Luke Tattersall is Of Counsel in Quinn Emanuel’s London Office where he practises as a barrister specialising in international litigation and arbitration. He has particular expertise in public international law, including investment treaty arbitrations, complex jurisdictional challenges and large-scale litigation.
He has acted in commercial and investor-State arbitral proceedings under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, SCC, OIC, PCA and LCIA rules, along with arbitration related court applications in the UK and overseas. He is presently acting in cases before the International Court of Justice, Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.
Luke advises both multinationals and States across the full range of international and commercial law issues. Recent work has included arbitration proceedings in the energy and natural resources sector, challenges to the enforcement of arbitral awards, jurisdictional applications based on sovereign immunity, issues of attribution concerning State-owned entities and various applications for interim relief and asset freezing. Luke regularly advises on the law of economic sanctions, principally under the United Nations, European Union and UK sanctions regimes.
The majority of Luke’s cases involve the application of foreign law and he is used to working with expert witnesses and teams across jurisdictions to prepare for trial.
Luke is ranked in the legal directories as a “Global Market Leader” for public international law and as a “Leading Junior” for international and human rights law. The directories note that “he is a true expert in public international law”; “recognised for his burgeoning PIL and international human rights practice”; and “has a strong command of international law and delivers succinct, effective advocacy, handling often highly sensitive political issues with care”. He was nominated as International Pro Bono Barrister of the Year.
Alongside practice, Luke is a Fellow at the University of Geneva and taught public international law at the University of Cambridge. He regularly publishes work on all aspects of international litigation and sits on the editorial boards of numerous law journals.
- Wolfson College, University of Cambridge
(LLM., First Class) - St Chad’s College, Durham University
(LLB (Hons), First Class)
- Called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn
- Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board
- Appointed to the Attorney General’s Public International Law panel to represent and advise the United Kingdom on matters of international law – 2025–2030
- Appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of counsel – 2024–2029
- Appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of counsel to represent the United Kingdom Government in an advisory and litigation capacity – 2022–2027
- Fellowship at the University of Geneva in International Law – 2020
- Teaching Public International Law at the University of Cambridge – 2018–2025
- Judicial Assistant to the High Court (King’s Bench Division) – 2018-2019
- Barrister at Essex Court Chambers – 2017–2026
- Recognised by Chambers and Partners Global Guide as a “Global Market Leader” in Public International Law in 2026.
- Recognised by Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide in Public International Law in 2026.
- Recognised by Chambers and Partners Global Guide in Public International Law in 2025.
- “He is a true expert in public international law.”
- “Luke has a strong command of international law and delivers succinct, effective advocacy, handling often highly sensitive political issues with care.”
- “Luke Tattersall is recognised for his burgeoning PIL and international human rights practice. He has represented parties in the ICJ, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the ECtHR. He acts for both states and private claimants. Alongside his busy practice, Tattersall enjoys a successful academic career, lecturing and researching at the University of Cambridge.”
- Recognised by Legal 500 as a “Leading Junior” in Public International Law in 2025 and 2026.
- Recognised by Legal 500 as a “Leading Junior” in Administrative Law and Human Rights in 2025 and 2026.
- The directory states that “Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.”
- “A good junior with knowledge of national security, international relations and humanitarian law.”
- Lalive Merryman Fellowship, University of Geneva
- Jennings Prize, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge
- Sir David Williams Scholarship, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge
- Wright Rogers Law Scholarship, University of Cambridge
- Prince of Wales Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
- Dean’s Award, Bar Professional Training Course
- Prize for Advanced Public Law, Durham University
- University Commendations (3), Durham University
Books:
- Co-author and editor of The Encyclopedia of International Commercial Litigation, (Kluwer Law International) Mr Justice Bryan (Ed).
- Contributing author, Supperstone, Goudie and Walker: Judicial Review (6th edition) Helen Fenwick (Ed).
Journals:
- Tattersall, L. (2021). The obligation to investigate civilian deaths in extraterritorial armed conflicts. Law Quarterly Review, 137, 559.
- Tattersall, L., & Khan, A. A. (2020). Taking Stock: Abuse of Process within the International Court of Justice. The Law & Practice of International Courts and Tribunals, 19(2), 229.
- Tattersall, L. (2020). Extraterritoriality: Enforcement Jurisdiction Abroad. Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly, 20.
- Tattersall, L. (2019). Challenges to International Investment Law Within the European Union. European Yearbook of International Economic Law 2019, 315.
- Tattersall, L. (2019). Derailing state immunity: a broad-brush approach to jurisdiction under claims for the expropriation of cultural property. International Journal of Cultural Property, 26(2), 181.
- Tattersall, L. (2019). No Oral Modification Clauses: Contractual Freedom under English and New York Law. Journal of International and Comparative Law, 6, 117.
- Tattersall, L. (2018). Appeal Dismissed: English Courts on Foreign Judgments. African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 26(3), 477.
- Tattersall, L. (2018). Silence is deadly: estoppel by acquiescence. Law Quarterly Review, 134, 203.
- Tattersall, L. (2016). On the road to the Supreme Court: the practical implications of Ilott v Mitson. Trusts & Trustees, 22(7), 787.
- Tattersall, L. (2016). A portable palm tree: proprietary estoppel. Trust Law International, 30(4), 237.
- Tattersall, L. (2015). Living in Sin: A Reform Proposal for Financial Relief following Cohabitation Breakdown. European Journal of Law Reform, 17, 568.
Luke also sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Peacekeeping and the International Journal of Human Rights.
- American Society of International Law
- International Law Association
- Institute for Transnational Arbitration
- European Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration
- Charted Institute of Arbitrators
- London Court of International Arbitration
- International Chamber of Commerce