Jennifer Jack > Harper Macleod LLP > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Harper Macleod LLP
CITYPOINT, 65 HAYMARKET TERRACE
EDINBURGH
EH12 5HD
United Kingdom

Position

Partner

Jennifer leads our public law litigation and public inquiries practice across Scotland. Jennifer is an experienced lawyer who leads a team of lawyers focussing on public, administrative and constitutional law; public inquiries; civil liberties & human rights; and disputes involving the public sector and government (national and local). Jennifer works closely with her clients, taking a pragmatic approach to finding the best solutions for them.

With long-standing recognised specialist expertise in public law and disputes involving public bodies (including government), Jennifer has significant experience of advising and representing clients on public, regulatory and constitutional law issues, including in Judicial Review and Appeals against decisions of a wide range of public authorities. Jennifer draws upon this practical litigation experience when advising clients on statutory/regulatory obligations and wider reputation management.

Jennifer has an outstanding record of success in winning cases for government bodies, regulators, companies, campaign groups and individuals, in court and representing their interests at public inquiries. She is one of a handful of Scottish solicitors with experience of litigating in the Scottish Courts, UK Supreme Court and Court of Justice of the European Union.

Jennifer advises clients on legislation and statutory interpretation, the powers and duties of public bodies, the art of getting decisions right first time and representing clients in situations when decision-making is questioned. The setting might be a Board/committee meeting, investigation, tribunal, court or public inquiry. Decisions could relate to competition /state aid/ procurement, planning/ environmental/ climate change issues, data protection & information law, education matters, looked-after children/ vulnerable adults/ homeless accommodation, or other areas where decisions are made that affect individuals, businesses and communities. Jennifer’s expertise is found in a thorough understanding of the relevant legislative/ regulatory/ procedural frameworks and how to identify and address areas susceptible to challenge.

Jennifer’s thorough understanding of the often legally complex and politically sensitive issues affecting those operating within and engaging with the public sector allows her to give insightful advice, tailored to clients’ specific situations and needs.

Education

LLB (Hons); Dip LP, NP & WS

Lawyer Rankings

Scotland > Public sector > Parliamentary and public affairs

(Leading individuals)

Jennifer Jack – Harper Macleod LLP

Jointly headed by Jennifer Jack and James McMorrow, Harper Macleod LLP acts for public and private sector clients, government bodies and civil servants on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious parliamentary and public law issues, including legislative drafting, statutory interpretation and judicial reviews. Jack, based in Edinburgh, takes point on contentious matters and regularly represents clients in court challenges and disputes. McMorrow advises on commercial and public law issues from the Glasgow office. They are supported by senior associate Calum Gee, who is described as ‘one to watch for the future.’

Scotland > Real estate > Environment

Harper Macleod LLP is a regular adviser to public sector bodies, environmental campaign groups and renewable energy developers, with transaction-related environmental due diligence and regulatory matters a typical instruction from the latter. Glasgow-based Peter Ferguson anchors the team’s non-contentious offering, heading up the practice alongside the Edinburgh-based Jennifer Jack, an expert in environmental disputes, such as judicial reviews and public inquiries.

Scotland > Real estate > Planning

Although best known for its extensive public sector client roster, Harper Macleod LLP‘s planning and environment team is a go-to for housebuilders and energy sector players across various planning matters. Peter Ferguson (Glasgow) anchors the group’s non-contentious offering, which has included a number of renewable energy projects, while Jennifer Jack (Edinburgh) is an essential contact for contentious matters, such as judicial reviews, planning appeals and inquiries into the decisions of public authorities, regulators, courts and other tribunals.

Scotland > Public sector > Local government

Harper Macleod LLP’s local government practice has a solid track record advising local authorities on judicial reviews, public procurement and competition law matters as well as contentious and non-contentious planning law issues. Practice co-head Jennifer Jack leads the contentious side and frequently represents local councils, while co-head James McMorrow takes point on non-contentious commercial, contractual and regulatory issues. Euan Pirie specialises in construction and projects law.

Scotland > Corporate and commercial > EU and competition

Led by Donnie Munro, Harper Macleod LLP advises both public and private sector clients on the full range of competition matters, primarily public procurement and subsidy control, but also a steady stream of merger control, anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance mandates. James McMorrow heads the team and regularly advises on subsidy and procurement rules, as well as having experience representing clients in the Competition Appeals Tribunal. Other names to note include Jennifer Jack, who has a stellar reputation for dealing with challenges to decisions of public authorities.

Scotland > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit

Drawing on its firm-wide capabilities, Harper Macleod LLP offers faith-based organisations, registered social landlords and trusts ‘one-stop-shop‘ charity sector services spanning regulatory issues, employment law, governance matters and OSCR compliance. The team is jointly led by James McMorrow and Derek Hogg. McMorrow, based in Glasgow, advises clients on charity compliance, regulatory matters and reputational risk issues, while Hogg splits his time between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and focuses on governance and constitutional matters. On the contentious side, Jennifer Jack acts for clients on judicial reviews and appeals.