"She is a marvel, superlative on all counts – she has a great grasp of details and is destined for the top."
Jo has a broad practice that covers the full range of commercial litigation and arbitration undertaken in Chambers. Jo is instructed led and unled in cases before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court, and in LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL arbitrations. She is ranked as a leading junior in Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud and Energy.
Jo is particularly experienced in group litigation. Recent instructions include Bates and Ors v Post Office Ltd, a GLO claim by approximately 500 sub-post masters against Post Office Ltd (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” of 2018); acting on behalf of the defendant Ingenious Media in group litigation concerning the sale and promotion of its film finance investment scheme (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” of 2018 and 2022); and Phillip Evans v Barclays Bank plc and others, a claim against six banks for follow-on damages in relation to cartels in the FX (foreign exchange) market (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” of 2020).
Other recent cases include Federal Republic of Nigeria v P&ID, acting for Nigeria in applying to set aside a London arbitration award worth US$10 billion on grounds of fraud; and various insurance matters arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jo has advised and acted in a range of insurance and reinsurance disputes, including most recently an ad hoc arbitration regarding ATE insurance (with Stephen Midwinter QC); a $20 million LCIA arbitration concerning credit insurance (with Tom Adam QC); and various disputes arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment
2013 - present Tenant, Brick Court Chambers
2012 - 2013 Pupil, Brick Court Chambers
2011 - 2012 Teaching Fellow in Law, University College London
2011 - 2012 Visiting Tutor in Contract Law, King's College London
2010 Summer Associate, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York
2009 - 2010 Supervisor in Law, University of Cambridge
Professional Memberships
COMBAR
Education
2011 - 2012 BPTC, Kaplan Law School (Outstanding)
2010 - 2011 LLM, Harvard Law School
2009 - 2010 LLM, University of Cambridge (Starred First, 1st in year)
2006 - 2009 BA (Hons) Law, University of Cambridge (Double First)
Scholarships and Prizes
Baron Dr Ver Heyden de Lancey Prize, Middle Temple
Certificate of Honour, Middle Temple
Marina Catovsky Advocacy Scholarship, Kaplan Law School
Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple
Dean's Scholar, Harvard Law School
BRD Clarke Prize for Best Performance in the LLM, University of Cambridge
AHRC Studentship, University of Cambridge
Rebecca Flower Squire Scholarship, University of Cambridge
Rosemary Murray Scholarship, University of Cambridge
Winner of the USA Universities Debating Championships
Finalist, Willem C Vis International Arbitration Moot (representing Harvard Law School)
Trade Mark Law and the Threat to Free Speech [2012] IPQ 289
L'Oreal v Bellure: Important Questions for Trade Mark Law 41 IIC 485 (2010)
Further Doubt in the Law of Mistake 6 CSLR 308 (2010)
"Clear and robust in her views, which she can always back up when challenged. She is always prepared to argue her position and does so graciously and intelligently." (Chambers & Partners 2022)
"Jo is a dream to work with – super-smart, practical and persuasive." (Legal 500 2022)
"A rising star of the Bar. Super bright, excellent drafting and a natural instinct for exploiting weaknesses in the other side’s case." (Legal 500 2022)
"Excellent, proactive and great to work with." (Chambers & Partners 2021)
"She is extremely user-friendly, really commercial, and invariably calm at all times. Her drafting is excellent, precise and to the point." (Chambers & Partners 2021)
"She is a marvel, superlative on all counts – she has a great grasp of details and is destined for the top." Legal 500 2021