Dr Jessica (Jess) Henderson practises in public and regulatory law with a particular focus on complex statutory interpretation, administrative decision‑making and constitutional issues.

She is regularly instructed in matters involving novel legislative frameworks, specialised regulatory regimes and cybersecurity‑related legal questions, and brings clear, disciplined analysis to appellate and public law disputes.

Her practice also includes pro bono work in human rights and the protection of communities experiencing meaningful barriers to representation.

Solicitors and colleagues value her collegiality, speed of analysis, and strong negotiation skills. She brings a pragmatic understanding of client needs to complex disputes.

Jess fully complies with all cybersecurity and governance protocols requested by instructing solicitors, including any client protocols for the secure handling of documents and communications.

She welcomes informal enquiries from solicitors regarding potential briefs or case strategy.

Jess holds a Doctor of Philosophy in legal history focused on United States constitutional development. She was a sessional Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 2021 – 2024 and was an inaugural Member of the Administrative Review Tribunal from 2024 – 2026. She is a sessional Member of the National Sports Tribunal and is on the Brief Editorial Committee for the Law Society of Western Australia. She won the Richard Kiwanuka prize for International Humanitarian Law in 2008.

Jess is committed to the development of the profession and is approachable by junior practitioners seeking informal guidance or mentorship in advocacy and professional practice.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law

• AML/CTF Compliance

• Aviation Law

• Constitutional Law

• Cyber Security and Generative AI legal issues

• Human Rights

• Insurance

• Sports Law

• Wills & Estates

Selected Publications

“Book Review: Constitutionally Protective Statutory Interpretation” (Brief, 2026).
Online: https://briefonline.com.au/2026/03/04/book-review-constitutionally-protective-statutory-interpretation/

Lethbridge, Tim, Elise Croft and Jessica Henderson, Civil Litigation: Strategy and Practice (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2022).

“Burning with the need for action – What lawyers can do to help with climate change”
(UWA News, 2021)

“Thomas Jefferson and the New American Language” (TRANS, 2006) by Jessica Walker

• In progress: “Colonial Fetters: The Alien Power, Constitutional Identity and the Overlooked Citizenship Question in Love” (April 2026).

• In progress: “Well‑Founded Confidence in Agent Judgement: Applying Established Legal Standards to Generative AI” (May 2026).