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Public Law

Our firm is a recognised leader in advising clients from both the public and commercial sectors on all aspects of public law.

Lawyers in all departments of our firm advise on public law issues, including on:

  • Governance issues
  • Collaborative arrangements
  • Trading powers
  • Licensing (including prosecutions)
  • Highway law
  • Freedom of information
  • Elections and electoral law
  • Administrative law
  • Public and parliamentary law
  • Human rights and vires
  • State aid and competition

With many of our lawyers coming from public sector backgrounds, we have the expertise to deal with all these issues authoritatively.

Key Contacts

Alastair Lewis

Partner and Parliamentary Agent

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Emyr Thomas

Partner and Parliamentary Agent

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Work highlights

  • Promoting all London Local Authorities Acts for the London Boroughs (inc. bills promoted jointly with TfL), which included important provisions, a number of which have been taken up by the government on a national basis.
  • Promoting Acts for local authorities to enable them to close highways for filming, and to deal with street trading.
  • Acting for the returning officer in an election petition which challenged the election of the mayor of Tower Hamlets in 2014.
  • Advising health charities, local authorities and pressure groups on tobacco control legislation.
  • Advising the tri-boroughs on structures for its intelligent client model.
  • Assisting a large county council with an investigation into a member’s conduct.
  • Advising Essex County Council on its powers to trade and trading structures.

On 2 May 2025, the Court of Appeal (CoA) handed down its judgment on R (The National Council for Civil Liberties) and others v The Secretary of State for the Home Department (“Liberty”).[1] The decision clarifies the circumstances in which a public body’s engagement with third parties to inform its decision-making might constitute a “formal…

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With local elections taking place this week, Returning Officers and their teams may be considering what options are open to the disgruntled candidate or elector who seeks to challenge a result. Emyr Thomas explains. Problems at the count? Act quickly! If, following the declaration, something significant happens which could give rise to a challenge (for…

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Introduction On January 8, 2025, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) issued a ruling regarding a series of poster advertisements for Wahed Invest Ltd (Wahed), an online Islamic investment company (ASA Complaint Ref: G24-1262171). These ads were displayed in Transport for London (TfL) locations, including on TfL trains, London Underground platforms and TfL busses, and drew…

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To find out how we can help you, please contact us today