v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 

    (Court review challenge to sanctions designations; acting for the Secretary of State).

Download Civil Liberties & Human Rights CV

ToggleInternational human rights & international criminal law

Jonathan regularly acts in international human rights and international criminal law cases. In international human rights, Jonathan is particularly experienced working for States in cases before UN treaty bodies and special procedures and in the UN Human Rights Council. In international criminal law, Jonathan has substantial experience in cases before the International Criminal Court and ad hoc tribunals. He has further significant experience acting for Governments during post-conflict transitions on issues of justice and accountability. Jonathan is ranked in Legal 500 for international human rights and international criminal law.

  1. Marsha Lazareva v Kuwait

    counsel to Marsha Lazareva in her human rights complaints against Kuwait. Marsha Lazareva is a Russian national and businesswoman who is detained in Kuwait on charges of embezzlement. Complaints submitted to the UN Working Group on Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Special Rapporteurs, UN Reprisals mechanisms and engagement with the UN through the Universal Periodic Review (led by Cherie Blair CBE KC);

  2. The Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN Human Rights Council

    legal adviser to the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN Human Rights Council. Attended 23rd, 24th and 27th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council as a member of Sierra Leone’s delegation;

  3. UN Special Procedures

    advising States and individuals in respect of numerous complaints before UN Special procedures, including the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances and UN Special Rapporteurs.

  4. Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda (International Criminal Court Appeals Chambers)

    counsel appearing on the meaning of “attacks” in Article 8(2)(e)(iv) of the Rome Statute;

  5. Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen (International Criminal Court Appeals Chambers)

    counsel appearing on whether the ICC’s procedural and statutory framework allows for the shifting the burden of proof to the defence in cases of mental incapacity;

  6. Decision Pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome statute on the Authorisation of an Investigation into the Situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar (International Criminal Court)

    investigation into crimes against the Rohingya cited more than 20 times in the Court’s decision and more than 50 times by the Prosecutor in her request to commence an investigation.

  7. Specialist Prosecutor v. Gucati and Haradinaj (Kosovo Specialist Chambers)

    co-counsel for Mr Haradinaj in one of the first cases before the KSC. Delivered opening speech for Mr Haradinaj; appeared as counsel before the court during Gucati defence and examined all Gucati defence witnesses; examined two Prosecution witnesses that were recalled.

  8.  The Ministry of Justice of the Government of A

    counsel to the Ministry of Justice of Government of A in an international investigation into alleged international crimes;

  9. The Ministry of Justice of Government B

    counsel to the Ministry of Justice of Government of B in respect of a series of extradition requests concerning international crimes;

  10. The Ministry of Justice of Government C

    advising the Ministry of Justice of Government C on the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms and cooperation with the International Criminal Court;

  11. The Ministry of Justice of Government D

    advising the Ministry of Justice of Government D on accession to the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court;

  12. Sudan’s peace process

    advising Sudan’s peace process on legal and process related issues including ceasefires, accountability mechanisms and resource sharing (2019 – 2020);

  13. Yemen’s peace process

    advising parties to Yemen’s peace process on transition issues, including state structure, constitutional drafting processes and UN engagement (2018 – 2020);

  14. Syria’s peace process

    advising members of the Syrian opposition during Geneva peace negotiations and the UN led Constitution drafting processes with the Government of Syria (2016 – 2020).

Download International human rights & international criminal law CV

TogglePublic International

Jonathan has a broad public international law practice with cases ranging from State immunity in the employment context to trade licences, inter-State negotiations and armed conflicts. Jonathan has particular expertise in cases concerning international law in the domestic courts and cases relating to foreign policy. He is ranked in Legal 500, Chambers Bar and Chambers Global for public international law.

  1. Chagos Request for an Advisory Opinion (International Court of Justice)

    counsel for the United Kingdom.

  2. Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda (International Criminal Court Appeals Chambers)

    counsel appearing on the meaning of “attacks” in Article 8(2)(e)(iv) of the Rome Statute;

  3. Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen (International Criminal Court Appeals Chambers)

    counsel appearing on whether the ICC’s procedural and statutory framework allows for the shifting the burden of proof to the defence in cases of mental incapacity;

  4. Decision Pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome statute on the Authorisation of an Investigation into the Situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar (International Criminal Court)

    investigation into crimes against the Rohingya cited more than 20 times in the Court’s decision and more than 50 times by the Prosecutor in her request to commence an investigation.

  5. Specialist Prosecutor v. Gucati and Haradinaj (Kosovo Specialist Chambers)

    co-counsel for Mr Haradinaj in one of the first cases before the KSC. Delivered opening speech for Mr Haradinaj; appeared as counsel before the court during Gucati defence and examined all Gucati defence witnesses; examined two Prosecution witnesses that were recalled.

  6. Lazareva v Kuwait, ICSID Case No. UNCT/19/1

    investment claim arising out of a series of measures by Kuwaiti authorities, including unsubstantiated charges against the claimant, her harassment and improper detention);

  7. Micula & Others v Romania (Commercial Court; Court of Appeal; Supreme Court)

    junior counsel for the First Claimant in enforcement proceedings arising out of the Award in ICSID Case No. ARB/05/20 (led by Sir Alan Dashwood KC and Patrick Green KC);

  8. A v State B (Commercial Court)

    acting for a claimant in relation to a $25m arbitration enforcement. Issues of State immunity and service (sole counsel).

  9. Advising a State in respect of a series of potential investment treaty disputes

    (details confidential).

  10. Ferguson and others v United Kingdom (ECtHR)

    acting for the United Kingdom in respect of alleged breaches of Articles 9 and 12, read alone or together with Article 14 arising out of the Bermuda Domestic Partnership Act 2018 (led by Jessica Wells, with Tom Cross and Jackie McArthur);

  11. An individual v a European State

    advising on the extra-territorial application of Article 5 ECHR (led by Cherie Blair CBE KC);

  12. Bytyqi v Republic of Serbia

    advising the family of three American-Kosovan Albanians killed by Serbian police in a proposed claim to the European Court of Human Rights for breach of the investigative duty under Article 2 ECHR.

  13. R (C3) v State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 

    (Syria consular assistance and repatriation; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs);

  14. R (Alhoubi) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and others 

    (challenge to Government policy in respect of providing diplomatic assistance to student dependants to depart Gaza);

  15. R (Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade (exports in the Gaza conflict, the Lawyer Top 20 Cases 2025);

  16. Evtushenkova v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Court review challenge to sanctions designations)

    acting for the Secretary of State (Led by David Blundell KC);

  17. Lorenzo v Spain 

    case concerning a declaration of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act in respect of s. 4(2)(a) State Immunity Act 1978. Acting for the Secretary of State.

  18. LXT v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

    claim in respect of alleged failures arising out of consular assistance. Acting for the Secretary of State.

  19. Bancoult (No 5) and Chagossian Committee Seychelles v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 

    counsel acting for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in judicial review proceedings arising out of United Kingdom policy regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory;

  20. Cyprus Colonial litigation

    junior counsel for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in claims relating to alleged historic abuse arising out of the Cyprus Emergency in the 1950s.

  21. EU Withdrawal 

    advising and acting for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other United Kingdom government departments (including MOJ and DEFRA) on legal issues arising out of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (2017 to 2021);

  22. Treaty law 

    acting for and advising various United Kingdom government departments on treaty issues relating to approximately 50+ treaties. Issues advised on have included questions relating to form and substance, termination, suspension, revival, reservations and declaration, entry into force, State succession, territorial application and dispute resolution;

  23. Maritime boundary delimitations 

    acting for a government in two maritime boundary delimitations;

  24. Constitutional negotiations

    advising and acting for the United Kingdom in constitutional negotiations between the Government of St Helena and the United Kingdom;

  25. IHL 

    advising a State on inter-State international humanitarian law obligations;

  26. International Air Services Agreement 

    legal counsel/legal advisor to a State during negotiations for an air services agreement;

  27. Law of the sea

    advising and acting for the United Kingdom in respect of a range of law of the sea issues (details confidential);

  28. Environmental treaty ratification 

    advising a group of States on ratifying a protocol to a multilateral environmental treaty;

  29. Immunities

    advising an international organization on immunity issues arising out of its operations (sole counsel);

  30. Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administration Assistance Agreements

    advising HMRC on questions relating to customs related issues and CCMAAs with third countries (sole counsel);

  31. A Permanent Mission of a State to the WTO

    adviser to the Permanent Mission of a State to the World Trade Organization and other economic institutions;

  32. The Ministry of Justice of the Government of A

    counsel to the Ministry of Justice of Government of A in an international investigation into alleged international crimes;

  33. The Ministry of Justice of Government B

    counsel to the Ministry of Justice of Government of B in respect of a series of extradition requests concerning international crimes;

  34. The Ministry of Justice of Government C

    advising the Ministry of Justice of Government C on the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms and cooperation with the International Criminal Court;

  35. The Ministry of Justice of Government D 

    advising the Ministry of Justice of Government D on accession to the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court;

  36. Sudan’s peace process

    advising Sudan’s peace process on legal and process related issues including ceasefires, accountability mechanisms and resource sharing (2019 – 2020);

  37. Yemen’s peace process

    advising parties to Yemen’s peace process on transition issues, including state structure, constitutional drafting processes and UN engagement (2018 – 2020);

  38. Syria’s peace process

    advising members of the Syrian opposition during Geneva peace negotiations and the UN led Constitution drafting processes with the Government of Syria (2016 – 2020).

  39. UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st Century? (2021)

    contributing to evidence for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

  40. UN Human Rights Council

    adviser to the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN Human Rights Council. Attended the 23rd, 24th and 27th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council as a member of Sierra Leone’s delegation;

  41. Marsha Lazareva v Kuwait (human rights complaints)

    counsel to Marsha Lazareva in her human rights complaints against Kuwait. Marsha Lazareva is a Russian national and businesswoman who is detained in Kuwait on charges of embezzlement. Complaints submitted to the UN Working Group on Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Special Rapporteurs, UN Reprisals mechanisms and engagement with the UN through the Universal Periodic Review (led by Cherie Blair CBE, KC);

  42. Universal Periodic Review

    strategic and legal advice to a State in respect of various aspects of its Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review;

  43. UN Special Procedures

    advising States and individuals in respect of numerous complaints before UN Special procedures.

Download Public International CV

ToggleGroup Actions & Transnational Torts

Jonathan regularly acts in group actions and transnational torts cases. He has particular expertise in cases involving jurisdiction challenges, foreign law and parent company liability in respect of transnational torts / torts committed abroad (both environmental claims and human rights claims). In recent years, Jonathan has acted in cases involving aspects of Anguillan, Bermudian, Cypriot, Caymanian, German, Greek, Falkland Islands, French, Hungarian, Iraqi, Korean, Kuwaiti, Libyan, Mauritian and Spanish law. He has acted in jurisdiction challenges concerning cases with facts arising in, among others, Anguilla, Korea (Republic of), Spain and South America. Jonathan also has considerable experience in civil damages claims against the State, as well as claims relating to the environment and climate change.

  1. Viegas and others v Cutrale and others(Commercial Court)

    junior counsel for the claimants in a case alleging breaches of competition law following an orange juice cartel in Brazil (led by James Flynn KC, with David Went and Juliet Wells).

  2. Municipio de Mariana v BHP (the Fundo Group Litigation)(Commercial Court)

    junior counsel for the Municipality claimants in their application for an antisuit injunction to prevent BHP and others funding a claim in Brazil’s Supreme Court relating to issues before the English Court in the Fundao Group Litigation;

  3. Transnational foreign torts

    acting for parties in two separate cases concerning alleged transnational environment torts (questions of jurisdiction; foreign law and parent company liability).

  4. Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975:(High Court of Justice, KBD) 

    acting for a respondent healthcare provider in resisting an application for disclosure under the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975, for use in US class action proceedings;

  5. Volkswagen NOx Emissions Group Litigation

    junior counsel to Volkswagen;

  6. Cyprus Colonial litigation

    junior counsel for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in claims relating to alleged historic abuse arising out of the Cyprus Emergency;

  7. Elbuzidi and Alharati v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and others

    (allegations concerning unlawful detention abroad; acting for the Government);

  8. Slivnik and others v Martin Dinning and others

    (damages claim arising out of the collapse of the Anguillan banking system; Anguilla Crown Proceedings Act / ability to sue the Crown in Right of UK in Anguilla; Anguilla High Court and Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs).

  9. LXT v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

    claim in respect of alleged failures arising out of consular assistance. Acting for the Secretary of State.

  10. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

    acting for the Government of Sudan in respect of its dispute with the Government of Ethiopia relating to the GERD dam.

Download Group Actions & Transnational Torts CV

ToggleCommercial Litigation

Jonathan has a wide-ranging commercial practice with an emphasis on cases at the intersection of public, commercial and international law. He has particular expertise in private international law (jurisdiction challenges / service out of the jurisdiction and foreign law). Jonathan additionally has experience in cases concerning anti-suit injunctions and injunctive relief.

  1. R (FTDIHL Holdings Limited) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

    junior counsel for the defendant in a judicial review under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (led by Sir James Eadie KC, David Blundell KC, Richard O’Brien KC and with Karl Laird);

  2. Viegas and others v Cutrale and others (Commercial Court)

    junior counsel for the claimants in a case alleging breaches of competition law following an orange juice cartel in Brazil (led by James Flynn KC, with David Went and Juliet Wells);

  3. Municipio de Mariana v BHP (the Fundo Group Litigation) (Commercial Court)

    junior counsel for the Municipality claimants in their application for an antisuit injunction to prevent BHP and others funding a claim in Brazil’s Supreme Court relating to issues before the English Court in the Fundao Group Litigation;

  4. R (L1T FM Holdings and LetterOne Core Investments) v Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office 

    junior counsel for the defendant in a judicial review under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (led by Rory Philips KC and Georgina Woolf, with Karl Laird and Emmanuel Sheppard);

  5. Silvnik and others v Martin Dinning and others (High Court of Anguilla) 

    junior counsel for the 8th Defendant (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) in respect of a claim for alleged losses arising out of the Anguillan banking crisis. Case raised allegations of civil fraud, procuring breach of contract, breaches of statutory duty and breaches of the Anguilla Constitution and / or European Convention on Human Rights; and the Anguilla Crown Proceedings Act (led by Daniel Saoul KC, with Camilla Cockerill);

  6. Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975: (High Court of Justice, KBD) 

    acting for a respondent healthcare provider in resisting an application for disclosure under the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975, for use in US class action proceedings;

  7. Transnational foreign torts 

    acting for a party in a case concerning alleged transnational environment torts and parent company liability (questions of jurisdiction and foreign law);

  8. Palram v LG Chem Limited (Commercial Court)

    junior counsel for a defendant in an application to set aside service of the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim out of the jurisdiction in respect of a fire arising from the supply of allegedly defective chemicals (common law rules, parallel proceedings, complex questions as to the applicable law)(led by Toby Riley-Smith KC);

  9. Jani v Garrido (High Court of Justice, KBD)

    sole counsel for the defendant in an application to set aside service of the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim out of the jurisdiction in respect of a case concerning Spanish inheritance;

  10. Volkswagen NOx Emissions Group Litigation 

    junior counsel to Volkswagen.

  11. Dana UK Axle Ltd v Freudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co (Commercial Court)

    junior counsel for the claimant in a claim for £7m+ in respect of a defective product relating to the automotive industry;

  12. CIG v Comin (Commercial Circuit Court)

    acting for the Defendant in relation to an alleged unlawful means conspiracy case in the reinsurance sector.

  13. Lord Westbury and Others v Buka (Commercial Circuit Court)

    junior counsel for the claimants in a shareholder dispute regarding a luxury hotel in Madagascar;

Download Commercial Litigation CV

ToggleSanctions & economic security

Jonathan has considerable expertise in sanctions. He has acted for the Government in respect of sanctions designations under a variety of Regulations and for the Secretary of State in Evtushenkova v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Court review challenge to sanctions designations). He presently acts for the Secretary of State in Paramount Energy and Commodities SA and Paramount Energy and Commodities DMCC v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Court review challenge to sanctions designations), and regularly acts for the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation in sanctions enforcement and compliance cases. Jonathan also acts for banks, corporations and private parties on sanctions compliance issues including in respect of corporate transactions and bond issuance.

As to economic security, Jonathan has acted for the Government in two of leading cases relating to the National Security and Investment Act 2021. He is familiar with cases at the intersection of commercial and public law and acting in fact heavy and often expedited judicial reviews.

  1. R (L1 FM Holdings and LetterOne Core Investments) v Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office

  2. R (FTDIHL Holdings Limited) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Download Sanctions & Economic Security CV

ToggleEU, public procurement & subsidy control

Jonathan has extensive EU law experience, including cases relating to the Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland Protocol and retained EU law. Between 2016 and 2019, he acted for the UK in relation to negotiations regarding the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. He has also acted in EU related arbitration enforcement proceedings (Micula v Romania). Jonathan is ranked in Legal 500 for EU relations.

Jonathan practices in public procurement and subsidy control. He is particularly well placed to act in cases raising issues of national security arising in the procurement context.

Download EU & Public Procurement CV

ToggleRecent cases

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  1. R (Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade

    (exports in the Gaza conflict, the Lawyer Top 20 Cases 2025; acting for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade);

  2. R (FTDIHL Holdings Limited) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

    (divestment under the National Security and Investment Act 2021);

  3. R (C3) v State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 

    (Syria consular assistance and repatriation; acting for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs);

  4. Ferguson and others v United Kingdom

    (same sex marriage rights in Bermuda; acting for the UK before the European Court of Human Rights);

  5. Viegas and others v Cutrale and Fundao Group Litigation

    (competition group action under Brazilian law; anti-suit injunctions in the context of group litigation);

  6. QP1 and QP2 v Secretary of State for Home Department and Defence

    (Government’s response to the Afghan data incident)

  7. Chagos Archipelago

    (acting for the UK and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in litigation before domestic and international courts and negotiations concerning the Chagos Archipelago).

Download Recent cases CV

Achievements

ToggleAppointments

Attorney General B Panel of Counsel

Attorney General C Panel of Public International Law Counsel

Constitutional Counsel to the Overseas Territories Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Senior Legal Adviser, Public International Law & Policy Group.

ToggleEducation

  • Bachelor of Civil Law, University of Oxford (2011).
  • Bachelor of Laws, King’s College London (First Class Honours) (2009) (Russian Law prize).

TogglePublications

Book Chapters

  • The Interpretation and Application of Peace Agreements, International Law and Peace Settlements (Cambridge University Press) (forthcoming).
  • Elections and Electoral Law, Handbook on Post-Conflict State Building (Edward Elgar Publishing) (forthcoming).

Law Journal

  •  Decision Pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute on the Authorisation of an Investigation into the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (29(2) ILM, 280 – 301 (2020)).
  • Reflections on a Potential Peace Treaty for the Korean Peninsula YJIL Forum (August 2018) (co-authored).
  • Belhaj v. Straw (Eng. Wales Ct. App.) (54(6) ILM, 1069 – 1114 (2015)).
  • Report on the Protection of Civilians in the Non-International Armed Conflict in Iraq: UNHRC Res S-22/1; UNSCRs 2170 and 2178 (54(2) ILM 306 – 346 (2015)).
  • Book Review: Customary International Law in Times of Fundamental Change (25 (2) KLJ (2014)).
  • Preventing Mass Atrocity Crimes: The Responsibility to Protect and the Syria Crisis, 45 (1 and 2) CWRJIL (2012) (co- authored)).

Policy Articles and Op-Eds

  •  The Legal Case for Using Force to Prevent a Government from Employing Chemical Weapons to Commit Mass Atrocities, The Atlantic Council, Sept. 2012 (co-authored).
  • Chemical Red Lines on Syria, Foreign Policy, Dec. 2012 (co-authored).
  • Preventing Atrocity Crimes, The Atlantic Council, Sept. 2012 (co-authored).

Insights&News

  1. News

    11KBW shortlisted for 14 Awards at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2026

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  2. News

    Appointments to the Attorney General’s Public International Law Panel

    View News

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    Thoroughly modern lawyer

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    Highly sought after practitioner

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