Meet Julian Assange’s Australian lawyer Jennifer Robinson
Meet Julian Assange’s Kylie-loving Australian lawyer who counts Amal Clooney and Amber Heard as friends, has ‘nothing but Champagne’ in her fridge and was caught in a passionate embrace with Jeremy Corbyn’s henchman Seumas Milne
- Jennifer Robinson representing Julian Assange at Old Bailey extradition hearing
- Ms Robinson was bridesmaid for Amal Clooney, whom she calls her best friend
- Hit headlines when she was seen with Jeremy Corbyn’s former spin doctor
- Australian human rights lawyer represented Amber Heard at Depp libel case
Published: 07:53 EDT, 8 September 2020 | Updated: 10:12 EDT, 8 September 2020
Arriving at court with Julian Assange’s girlfriend today, London‘s lawyer du jour prepares for battle in the WikiLeaks founder’s latest extradition hearing.
Jennifer Robinson is the go-to barrister for the rich and famous, most recently walking hand in hand with actress Amber Heard in her showdown against her ex-husband Johnny Depp in his acrimonious libel trial.
She counts the Hollywood elite among her inner circle, acting as Amal Clooney‘s bridesmaid and travelling to her wedding to George on a speedboat with actor Bill Murray.
A self-confessed Kyle Minogue fan, who has ‘nothing in her fridge but Champagne’ , the human rights lawyer once set headlines alight after she was spotted canoodling with Jeremy Corbyn‘s former spin doctor, Seumas Milne.
Ms Robinson, 39, and Mr Milne – a then-married father-of-two – were photographed embracing on the terrace of the Courthouse hotel in East London in 2017.
Ms Robinson, who came from humble beginnings in Australia, has been known to use her social media as an outlet to criticise the Tories on their human rights record and tweet support for Corbyn.
One of the country’s brightest legal minds, her skilled advocacy is now being pitted against US prosecutors as Assange fights extradition.
Australian human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, left, with Stella Moris, right, the partner Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, outside the Old Bailey today
Team Heard: The top lawyer was an observer in Heard’s case, which saw Depp hit with 14 allegations of domestic violence, claims he defending during the three days of testimony
In 2014, the 39-year-old was carried to the Clooneys’ star-studded Venetian wedding in a boat with Bill Murray and asked to carry out bridesmaid’s duties
In 2017, she was seen canoodling with Jeremy Corbyn’s former henchman Seumas Milne, who married at the time
Ms Robinson, who works from the respected Doughty Chambers in London, has represented Assange for some 10 years.
In 2019, she was named international pro bono barrister of the year and prior to lockdown, was pictured at events with Prince Charles and Cherie Blair.
She is often seen in photos with her hair flawless, stilettos and pencil dress on as she strides into court beside her high-profile client.
Most recently she made international headlines standing as Amber Heard’s barrister during the Johnny Depp’s libel case against The Sun newspaper in London in July.
Ms Robinson grew up in the small town of Berry, NSW, Australia and graduated with a double degree in law and Asian studies from the Australian National University.
She went on to become a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, attending Balliol College and graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Law with Distinction and a Master of Philosophy in International Public Law.
She previously worked at London law firm Finers Stephens Innocent LLP and has gone on to become one of the UK’s most recognised human rights and media lawyer.
Her current firm was founded by another Australian-born ex-Rhodes Scholar Geoffrey Robertson QC, with whom she has worked with for more than six years.
Ms Robinson clients in international law, appeared in the International Court of Justice and has given expert evidence at the UN and in Parliament.
She has a particular focus on ‘free speech and civil liberties, advising media organisations, journalists and whistle-blowers on all aspects of media law’.
Having practised as a solicitor, Ms Robinson – known to Jen by friends and colleagues – serves on the advisory board of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights.
It is through this line of work that she is understood to have become friends with Amal Clooney.
Ms Robinson, arriving at court today, has become one of the UK’s highest profile human rights and media lawyers, working in the practice established by Geoffrey Robertson
Ms Robinson (centre) was pictured accompanying Johnny Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard (second from the right) into the High Court in London on July 9. Ms Heard was also joined by her partner Bianca Butti (left) and her sister Whitney (top left)
Ms Robinson (centre, with Amber Heard, left, and Cherie Blair, right (in September 2019) as she took the case of Marsha Lazareva – imprisoned in Kuwait for over a year on false charges – to the United Nations
‘I am proud that women from my chambers, like Jennifer and Amal Clooney, are proving that young women can rise high in the law and overcome the bars and sexism in what used to be a male-dominated profession,’ Mr Robertson told News Corp in July.
‘She is quite brilliant and has assisted me on those important cases and has done very well and is having a successful career working at my Chambers.
‘She has represented the West Papua independent movement and other human rights causes.’
In 2014, the 39-year-old was taken to the Clooneys’ star-studded Venetian wedding in a boat with Bill Murray and asked to carry out bridesmaid’s duties.
In 2017, she was seen canoodling with Jeremy Corbyn’s former henchman Seumas Milne – with her father later telling MailOnline that his daughter was just enjoying a night out and a ‘few drinks’ with a friend.
Her father, horse trainer Terry, insisted his daughter was a ‘good girl’ who has been in a ‘few relationships’ but dismissed suggestions that she was having an affair with the married father-of-two.
In 2011 she gave an interview about her private life and described herself as ‘passionate’ and ‘infinitely curious’, and said: ‘My friends would probably add, ”the eternal optimist” or ”a bit bonkers”.’
When asked about her favourite music she said: ‘I still love Kylie Minogue – this began at age five and persists today’.
Ms Robinson (right) has worked on Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s legal team since October 2010 and is best friends with Amal Clooney – pictured right in the background
Asked about the contents of her London fridge she said: ‘Nothing but a few bottles of champagne (and maybe a mouldy piece of cheese)’ because she eats out so often.
She was also asked: ‘What comes into your mind when you shut your eyes and think of the word ‘law’?’ and replied: ‘Jude’.
She told the Global Mail: ‘I can be very serious but I was being flip, taking the p***. I take my work very seriously but me less so. I am Australian, after all, and proudly so.’
While one of her brothers lives in the UK working in horse racing, the rest of her family is largely in Australia, where she has returned to lecture on law and mentor students.
Jill Appleton, her headteacher at Bomaderry High School, around two hours from Canberra, said that she was ‘a lovely girl’ who was named the Berry Showgirl in 2000.
Organisers insist it is not a beauty pageant and say it finds young women to act as an ‘ambassador’ for the area in state and national show.
Yesterday Assange, 49, lost a last-ditch legal bid to have his extradition case at the Old Bailey delayed further because of fresh ’11th hour’ allegations as his lawyers complained they were ‘abnormal and unfair’.
The activist faces 18 charges and a sentence of 175 years should a judge grant his extradition to the United States.
US prosecutors claim Assange recruited a teenager to hack into the computer of a former WikiLeaks associate and delete messages relating to him.
They claim that Assange, who appeared in court for his hearing today, met the then 17-year-old in 2010 in Iceland, who gave him data stolen from a bank.
According to an updated opening document, submitted by the US but not outlined by representatives in the Old Bailey on Monday, Assange later directed the teenager to target a former WikiLeaks associate.
Assange is also fighting the extradition on the basis he would likely receive a life sentence on conviction which would be ‘inhuman and degrading’ for someone ‘with his mental vulnerabilities’.
His team stated there was a risk Assange would take his own life if extradited.
Defence solicitors say Assange would be denied the right to a fair trial in the US and claim a trial would be a ‘flagrant violation’ of his right to protect journalistic sources.
