Alastair Lewis > Sharpe Pritchard LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

As the preferred representatives of returning officers, Sharpe Pritchard LLP enjoys an exclusive position advising in advance of and on polling day, and defending individuals in contested elections, with unsurpassed expertise in election petition challenges before the High Court. Electoral law and parliamentary regulations specialist Alastair Lewis oversees the team, which is further sought after by local authorities, individuals, and organisations in matters pertaining to Boundary Commission reviews and Electoral Commission rules and regulations. Emyr Thomas ‘has an acute sense of the responsibilities of returning officers’, and has been a familiar face in the most significant election petitions of the past decade.

Sharpe Pritchard LLP has recently strengthened their commercial public law offering with the addition of Jonathan Blunden and George McLellan from DLA Piper, who joined the firm in July 2023 and February 2024 respectively. McLellan is experienced at advising companies seeking to challenge regulatory decisions, while Blunden is noted for his capabilities with judicial reviews and procurement litigation. The team is led by Alastair Lewis, who focuses on infrastructure schemes and planning matters.

‘A real specialist team’ in parliamentary and planning advice, Sharpe Pritchard LLP is a mainstay for public bodies pursuing the promotion of private bills, as well as opponents of infrastructure projects requiring approval by way of hybrid bills, DCOs, and TWAOs. Reputed for its high volume of work both promoting and opposing nationally significant infrastructure private bills, the team is sought out by local authorities, large landowners, and registered charities for assistance with opposing different stages of the HS2 railway project. The practice benefits from the acumen of Roll A Parliamentary Agents Alastair Lewis, who ‘exemplifies the ability to bring great expertise and experience to clients’, particularly in the energy and transport sectors, and Emyr Thomas, who is ‘knowledgeable, experienced, and well-connected’ in lodging objections to large infrastructure projects. Real estate specialist Aidan Dickinson lends his compulsory purchase law expertise to clients with land affected by infrastructure schemes and DCOs.

With ‘a strong number of stars’, Sharpe Pritchard LLP is a key firm for major developers, property owners, and public authorities. Bernadette Hillman has ‘great expertise in advising on planning issues in a local government context’, and Alastair Lewis is noted for his strength in infrastructure matters, while Andrew Swaffer is highly proficient in compulsory purchases and planning appeals. Emily Knowles often handles s106 agreements, and Rachel Lee is experienced in highway planning matters. Other key members of the team include Rebecca Stewart, who is often engaged in judicial review proceedings.