Justice Chantal Ononaiwu, an attorney-at-law with over 20 years of experience at the Caribbean Bar, is recognised for her expertise in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) law and international law, particularly international trade law. Throughout her distinguished career, she has served as an adjudicator, litigator, legal advisor, and university lecturer. A Jamaican national, Dr Ononaiwu was admitted to practice law in Jamaica in 2001 and is also called to the Bar in Barbados.
For over 15 years, she worked at the CARICOM Secretariat, based in Barbados. She began as a Trade Policy and Legal Specialist at the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery before it was incorporated into the Secretariat. Later, she served as the Director of External Trade, coordinating CARICOM’s external trade policy. During her tenure, Justice Ononaiwu represented CARICOM in cases before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), advised the Community and its Member States on international trade and investment issues, and participated as a negotiator in international trade agreements. Her legal acumen also led her to serve on a panel that adjudicated a World Trade Organization dispute.
Justice Ononaiwu has notable experience in commercial law, having served as the Director of Value Proposition Development at Invest Barbados and as Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Digital Standards Initiative Legal Reform Advisory Board. Early in her career, she worked in Jamaica’s Attorney General’s Chambers within the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Division.
As a dedicated academic, Justice Ononaiwu has lectured on international trade and investment law, public international law, and criminal law at The University of the West Indies. She has facilitated professional training programmes, including initiatives with the Caribbean Court of Justice to enhance the understanding of the Court’s original jurisdiction among the judiciary and legal practitioners across the region. Her academic contributions extend to published works in international trade law, investment law, public international law, and constitutional law.
Justice Ononaiwu is also a prominent leader in the legal community, serving as the President of the Caribbean Branch of the International Law Association and the first Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the International Law Association. A Rhodes Scholar, she holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Oxford, a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from The University of the West Indies, along with a Legal Education Certificate of Merit from the Norman Manley Law School.
On 29 October 2024, Justice Ononaiwu reached another significant milestone when she was sworn in as a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice at King’s House, Jamaica. The ceremony, presided over by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, was attended by the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Chief Justice, and other local and international dignitaries. This appointment highlights her outstanding contributions to Caribbean and international law, as she continues to shape the legal landscape across the region.