Administrative & Public Law

Experts in administrative and public law

Our team has expert skills in the provision of advice in relation to statutory interpretation, policy development, public consultations, administrative decision-making and challenges. Acting for decision-makers and those challenging decisions gives us a valuable insight into the issues which arise and how they can be avoided, managed or overcome.

A team that understands

We understand our clients' needs and challenges; whether they are making or defending administrative decisions or challenging them. Every client wants to achieve their objective in a publically acceptable and cost-effective manner.

Integrated advice

Our seamless global advice is integrated with that of our other practices, particularly finance and corporate where we act on strategic disputes where public and administrative law is a key element.

Our experience includes advising:

• A major tobacco manufacturer and retailer in multiple judicial review challenges to Government regulation of tobacco products including, in the UK, the introduction of plain packaging, and display and tobacco vending machine bans; in Australia and France, the introduction of plain packaging and, by way of challenges before the Court of Justice of the European Union to the validity of the second Tobacco Products Directive.
• A consortium of EEW Energy from Waste UK and Wheelabrator Technologies on a challenge and judicial review of the North London Waste Authorities decision to terminate the procurement competition for a waste services and fuel use contract;
• Aecom/URS in connection with the judicial review of the 2015 decision by the Secretary of State to cancel the £8 billion Sellafield nuclear site decommissioning project;
• Transport for London and the Mayor of London on a judicial review and human rights challenges relating to London airports expansion;
• A private sector nuclear power investor in respect of state aid and public law implications arising out of Government reforms to the UK energy tariff regime;
• Sodexo on a failed procurement in relation to the provision of prison maintenance services, including applying for judicial review;
• The Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in a substantial number of proceedings in the Magistrates', Supreme, Federal and High Courts in relation primary administrative decisions by magistrates in relation to bail and eligibility for extradition and judicial review of or appeals from decisions of magistrates and the Attorney-General under Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) in relation to each of the steps in the extradition process;
• The Australian Federal Police in a number of judicial review proceedings challenging the validity of search warrants issued under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2006 (Cth) and associated civil claims, and related damages claims for trespass; and
• Macquarie Consortium on various statutory construction questions concerning the status of various corporate entities in connection with a multi-billion dollar privatisation, including advice on the operation of critical sections of the Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) dealing with the status, immunities and privileges of the Crown.