United Kingdom > London > Public sector > Administrative and public law
Index of tables
Administrative and public law
Leading individuals
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- Judith Barnes Eversheds LLP
- Tom Cassels Baker & McKenzie LLP
- Adam Chapman Kingsley Napley LLP
- Tony Child Beachcroft
- Paul Dacam Hogan Lovells International LLP
- Stephen Grosz Bindmans LLP
- John Halford Bindmans LLP
- Stephen Hocking Beachcroft
- Andrew Lidbetter Herbert Smith LLP
- Matthew Lohn Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
- Jennifer McDermott Withers LLP
- Phil Shiner Public Interest Lawyers
- Michael Smyth CBE Clifford Chance
- Richard Stein Leigh Day & Co
- John Trotter Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP
- Philip Vaughan Simmons & Simmons
- Peter Watson Allen & Overy LLP
- Nusrat Zar Herbert Smith LLP
The ‘knowledgeable, professional and supportive’ team at Beachcroft has an outstanding reputation for its work in health and education. Stephen Hocking and Julian Gizzi provide ‘first-class advice’. In 2010, Hocking advised the Higher Education Funding Council for England on funding changes and on the regulatory framework for higher education. Tony Child is a ‘good technical lawyer’, and associate Eleanor Tunnicliffe is recommended for information law.
‘Unparalleled in depth’, Bindmans LLP is ‘full of excellent practitioners’ and provides a ‘first-rate service’. The ‘talented, tenacious and incredibly effective’ John Halford is ‘arguably the UK’s best public and human rights lawyer’, and is currently acting in two judicial reviews against the Nursing and Midwifery Council. A ‘guru of public law’, Stephen Grosz leads the team with ‘great experience and skill’. Other ‘star performers’ include Saimo Chahal; the ‘remarkably versatile’ Tamsin Allen; solicitors Sara Lomri and Gwendolen Morgan, who have ‘tremendous imagination and judgement’; and ‘tireless worker’ Saadia Khan.
Renowned for its expertise in public inquiry matters, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP was appointed to assist the Al-Sweady Inquiry on witness support matters in 2010. It is also advising the SRA on legal services regulatory reforms. Matthew Lohn is ‘very personable and accessible’, and Martin Smith is noted for his work on the 7/7 inquest. Clients include the General Medical Council and the Human Tissue Authority.
Fielding an ‘outstanding team’, Herbert Smith LLP remains a forerunner in public law. A ‘premier destination’ for clients, the team is advising BAA in a judicial review, and is also representing TUI Travel among others in a judicial review of the Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to enforce common rules on compensation. A ‘star performer’ and ‘the best public lawyer in the City’, Andrew Lidbetter has ‘unrivalled expertise’ in commercial and regulatory judicial review work. ‘Rising star’ Nusrat Zar offers ‘strong practical solutions’, and acts for the National Lottery Commission.
Claimant firm Leigh Day & Co has expertise spanning immigration, planning, unlawful detention and healthcare. ‘At the top of his profession’, Richard Stein leads the ‘impressive team’, which also features Jamie Beagent and Frances Swaine, who regularly acts in claims against the CPS. Alison Millar is a leading figure for education matters, while Sean Humber has prison law expertise. Solicitor Rosa Curling is highly rated for her work on healthcare cases.
Allen & Overy LLP delivers an ‘extremely high-quality service’, and has strength in the regulated sectors, particularly finance and telecoms. Andrew Denny is a ‘star of present and future’, and Peter Watson is ‘shrewd and knowledgeable’. Key mandates for the ‘very strong team’ included advising the former shareholders of a Caribbean telecoms company and a Caribbean bank on constitutional challenges. The team is also advising News Corporation on regulatory aspects of its proposed acquisition of BSkyB. Senior associate Angeline Welsh is ‘exceptional, and never misses the finer points’.
A ‘very high-quality outfit’, Baker & McKenzie LLP is considered a ‘market leader’ in commercial judicial review matters, and has regulatory law expertise covering the media and telecoms sectors. The ‘thoroughly able, professional and objective’ team acts as sole legal adviser to the BBC Trust, and also acts for Camelot UK Lotteries, Cable & Wireless and Inexus. It is praised for its ‘expert’ advice in Competition Appeal Tribunal cases. The ‘superb and charming’ Tom Cassels recently acted pro bono for the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees before the Supreme Court, and is ‘committed and efficient’. Joanna Ludlam and Richard Pike are also recommended.
At ‘top-quality’ firm Clifford Chance, EU and competition partner Elizabeth Morony now leads the team following former practice head Michael Smyth CBE’s move to consultant in 2010. It continues to act for Barclays Bank and the Cayman Tribunal of Inquiry. ‘One of the most proficient assistant solicitors’, Emmeline Rushbrook is ‘remorselessly hardworking and imperturbable’. ‘Excellent all-round litigator’ Luke Tolaini is also recommended.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ‘excellent regulatory practitioners’ are experienced in commercial judicial reviews. Paul Bowden leads the team, which recently acted for Japan Tobacco International in the judicial review of the ban on displaying tobacco products. William Robinson advised British Sugar in a challenge regarding the UK implementation of the EU sugar regime. Newly promoted partner Tom Snelling has expertise in food regulation cases.
‘One of the best City firms in the area’, Hogan Lovells International LLP provides ‘fantastic service’. The team combines regulatory and policy expertise, advising regulators, commercial claimants and public bodies including Tube Lines, Ofgem and Acromas. In 2010 it represented British American Tobacco in the judicial review of the ban on displaying tobacco products, and also represented NATS against claims made by airlines following the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis. The ‘very good’ Paul Dacam and ‘absolute star’ Charles Brasted both have ‘excellent judgement’. Associate Jamie Potter provides ‘invaluable support’.
Slaughter and May continues to advise HM Treasury on Northern Rock’s £20bn restructuring, and is also advising the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Greece. Isabel Taylor advised the Electricity Supply Board on its acquisition of Northern Ireland Electricity, and corporate partner Jeff Triggs is currently acting as general counsel to Royal Mail. The team draws on firm-wide capabilities, with competition expert Christopher Wright and litigator Elizabeth Barrett singled out.
‘Excellent on all counts’ and strong in cases that have both charity and public sector aspects, Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP’s team grew substantially in 2010; ‘strong practitioner’ Shahram Taghavi joined from Simons Muirhead & Burton, and Stuart Marchant, who has healthcare experience, joined from Ridouts LLP. The ‘very experienced’ Melanie Carter was appointed as an independent adjudicator for the Marine Stewardship Council in 2010, advising it on the certification of fisheries, among other matters. John Trotter continues to advise the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales, and the ‘intelligent, sensible and consistent’ Rupert Earle advises on freedom of information matters.
‘Excellent in all respects’, Bevan Brittan LLP advises health sector bodies, regulators, local authorities, universities and ombudsmen. Iain Miller advised the SRA on the administration of Halliwells LLP in 2010. ‘Able to navigate complex cases’, Emily Heard advised Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in a judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to cease funding to a BSF project. Nadia Persaud and Virginia Cooper are also recommended.
David Mundy’s team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP ‘turns work around very quickly and professionally’. Its strong parliamentary practice provides contentious advice to regulatory bodies as well as private sector clients. The team is advising the Port of London Authority on the exercise of its compulsory purchase powers, and also acts for the Health Professions Council and TfL. Jonathan Bracken and Richard Langley are recommended.
Providing ‘very high-quality service’, Eversheds LLP has experience across the energy, regulatory, transport, health and education sectors, and also advises on global administrative law disputes. New clients include Cambridgeshire County Council and Telford and Wrekin Council. It is currently advising the Olympic Park Legacy Company on the site’s regeneration. Newcastle-based Mitch Brown has social housing expertise, and is advising Newcastle-Upon-Tyne City Council in a housing stock transfer. Judith Barnes heads the ‘clear and concise’ group from Leeds.
The claimant-focused practice at Irwin Mitchell LLP includes Sheffield-based Andrew Lockley, who recently acted in a judicial review of the Department of Health’s compensation scheme for recipients of contaminated blood in the 1980s. London-based associate Alex Rook has an ‘admirable ability for forensic legal analysis’.
‘Big in energy’, Simmons & Simmons advised a German energy-from-waste company in judicial review proceedings in 2010. It is also advising on the Kolwezi copper tailings project and the Nabucco Gas Pipeline. The firm also has experience in the life sciences, TMT and financial services sectors, and acts for Cephalon and Tfl. Philip Vaughan is recommended. Jenny Block left the firm in 2010, joining postal regulator Postcomm.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP acts for 220 local authorities, and over half of the firm’s clients come from the public sector. ‘Very accessible and flexible’ litigator Lucy James advised KPMG in defending a statutory appeal, and also recently represented The Crown Estate Commissioners in the proposed sale of four residential housing estates comprising 1200 tenancies. Recent work for the team includes advising Newham Council and West Ham FC on its successful bid to lease and operate the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 games, and it was also appointed to advise the London Borough of Barnet on the outsourcing of public services. Helen Randall is praised for non-contentious work. Malcolm Iley is recommended, and Paul McDermott ‘goes the extra mile’.
At Withers LLP, Jennifer McDermott advises the Spoliation Advisory Panel on fair process and freedom of information issues. The team continues to advise the Barclay brothers on a judicial review brought against the amendments of the feudal constitution of Sark, and in a further complaint relating to Sark’s shipping regime. Consultant Harvey Knight acts for individuals being investigated by the FSA. Paul Matthews is recommended for his coronial law expertise.
The ‘great’ Adam Chapman leads the practice at Kingsley Napley LLP. It was instructed in the 7/7 inquest by seven families of victims, and continues to represent Action Against Medical Accidents and The Patients Association in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry. Stephen Parkinson advised The Law Society in a judicial review of a decision to limit the costs recoverable by acquitted defendants to legal aid rates.
Led by Elizabeth Cooper, Nabarro LLP has a focus on projects, joint ventures, regeneration and public procurement work. Neal Gibson has experience in judicial reviews and procurement challenges. Stephen Matthew is advising the three land-owning stakeholders on the £1bn Watford Health Campus project.
Norton Rose LLP advises on judicial reviews, public procurement, health and safety, and EU state aid and regulation. It is appointed to the legal panels of Ofwat and the Office of Rail Regulation. In 2010 it advised Global Knafaim Leasings in a judicial review against the Civil Aviation Authority, and assisted the Department for Transport on rolling stock procurement. Michael Grenfell is recommended.
‘One of the best claimant firms around’, Pierce Glynn Solicitors’ team of ‘extremely high-calibre lawyers’ has experience in judicial reviews and statutory appeals. Rated for her experience in gender equality cases, ‘clear, succinct and knowledgeable’ senior associate Louise Whitfield is a ‘brilliant litigator’, and the ‘truly impressive’ Adam Hundt in Bristol has healthcare expertise. Sue Willman is ‘very well respected’, and Gareth Mitchell provides ‘highly technical legal arguments’. ‘Clever, tenacious and hardworking’ associate Zubier Yazdani leads on children’s rights.
Phil Shiner at Public Interest Lawyers is recommended for his judicial review experience. Shiner is acting for the victims of the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry, who are alleging abuse and unlawful killing of Iraqi nationals by British troops in 2004. He continues to represent victims in the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry.
The ‘first-rate’ team at Anthony Gold is led by Andrew Brookes. It acts for social housing tenants and homeless applicants in judicial reviews for emergency housing. Clifford Tibber joined in 2010 from Oury Clark Solicitors, and is noted for his work on the 7/7 inquest. The ‘forceful and enthusiastic’ Timothy Waitt has ‘passion and commitment to social justice’.
Bhatt Murphy Solicitors specialises in prison law, police law and immigration detention cases. Raju Bhatt, Mark Scott and Simon Creighton are recommended.
‘The best niche law firm in healthcare’, Capsticks has experience in NHS governance, consultation, procurement, and reconfiguration matters. The ‘expert team’ is advising on the reorganisation of NHS bodies following the pending abolition of PCTs, and is advising the South Central Strategic Health Authority on the fluoridation of water case. David Mason is ‘one of the most competent lawyers for service improvement in healthcare’, and Gerard Hanratty is also recommended.
DLA Piper UK LLP has contentious public law experience. Leeds-based litigator Paul Stone advises in judicial reviews, and corporate governance and freedom of information cases. Clients have included TfL and Rockware Glass.
Providing ‘exceptional service’, the ‘meticulous’ team at Maxwell Gillott Solicitors advises on community care and educational issues. Valued for her ‘great compassion’ and ‘sound advice’, Angela Jackman recently acted in a judicial review against a local authority concerning the financial support for the care of three children. Recommended for his ‘empathy with clients’, Oliver Studdert handles youth offender cases, and recently won a case in the House of Lords on behalf of a 17-year-old boy.
Olswang’s public procurement team, led by Melanie Collier, advises on public tenders, assisting on pre-procurement planning through to bidding and related disputes. The ‘very clever’ Dan Tench is recommended.
SNR Denton’s focus remains within the PFI/PPP arena, where clients have included Virgin Rail and Postcomm. Richard Caird is ‘experienced and effective’, and senior associate Zara Skelton is an ‘excellent litigator’.
Highly recommended for commercial judicial reviews and procurement claims, Taylor Wessing LLP is ‘increasingly visible in public law disputes’, making ‘significant strides’. The ‘dedicated’ Len Murray has a ‘high-calibre intellect’ and ‘consummate client-handling skills’. The team is advising the QCDA on public procurement and confidentiality issues.
At BCL Burton Copeland, Jane Glass is ‘selfless, devoted and exceptional’, and Michael Drury is a ‘safe pair of hands’.
The Bristol and Plymouth-based team at Bond Pearce LLP is recommended for planning and environment matters.
Nottingham-based Richard Barlow at Browne Jacobson LLP is noted for housing and planning.
Duncan Lewis & Co is recommended for immigration, community care, judicial review and prison cases.
Hickman and Rose is noted for judicial review work with a criminal justice and human rights focus.
Hodge Jones & Allen LLP is recommended for its human rights and judicial review expertise.
Mills & Reeve LLP's ‘extremely professional’ team has regulatory and healthcare sector experience.
Consultant Peter Stockwell at Payne Hicks Beach is recommended for public inquiries.
Pinsent Masons LLP is noted for local government and public procurement work.
Alastair Wallace at Public Law Solicitors is recommended for planning and community care cases.
Akhtar Raja at Quist Solicitors, who represents private colleges in cases against the UK Border Agency, is ‘highly innovative’.
Richard Buxton is recommended for planning and environmental judicial reviews.
Russell Jones & Walker handles gender equality cases and police judicial reviews; Edward Cooper is ‘deeply impressive’.
Trevor Griffiths at Sharpe Pritchard is recommended for local authority work.
Kiran Bhogal leads an ‘unquestionably excellent’ team at Weightmans LLP, which handles healthcare, police and local government work.
The ‘pragmatic and insightful’ John Cooper at Wragge & Co LLP is noted for his regulatory expertise.