Jennifer Robinson, Australian human rights lawyer and barrister with Doughty Street Chambers in London and adjunct lecturer in Law at the University of Sydney Law School, will Address the National Press Club of Australia on 'Julian Assange, free speech and democracy'.
Jen has been instructed in domestic and international cases involving media law, public law and international law. She advises media organisations, journalists, whistle-blowers and high-profile individuals on all aspects of media law and reputation management. She has also been instructed in human rights related judicial review cases and has given expert evidence in Parliament and at the United Nations.
Jen advises individual and state clients on a wide range of international law issues, has appeared before the International Court of Justice and regularly engages with UN Special Mechanisms. Many of her cases and clients are high-profile and involve novel cross-jurisdictional and comparative law issues.
Jen can be instructed directly in suitable cases under the Bar’s Direct Access scheme and previously practised as a solicitor.
Media, Privacy and Information Law
Jen’s practice encompasses the full range of information and publication law issues, including privacy, defamation, harassment, reporting restrictions, freedom of information, data protection and contempt of court.
She also advises and represents media clients internationally, such as BBC Persian (subjected to asset freeze by Iran because of the journalistic work) and the editor of GeoTV in Pakistan (imprisoned on false charges).
Her international advisory work includes engaging with the UN, in particular on issues associated journalist safety, unlawful detention and targeting. She recently advised the UN Special Rapporteur in relation to the investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and is currently advising the International Federation of Journalists, Julian Assange and WikiLeaks in relation to US extradition proceedings, and the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia in relation to the investigation of her assassination in Malta.
International Law
Jen advises individuals, states and non-governmental organisations on all aspects of international law and United Nations engagement and advocacy. She has appeared before the International Court of Justice, conducted advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council and regularly engages with the UN Special Mechanisms. She has also acted in cases before regional courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Justice, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
She has also provided expert advice to support UN Human Rights Council mandate holders, most recently for Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, on international law and diplomatic immunity for her investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Jen continues to advise the United Liberation Movement for West Papua on international law issues, including on their claim for self-determination and international human rights claims.
Public Law
Jen has acted in judicial review proceedings before the Court of Appeal and High Court, including challenges to government policies related to climate change, fracking and the treatment of refugees.
Protest Law
Jen advises social movements, NGOs and activists on protest rights. She acted in the seminal domestic case challenging anti-protest injunctions and acts in international cases engaging UN Special Mechanisms.
