Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC
- Called to Bar:
- 1965
- Appointed to silk:
- 1993 (Honorary)
- Practice areas:
Jeffrey is an accredited CEDR Mediator. He was Knighted in 2011 (KCMG) for services to human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
Jeffrey combines an active practice of unusual variety with a distinguished academic career. In October 2010 Jeffrey became the inaugural Director of the Bingham Centre on the Rule of Law, created after the retirement of Lord Bingham. Jeffrey’s practice remains unaffected by this new role. He is Emeritus Professor of Public Law at University College London.
Jeffrey is recommended by Legal 500 2012, in the Public International Law area and described as having an “enviable reputation.” Last year Legal 500 2011 noted “Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC’s expertise in the area was reflected when he was knighted (KCMG) for services to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe.”
The Times Law 100 2012 - Jeffrey is featured in The Times’ list of the 100 most influential lawyers.
The scope of Jeffrey’s work includes judicial review, human rights and planning. He advises extensively on the drafting of national constitutions, the relationship between the UK and dependent territories, and the design and application of internal regulatory and Ombudsmen schemes.
His advice is enhanced by the practical experience he gained through his role (between 2000–2011) as the UK’s member of the Council of Europe’s Commission for Democracy through Law (“The Venice Commission”) where he assisted with the constitutional and public law of a number of countries. He is Chair of British Waterways’ Ombudsman Committee and was until recently a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, and a Non-Executive Director of the Office of Rail Regulation (‘ORR’).
His authority as an academic commentator is reflected in many citations to his work in the judgments of courts in this country and abroad. His many publications include the standard text on Judicial Review (with Lord Woolf and A.Le Sueur): de Smith’s Judicial Review (6th ed. 2007; Supplement 2009; 7th ed. Forthcoming 2013) and (with Professor Dawn Oliver), The Changing Constitution (7th ed. 2011).
He was listed in The Times newspaper’s inaugural ‘Law 100: the UK's most powerful lawyers’ list, where he was described as “a leading authority on public, constitutional and administrative law”.
He has been awarded a number of honorary degrees and awards including Hon. Bencher of the Middle Temple, Hon. Fellow of UCL and Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Cape Town, Athens and, in 2009, Paris II.
Public Law and Human Rights
Breadth of Client Base:
Jeffrey is instructed by the governments of a number of countries, either through their Attorneys General or through solicitors in the UK or abroad. He sometimes acts on behalf of bodies such as the Commonwealth Secretariat or the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. In the UK he is instructed by solicitors in both the public and private sector.
Current and recent work
Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands v The Governor of the Cayman Islands [2012] UKPC 39
Successfully advising and appearing on behalf of the Government of Cayman Islands in the Privy Council.
Jeffrey has recently assisted in the implementation of rule of law standards in Bahrain and other countries in the Middle and Far East. He was the advisor on the new constitution of the Cayman Islands, and has frequently advised on the constitutional powers of British Dependencies and Overseas Territories. He has been involved in the constitutional settlements of Serbia, Bosnia, the Maldives and Luxembourg. He has appeared in a number of cases before the courts of Commonwealth countries such as Malawi and Bermuda. He assisted with the South African constitution and its administrative law statute. He successfully appeared before the new international tribunal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in a case against the Government of Zimbabwe, (Campbell v Government of Zimbabwe, Nov 2008).The case applied international standards and the rule of law as appropriate for the Southern African region. He has also advised governments and private solicitors in the UK and the Commonwealth on constitutional, environmental and regulatory matters, including issues of administrative law and human rights.
Mediation and ADR
Jeffrey is a CEDR accredited mediator. His wealth of experience derives not only from his professional practice across the public law and human rights arena, but also from his distinguished career as a high profile academic and administrator. He has also developed an impressive portfolio of constitutional work for national governments abroad and he is well known for his strong diplomatic skills in this field.
Other relevant experience
VAT registration number: 681495992
