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Jovana is special counsel in the litigation and arbitration team.
Jovana focuses her practice on international arbitration and public international law matters. Jovana represents clients in international arbitration and litigation ancillary to arbitration, including the enforcement of arbitration awards. Jovana has advised on international law matters such as the application of treaties, sovereign immunity, the act of state doctrine, jurisdictional issues, and recognition of foreign judgments.
Jovana has also acted as counsel in U.S. federal and state cases spanning complex commercial disputes including breach of contract, financial transactions, business torts, trademark, unfair competition, and trade secret misappropriation. Jovana has handled cases from pleadings through discovery, motion practice, oral argument, and trial. She has taken over 30 depositions and has conducted administrative trial proceedings, including witness examination.
Jovana's experience spans industries including energy, technology, financial services, hospitality, transportation, manufacturing, real estate, and consumer products.
Jovana maintains an active pro bono practice, including representation and advice on international human rights law and international criminal law. She has acted for victims in connection with proceedings at the International Criminal Court, advised a non-governmental organization on international fair trial standards, and represented individuals seeking asylum in the United States.
Jovana has taught public international law and international criminal law at the New School University.
Recent recognition
Track record
US skincare manufacturer JAMS arbitration
Represented U.S. manufacturer and distributor of skincare products against Norwegian supplier in JAMS arbitration.
US entities arbitration award
Represented U.S. entities seeking to challenge confirmation of an arbitration award in U.S. federal court.
African State arbitration award
Advised African State on confirmation and enforcement of arbitration award in U.S. court against a U.S. entity.
Oil an gas bilateral investement treaties
Advised investors in respect of potential claims against a State pursuant to applicable bilateral investment treaties in the oil and gas industry.
Foreign judgments and arbitration awards
Advised clients on the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards in New York.
International Criminal Court
Advised the Legal Representative of the Victims in The Prosecutor v. Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya Case 2) at the International Criminal Court on international criminal law issues and procedure.
Clooney Foundation for Justice TrialWatch Project
Advised Clooney Foundation for Justice TrialWatch Project on international fair trial standards and issues relating to a global trial observation program.
US Immigration Court
Successfully won asylum for a Syrian family following a trial in U.S. Immigration Court and successfully reunified family members in the United States.
Talks
- 'The Role of Advisory Opinions (ICJ/ITLOS) in the Regulation of International Energy Operations and the Risk for Energy Companies,' The 14th ITA-IEL-ICC Joint Conference on International Energy Arbitration - January 22-23, 2026, panelist
- 'Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Balkans,' Balkan 2024 Arbitration Conference - October 10-11, 2024, speaker
- 'When and How Should Law Firms Engage With Funders?,' The 6th Annual Financing, Structuring & Investing in Litigation Finance - June 5, 2024, speaker
- 'Leveraging International Law to Fight Climate Change: Limitations & Opportunities,' International Law Weekend - October 12-21, 2023, moderator
- 'Arbitration in Times of Crisis: Strategies for Transitional Justice,' Inaugural Cornell International Arbitration Symposium - April 10, 2023, moderator
- YIAP-NY & New York International Arbitration Center - November 18, 2021, speaker
Insight
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External publications
- 'International Arbitration Experts Discuss The Major Challenges For Arbitration In 2025,' Mealey’s International Arbitration Report - March 2025, featured
- 'Nigeria To Take Sovereign Immunity Ruling To US Justices,' Law360 - September 3, 2024, mentioned
- 'Nigeria Must Face $65M Award Suit, DC Circ. Rules,' Law360 - August 9, 2024, mentioned
- 'International Arbitration Experts Discuss the Standards of Review and Disclosure Rules for Arbitrators,' Mealey’s International Arbitration Report - July 2024, featured
- 'Nigeria Looks To High Court Case To Nix OK Of $70M Award,' Law360 - Apirl 16, 2024, mentioned
- 'International Arbitration Experts Discuss Whether Arbitration is Efficient Dispute Resolution,' Mealey's International Arbitration Report - December 19, 2023, contributor
- 'Nigeria Pushes To End Chinese Co.'s Bid For Arbitral Award,' Law360 - November 17, 2023, mentioned
- 'International Arbitration Experts Discuss the Practice of 'Double Hatting,' Mealey's International Arbitration Report - September 25, 2023, contributor
- 'DC Circ. Wants Full Briefing On Nigerian Development Fight,' Law360 - June 20, 2023, mentioned
- 'Chinese Co. Says Nigeria Is Directly Liable For $70M Award,' Law360 - May 1, 2023, mentioned
- 'Nigeria Warns Of 'Serious Error' In $70M Enforcement Fight,' Law360 - April 18, 2023, mentioned
- 'Nigeria Can't Dodge $70M Award, Chinese Investment Co. Says,' Law360 - April 3, 2023, mentioned
- 'States reach landmark UN Treaty to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas,' Withers Insight - March 27, 2023, co-author
- 'Nigeria’s sovereign immunity defence fails in DC,' Global Arbitration Review - January 30, 2023, mentioned
- 'Nigeria Denied Immunity In Chinese Co.'s $70M Award Fight,' Law360 - January 27, 2023, mentioned
- 'In Their Words: Associates' Lessons From Pro Bono Work,' Law360 - October 26, 2022, quoted
- 'Nigeria Says It Has Sovereign Immunity In $68M Award Fight,' Law360 - July 13, 2022, mentioned
- 'Chinese investor takes Nigeria award to DC,' Global Arbitration Review - January 26, 2022, mentioned
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'Withers public international law team comments on the oral argument heard by United States Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization,' Withers - December 7, 2021, co-author
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‘Withers public international law team files pro bono amici brief with United States Supreme Court in landmark case challenging restrictions to reproductive health and abortion access,' Withers Insight - September 29, 2021, co-author
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'Business and human rights update: Withers' amici brief in Nestlé v. Doe,' Withers Insight - July 12, 2021, co-author
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'Withers public international law team files pro bono amicus brief with US Supreme Court in case tackling human rights violations in the global chocolate industry,' Withers Insight - November 25, 2020, co-author
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‘Human rights laws could be next frontier for climate court actions,' Bloomberg Law - March 24, 2020, co-author
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'Pro bono pursuit of judicial review for Kenyan victims at the International Criminal Court,' International Bar Association Pro Bono Committee News, Issue No. 3 - 2015, co-author
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'The continued journey for justice: the Kenyan victims' role in the case against President Kenyatta before the International Criminal Court,' International Bar Association Pro Bono Committee News, Issue No. 4 - 2016, co-author
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'Corporate Employees at Risk: Strategic and Practical Implications of the Yates Memo,' Washington Legal Foundation Legal Backgrounder, Vol. 34, No. 4 - 2016, co-author
Admissions
- State of New York, 2014
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- US District Court for the Northern District of New York
- US District Court for the District of Columbia
Education
- Cornell Law School, JD
- University of Chicago, BA
Languages
- Bosnian
- Croatian
- English
- Montenegrin
- Serbian
Memberships
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New York city bar association
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ICC YAF
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Young ITA
Key dates
- Year joined: 2019