Career
Josh has a cross-cutting practice in human rights, public and administrative law, public international law, and civil litigation. At the root of each of Josh’s practice areas is his expertise in international and domestic human rights.
Josh is instructed in judicial reviews in a wide range of fields, including climate change and environment; international law; equality and discrimination; homelessness and social welfare; and immigration and modern slavery.
Josh has acted in significant cases before international courts, and his domestic practice often involves complex issues of public international law. In addition to his expertise in international human rights law, Josh has experience in issues of State immunity; self-determination; international humanitarian and criminal law; international environmental law; and State responsibility.
In his civil litigation practice, Josh has been instructed in cases involving public nuisance, negligence, harassment and economic torts. Josh is typically instructed in contexts of business and human rights, modern slavery, and environmental destruction. He has experience in private international law and transnational tort litigation.
Publications
Josh is a contributing author in the upcoming edition of Supperstone, Goudie and Walker: Judicial Review in the chapter on the Human Rights Act 1998.
Rachel Barrett and Joshua Jackson, ‘The Human Rights Act and Judicial Review’ in Sir Michael Supperstone, James Goudie KC, and Sir Paul Walker (eds.), Judicial Review (7th Edition, 2024, Lexis Nexis).
Schona Jolly KC and Joshua Jackson, ‘Buttet v United Kingdom: A Missed Opportunity for the Court to Clarify the Relationship between State Immunity and Article 6 of the ECHR in the Context of Employment’ (2022) 33(5) European Human Rights Law Review 469.
Catherine Casserley and Joshua Jackson, ‘Discrimination as a Public Law Wrong: Using the Equality Act and Art 14 in Judicial Review' (Training, November 2021).
Joshua Jackson, ‘Pathways to Justice in a Globalised World: An Assessment of the Justiciability of the Extraterritorial Obligations in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' (2018) Amsterdam Center for International Law No. 2018-09.
Industry Sector Expertise
Administrative & Public Law
Josh acts in a broad range of judicial reviews. Drawing upon his experience in other areas, he has particular expertise in judicial reviews concerning the Human Rights Act, international law, the Equality Act, and climate change.
Josh has a particular specialism in European and international human rights law. He has acted in significant cases before international human rights courts, including eight applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and an intervention to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR). Josh also has experience in issues of State immunity, Statehood and self-determination, international humanitarian law, international environmental law, State responsibility, and international criminal law.
Josh also advises on human rights and international law in claims in foreign jurisdictions. He has advised on international law issues arising from the construction of a power station on the Israeli/West Bank border, and in a challenge to oil and gas exploration in the Guyanese Constitutional Court.
This extensive international experience adds a distinctive dimension to Josh's domestic practice, which often involves complex issues of public international law. For example, Josh is currently advising on human rights-based challenges to the United Kingdom’s climate change framework and targets following the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v Switzerland (App no 53600/20). He is also advising on challenges concerning local authority pension fund investment in companies involved in the commission of serious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian Territories.
Administrative & Public Law
Josh acts in a broad range of judicial reviews. Drawing upon his experience in other areas, he has particular expertise in judicial reviews concerning the Human Rights Act, international law, the Equality Act, and climate change.
International Law
Josh has a particular specialism in European and international human rights law. He has acted in significant cases before international human rights courts, including eight applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and an intervention to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR). Josh also has experience in issues of State immunity, Statehood and self-determination, international humanitarian law, international environmental law, State responsibility, and international criminal law.
Josh also advises on human rights and international law in claims in foreign jurisdictions. He has advised on international law issues arising from the construction of a power station on the Israeli/West Bank border, and in a challenge to oil and gas exploration in the Guyanese Constitutional Court.
This extensive international experience adds a distinctive dimension to Josh's domestic practice, which often involves complex issues of public international law. For example, Josh is currently advising on human rights-based challenges to the United Kingdom’s climate change framework and targets following the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v Switzerland (App no 53600/20). He is also advising on challenges concerning local authority pension fund investment in companies involved in the commission of serious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian Territories.
Civil Litigation, Modern Slavery and Business & Human Rights
Josh has been instructed in a range of civil litigation with a human rights or environmental dimension. His experience covers causes of action in/under public nuisance, negligence, harassment, economic torts, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Equality Act 2010. He has experience in private international law and transnational tort litigation.
Climate and Environmental Justice
Across his public, international, and civil practices, Josh has a particular specialism in climate change. He has acted in or advised upon cases in multiple jurisdictions, including the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), the High Court, and the Guyanese Constitutional Court. His experience in climate litigation cuts across a variety of different areas of law, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), tort, and international environmental law. Central to Josh’s specialism in climate change litigation is an ability to engage with complex issues of climate science and attribution.
Equality and Discrimination
In his public and civil law practice, Josh often acts for individuals in discrimination challenges under the Equality Act 2010 and Article 14 of the ECHR.
Josh has delivered advanced training to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, law firms, and NGOs in a seminar entitled “Discrimination and Public Law: Using the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 – When, Why and How?”.
His previous experience in employment law complements his ongoing equality and discrimination practice.
Housing and Social Welfare
Josh regular undertakes judicial reviews concerning homelessness, social housing, and social welfare.
Human Trafficking and Immigration Detention
Josh is often instructed in judicial reviews and civil claims on behalf of victims of trafficking and immigration detainees.
