Associate - Auckland
Helen Brown
Expertise
About
Prior to joining MC, Helen worked as Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the Netherlands, where she worked on international arbitration proceedings involving states and state-owned entities. She also advised the Secretary-General of the PCA on the discharge of his duties under the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Helen also worked in the Appeals Chamber and Office of the President at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague, where she advised the judges of the Appeals Chamber on matters of international criminal law and procedure.
Before her time in The Hague, Helen worked as a criminal defence barrister for two senior barristers in Auckland, where she appeared on a range of criminal matters, including as junior counsel in jury trials in the District and High Courts and appeals before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Helen has also worked pro bono for the US-based non-profit organisation Her Justice, providing support for victims of domestic violence in divorce and immigration proceedings in New York.
Recent Cases & Achievements
Acted as Tribunal Secretary in an international investment arbitration seated in Geneva, Switzerland between an entity registered in the British Virgin Islands and an Eastern European state, which resulted in an award of over US$5 billion.
Assisted the Review Panel established under the Convention on the Conservation and Management on High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean in determining an objection by the Republic of Ecuador to the Conservation and Management Measure for jack mackerel adopted by the Commission of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation in 2018.
Appeared as junior defence counsel for accused charged with murder and rape R v Robertson, and appointed by the High Court during trial as junior amicus curiae.
Credentials
LLM (majoring in International Legal Studies), New York University
BA/LLB(Hons), University of Auckland