Administrative and public law

John Halford

Partner and Head of Public Law and Human Rights department. John Halford is a public law specialist. As a litigator, he has focused on judicial review work since 1993, challenging the unfair exercise and abuse of power by public authorities, human rights breaches and discrimination. John represents individuals, campaign and action groups, unions, charities, schools, professional associations and regulators, arts organisations and commercial companies – not only as judicial review claimants but also as interested parties and interveners in cases brought by others that affect their interests, or those of people they represent. He has had a number of notable successes in high profile test cases in the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and the UK Supreme Court, most recently in the Article 50 litigation, where he represented a group of interested parties. He has European Court of Human Rights experience at Grand Chamber level. John is also a source of decisive and trusted advice on a wide range of complex public law issues. His advisory caseload spans Brexit and other EU law issues, regulatory and licensing, professional disciplinary, procurement, planning, pensions and human rights law matters.

Andrew Lidbetter

Partner

Nusrat Zar

Partner

Oliver Carter

Associate Solicitor

Shirin Marker

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights team. Shirin represents clients in a wide range of public and international law matters, with a particular interest in challenges relating to migrant rights, national security and data protection. Shirin is experienced in bringing judicial review and civil claims against the state on a range of domestic and international law matters. She represents victims of trafficking, false imprisonment, arbitrary detention, torture and extraordinary rendition. She also specialises in bringing appeals before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), on behalf of individuals deprived of their British citizenship. She has participated in roundtable meetings in relation to Syrian returnees and in 2023, provided written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry on the State Handling of Hostage Situations. Shirin also regularly challenges decisions by the police and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) concerning disclosure of information, police record deletion requests, appeals before the Information Tribunal and civil claims for data protection breaches. She is a Trustee of PBI International (UK).  

Isabelle Mitchell

Principal Associate

Edward Taylor

Associate Solicitor

Emma Varley

Associate, Public Law and Human Rights. Emma specialises in judicial review challenges to decisions of public bodies, including decisions by local authorities, schools and health bodies. Emma has a particular interest in Education Law matters, including judicial reviews in the High Court as well as disputes in the Tribunal involving special educational needs. Emma also represents clients in community care cases and in welfare disputes in the Court of Protection.

Alistair Williams

Alistair is a senior associate in the Public & Regulatory team. Alistair works with public bodies, regulators, charities, social enterprises and private sector bodies to help with the full range of public law issues. He advises on the powers and duties of public bodies, statutory interpretation and public law litigation. He also advises on professional discipline, local government law (with a particular interest in local audit), and information law (particularly Freedom of Information).

James Wood

Partner

Benjamin Burrows

Benjamin is a partner in the human rights department at Leigh Day. He is the head of the prison team, where he exclusively acts for people who are in prison or who have been in prison. Benjamin’s work includes private law claims for compensation, public law claims for judicial review and inquests. His work can cover a broad range of litigation, but has a particular focus on discrimination, healthcare and inquests.      

Chris Callender

Partner, Head of Claims against Public Authorities

Olivia Carter

Katy Colton

Katy is a Partner in Mishcon Private and Head of the Politics and Law Group. Katy specialises in political disputes, public law, and commercial litigation predominantly for individuals and their businesses and families. Katy's breadth of experience ensures that she is well-placed to devise creative solutions to meet the needs of private clients in their wider personal, political and business lives. Katy is regularly called upon to advise on public law issues and has broad experience advising politicians, activists, NGOs and charities in relation to complex, often high profile, contentious matters engaging issues of equality, administrative law, human rights and international justice. Katy also has great experience advising clients on complex, high-stakes international litigation, deploying creative legal strategies to achieve her clients' specific objectives. Katy has been at the forefront of high-profile legal cases. In particular, Katy acted for Gina Miller in her successful judicial review claim against the Government, arguing that Article 50 could not be triggered without the express authorisation of Parliament. Katy also made legal precedent by securing the first "fake news" injunction, acted for Margaret Hodge MP in her dispute with the Labour Party in the summer of 2018 and acted for the Jewish Labour Movement in relation to the investigation by the EHRC into Antisemitism within the Labour Party. Katy has built a reputation for excellent technical work and client service, leading to her being named in The Lawyer's Hot 100 2021, which recognises the most daring, creative and innovative lawyers. The publication noted that "Colton has already dealt crunching body blows to Britain’s political elite" and that as Head of Politics and Law, "the responsibility is now hers to build on the firm’s brand as the legal police officer when it comes to constitutional controversy, and if her past results are anything to go by, UK politicians should be wary of not playing by the rules". Legal 500 notes that "Katy Colton is a rising star" and that she is "exceptional in human rights cases which mix corporate and ethical issues". In 2018, Katy was named in Management Today's 35 women under 35, the country's longest-running and prestigious list of young, female business talent and Katy was awarded Lawyer of the Year – Associate in the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2017. She was previously seconded to civil liberties organisation, Liberty, and has worked for David Lammy MP, the US Congressman Robert Wexler and for the Obama For America campaign. Katy has also written widely and recorded podcasts on issues related to the rule of law.

Karen May

Partner and Head of Education Law. Karen mainly acts for individuals although has also had experience of acting for local authorities and schools. Her specialism is judicial review cases, with a particular focus upon education law and community care law judicial reviews. Karen has acted in many leading education law judicial review cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal, concerning vulnerable children. Instructions are also regularly received from parents of children attending independent schools. These instructions often relate to safeguarding and exclusion matters within the independent sector. Karen’s main focus is acting for vulnerable children and adults. This work has seen her acting for a number of families in relation to special educational needs issues during childhood right through to Court of Protection matters in adulthood. It has also seen her acting in challenges against a wide variety of public bodies in addition to local authorities, such as CCGs and Chief Constables. Karen has also acted in a number of cases concerning breaches under the Human Rights Act 1998 and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. She has secured favourable financial settlements for clients in a number of these cases. Karen has also recently acted in a case against a police force concerning breaches under the Human Rights Act 1998 in a claim for damages connected with information on an Enhanced DBS Certificate. She has experience of representing a number of clients in relation to what appears on their Enhanced DBS Certificates. As well as providing representation in relation to higher court cases, Karen regularly represents clients in relation to SEN Tribunal cases, admission appeals and exclusion appeals. She is also regularly instructed in relation to disputes about school transport which is a particularly difficult area with a number of public sectors cuts to transport budgets. Karen’s interest in transport cases stems from acting for the claimant in October 2000. Since that time, she has helped many parents secure suitable transport arrangements for children with special educational needs.

Emily Nicholson

Emily is a Partner in Mishcon Private. Her practice centres on complex commercial cases and she acts for a wide range of clients including individuals, families, companies and not for profit organisations. She has experience across a range of commercial disputes and in a variety of forums, often acting for international clients in complex and multi-faceted disputes. In particular she has experience in breaches of contract, confidence and fiduciary duty, fraud claims and shareholder disputes. As a key part of her offering, Emily acts as a trusted advisor to her clients - assisting with any dispute that might arise including issues between partners (business and romantic), disputes over gifts/loans, problems involving privacy and data protection or issues with friends and family. Notably, Emily acted for Gina Miller in both of her successful landmark constitutional judicial review cases against the government – the first in 2016 in relation to parliamentary approval of the triggering of Article 50 and the second in 2019 in relation to the legality of the Prime Minister's prorogation of parliament. Emily is a trustee of the Book Bus Foundation, a charity that is working to improve child literacy rates in Africa, Asia and South America by providing children with books and the inspiration and skills to read them.

Jasveer Randhawa

Professional Support Consultant

Helen Stone

Helen Stone is a civil litigator who specialises in vindicating the rights of those who had have suffered at the hands of the state. Her core work includes inquests, civil claims, and complaints against the police, as well as claims for judicial review and public inquiries. A dedicated and tenacious solicitor, Helen has long experience in representing at inquests the families of people who died after contact with the police or while in custody. Her cases include some of the most significant police and prison death cases of recent years, helping to achieve justice for the bereaved. Helen is also an accomplished in public inquiry lawyer, having acted for clients in the Azelle Rodney Inquiry, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Helen carries out public law work on behalf of her clients, including acting in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Helen has helped her clients achieve significant sums in compensation from state agencies. She also uses her litigation skills to represent both claimants and defendants in civil fraud claims. Helen also advises those seeking to achieve accountability for the actions of state agents, whether through disciplinary or criminal proceedings, and in seeking to force authorities to change their policies and procedures.

Nick Wrightson

Nick is a partner with a highly regarded specialist administrative and public law practice, focused on three main areas: Judicial review and other forms of public law litigation Public inquiries (supporting core participants, witnesses and evidence providers) Complex inquests (supporting interested persons and witnesses) Nick advises prominent private companies, public bodies, organisations and individuals – often in high stakes, politically and commercially sensitive cases. He also advises on the interpretation of legislation and regulation, professional disciplinary proceedings and freedom of information matters. His experience covers a wide range of sectors including financial services, property, education, energy and policing. He is described in legal directories as “a superstar in the making. Great diligence and intellect with careful client skill." They also say he “sees points others wouldn't even begin to think of” and “his analysis of any given situation gets right to the heart of the issues and his advice is always spot on." Nick’s recent clients include Companies, regulators, a UK political party and senior police officers in judicial review proceedings. Companies, regulators, religious organisations and senior individuals in public inquiries and independent reviews. An internationally renowned university in a complex inquest relating to a terrorist attack. The Prime Minister of Mauritius in an appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Two NGOs in a UK Supreme Court intervention relating to environmental litigation. Publications Nick has written for the leading public law journal ‘Judicial Review’ and is a regular contributor to the ‘New Law Journal’ as well as providing content for Practical Law and LexisNexis. He has spoken at key conferences in his field and is a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings).

Yogi Amin

Partner

Jamie Beagent

Partner and Head of the Human Rights Department

Charles Brasted

Partner

Melanie Carter

Patrick Doris

Patrick Doris is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Dispute Resolution Group in London, where he specialises in global white-collar investigations, commercial litigation and complex compliance advisory matters. Patrick’s practice covers a wide range of disputes, including white-collar crime, internal and regulatory investigations, transnational litigation, class actions, contentious antitrust matters and administrative law challenges against governmental decision-making. Patrick handles major cross-border investigations in the fields of bribery and corruption, fraud, sanctions, money laundering, financial sector wrongdoing, antitrust, consumer protection and tax evasion. Patrick’s recent commercial disputes experience has extended to advising corporations, UK public bodies and sovereign states in claims in courts and tribunals in the UK and around Europe. He has particular expertise in antitrust cases, human rights disputes and collective actions.

William Ford

Partner

Toufique Hossain

Toufique Hossain is a director of public law and immigration at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. He works predominantly under legal aid in order to represent those most in need. His practise is dominated by judicial review, leading strategic litigation where he represents individual claimants and NGOs who seek to challenge Executive decisions, policies and practices.  He has extensive experience in the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, litigating across a range of areas and regularly conducting high-profile challenges to unlawful policies and practices, including unlawful detention and unlawful removals from the UK.Some of his most notabe cases include: SM v Lord Chancellor [2021] EWHC 418 (CRA, CJO, CAS) v Lord Chancellor (challenge to LAA Regulations) Detention Action v SSHD (access to justice – phone access) FB & Anor v SSHD (Removal Window Policy) Hussein v SSHD & G4S Morita & Ors v SSHD Rehman & Ors v SSHD & SSJ TH and others [2016] EWCA Civ 815 Wasif v SSHD [2016] EWCA Civ 82  JS (Sudan) [2013] EWCA Civ 1378   Toufique continues to have conduct of several lead complex cases. He has had conduct in unlawful detention cases involving mental health issues; Rule 35 and evidence in relation torture; lead cases challenging removals to France, Cyprus and Malta; removals to DRC; challenges to detention involving long-term detention of Chinese nationals and Afghan charter flight cases. In addition to challenging injustice through litigation, Toufique aims to advocate human rights by speaking out in the media. His appearances in The Guardian, Sky News, Russia Today, BBC and Channel 4 brings attention to the crucial role of legal aid, in holding the executive to account and in providing justice for those most in need. 

Sophie Kemp

Partner

James Libson

James is the Managing Partner of Mishcon de Reya. He is a litigator who acts mainly for individuals and families in global commercial disputes, and employment and reputation matters. He has been involved in a number of the highest profile cases of the last 20 years, including acting for Deborah Lipstadt in her defence of the claim brought against her by the holocaust denier, David Irving (which case was made into a film, Denial); for Gina Miller in both her recent Supreme Court challenges relating to Article 50 and, in 2019, prorogation; for the Jewish Labour Movement in its referral of the Labour Party to the EHRC; and for several other politicians of all hues over the last 15 years or so. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Law in 2018. James was appointed Managing Partner in 2020, with responsibility for the overall operational management of the law firm. James has sat as a trustee and chaired several charities, particularly in the refugee space and currently chairs Prism, the Gift Fund, a charity that seeks to increase the flow of funds to the philanthropic sector.  

Julia Marlow

Partner

Kate Maynard

Kate Maynard specialises in civil litigation on behalf of people who have been failed by the criminal justice system: victims of crime, victims of miscarriages of justice and those on the receiving end of the abuse of police power. She is an expert on inquest law who has represented individuals in some of the most significant recent inquests involving allegations of abuse of power by state bodies. She has particular expertise in deaths following police contact and in prison and immigration custody. Kate also carries our public law work on behalf of claimants and defendants in civil actions relating to her main practice areas. Kate forges close professional relationships with her clients which endure over what is often years while striving to achieve justice in complex and long-burning cases in which she specialises. A pioneer in the emerging legal field of universal jurisdiction (cases which cover various territories and crimes), Kate’s total dedication to her clients’ causes has seen her achieve successes in a variety of complex and high-profile matters.

Emma Dowden-Teale