Bindmans LLP houses ‘an outstanding admin and public law team with exceptional practitioners covering a full range of public law issues’. The practice is headed by John Halford, who is highly recommended for his skills in judicial review and public law challenges. Paul Ridge is ’a great lawyer with huge knowledge of inquiries’, while the ‘outstanding’ Emma Varley is noted for her experience acting for children in education-related judicial reviews. Shirin Marker and Jessie Brennan are further standout members of the team. Marker regularly acts for victims of trafficking and age-disputed minors, while Brennan has experience with immigration detention cases. The team has been strengthened with the addition of Alice Hardy, who joined from Hodge Jones & Allen in June 2023. Hardy has particular expertise in matters relating to women’s rights and protest law. Nancy Collins joined the firm from Hodge Jones & Allen in September 2024. Salima Budhani left the firm in May 2024
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Paul Ridge is excellent. He's a great lawyer with huge knowledge of inquiries. He is empathetic and understanding with clients and everyone he works with.’
‘Alice Hardy is an exceptionally able and dedicated solicitor.’
‘Bindmans have an outstanding admin and public law team with exceptional practitioners covering a full range of public law issues. They are renowned for being tenacious and highly client focused in all that they do.’
'Jessie Brennan is an excellent public law solicitor who covers a range of specialisms, including the rights of migrants and those with disabilities. She is approachable and highly client focused.'
‘Emma Varley is outstanding.’
‘They are very impressive in terms of the quality of their work. They are collaborative working with counsel as well as very detailed in their research and preparation for cases.’
‘They are one of the leading firms in administrative and public law, representing a range of clients in often high-profile cases, with excellent solicitors at all levels.’
‘John Halford, the market leader in big judicial reviews. His team is excellent.’
Key clients
- Social Enterprise UK
- Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands
- Imperial College
- The Scottish Government
- British Standards Institute
- Business Banking Resolution Service
- The Law Society of England and Wales
- Association of Child Psychotherapists
- Seven Sisters’ Market Traders’ Association
- National Union of Journalists
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
John Halford
Other key lawyers
Emma Varley; Paul Ridge; Karen May; Shirin Marker; Alice Hardy; Jessie Brennan; Basmah Sahib; Nancy Collins