I advise both in and out of court on the full spectrum of public and regulatory law matters, including human rights, equality and discrimination, freedom of information, environmental law, planning and compulsory purchase, charity regulation, professional regulation, and fitness to practise. I am experienced in both bringing and defending public law challenges, with a particular focus on judicial review; I also act in inquests and public inquiries.
I have advised a range of clients including local authorities, regulators, national charities, campaign groups, activists, Members of Parliament, a Peer, and a former Judge. I have a particular focus on the not for profit sector, and have acted for charities in the Administrative Court, the Chancery Division, the Court of Appeal, the First-tier Tribunal and the Coroner’s Court.
Before joining Bates Wells I worked for three years with the campaigning organisation Good Law Project, where I advised claimants and interveners at every stage of strategic challenges, from early scoping work through to appeals. I am able to advise on case funding (including crowdfunding) and protection from liability for the other party’s costs (including costs capping orders). I understand the unique opportunities and challenges litigation presents for clients with strategic objectives, and am experienced in working alongside communications and campaigns teams to maximise a case’s impact.
Recent articles and insights
- Advising a school governing body on its proposal to academise, following a threatened judicial review challenge by parents.
- Advising a non-profit campaign group on its objections to the proposed expansion of the role of physician associates in the NHS.
- Acting for a conservation charity and its co-claimants in a challenge to the government’s failure to take adequate action on storm overflow sewage discharges.
- Representing Good Law Project in a challenge to the Department of Health and Social Care’s award of a multi-million pound PPE contract to a company with links to a government minister.
- Acting for a member of the House of Lords in a challenge to the Metropolitan Police’s refusal to investigate the “Partygate” scandal.
- Representing a national charity in a First-Tier Tribunal challenge to the charitable status of another organisation.
- Acting for the family of a young trans woman who died by suicide at her inquest, which resulted in a finding by the Coroner that the UK’s entire system of gender-affirming care was underfunded.
- Representing two proposed intervenors in Supreme Court proceedings concerning the meaning of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010.
- Advising a health regulator, for many years, on fitness to practise matters (including investigations, interim orders, statutory appeals, judicial reviews, and appeals by the Professional Standards Authority).
- Acting for two core participants and a witness in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
- Acting for Martin Forde KC in his inquiry into antisemitism and other forms of discrimination in the Labour Party, which resulted in the Forde Report.