Jackie McArthur
Jackie has a diverse practice spanning commercial, public and international law. Her commercial practice includes both litigation and arbitration, and encompasses especially conflict of laws, high-value commercial and contract disputes, shareholder litigation, and general commercial disputes. Jackie also practices in public law, acting for and advising both private and government clients in judicial review claims, international law, and human rights. She is a member of both the Attorney-General’s London C Panel, and the Attorney General’s Public International Law C Panel. Jackie has acted, as sole and junior counsel, in the Court of Appeal, the Commercial Court, the Chancery Division, the Administrative Court and the County Court.
Jackie has a particular specialisation in international disputes and advising – encompassing especially investor-state arbitration, public international law, and the conflict of laws. She is described by Legal 500’s public international law rankings for 2022 as “hard working, very clear, very smart and very thorough, as well as being a pleasure to work with.” Jackie has acted in numerous investor-State arbitrations, under the ICSID Convention, and the ICC, SCC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules. She has also acted in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and specialised United Nations agencies. She has advised numerous governments as well as private clients on international law matters spanning sanctions, the law of the sea, the law of armed conflict, international human rights law, state immunity, treaty interpretation and international administrative law. She was the co-author of a high profile opinion on issues of international criminal liability and state responsibility for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur population. Jackie also acted for two years as an Assistant Legal Adviser to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, advising on trade law, and on aspects of treaty law and implementation. In this capacity, Jackie has developed a particular expertise in the developing legal implications of Brexit.
After graduating first in her year at the University of Western Australia, Jackie was elected as a Rhodes Scholar. She completed the BCL and an MPhil in Law, both with distinction, at the University of Oxford. She has lectured, and been a course co-ordinator, in transnational litigation and conflict of laws at King’s College London. Before coming to the bar, Jackie qualified as a lawyer in Australia, and worked in the Western Australian government legal service. Before completing pupillage at Essex Court Chambers, she was Associate to the Hon. Justice Kiefel, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.