Leah Ratcliff is a leading dispute resolution practitioner with more than 15 years of experience acting in and advising on complex cross-border disputes. Her practice encompasses disputes management and avoidance, international arbitration, litigation, regulatory investigations, crisis and risk management, and governance.
Between 2015 and 2019, Leah was head of dispute resolution at BHP, one of the world's leading energy and resources companies, where she managed disputes and regulatory matters across four continents. Prior to that she practiced at law firms in London, Sydney, and Washington D.C., where she gained extensive experience in disputes and contentious regulatory matters in the energy and resources sector in Australia and internationally; joint venture disputes, including those arising in relation to incorporated and unincorporated joint ventures; institutional and ad hoc international arbitration (ICC, SIAC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ACICA rules); and management of business risks related to emerging markets.
- Georgetown University (LL.M. in International Legal Studies 2006; Chetwood Prize for the most distinguished academic record for degree); University of Adelaide (LL.B. with honors 2002; B.A. 2000)
- Australia and New York
- Short Term Consultant (STC), World Bank, Department of Institutional Integrity (2006); Legal Officer, Attorney-General's Department, Private International Law, Australian Government (2003-2006)
Best Lawyers in Australia (2021): international arbitration
Member of an arbitration team recognized by Global Arbitration Review as one of the leading international arbitration law firms in the 2020 edition of the GAR 30