Regulatory & public law

We have carried out well over 350 investigations of allegations of misconduct of members and senior officers of public bodies including large unitary and combined local authorities to town and parish councils. We often work closely with our employment colleagues where employment issues intersect with governance issues.

Our work with the Security Industry Authority saw us working alongside our strategic and high-level employment solicitors in a comprehensive investigation to uncover the cause of a complex HR issue.

We recently worked with a London Borough on a sensitive councillor conduct matter involving the impact of international issues within local democracy and the impact on councillors’ rights of free speech.

In addition to undertaking investigations ourselves, the team also advises public and regulatory bodies on the assessment, scoping, commissioning and receipt of investigation reports, on which we work very closely with senior leaders, including chief executives, local authority leaders and monitoring officers. We have supported a number of local authorities as adviser to their standards hearings committees, guiding them through the pre-hearing, hearing and post-hearing stages.

The team regularly advises public bodies on the intricacies of decision-making and procedures. Members of our team have been appointed in the roles of Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer for national parks and local authorities and have stood in for Monitoring Officers in internal local authority meetings. We have rewritten and updated local authorities’ Constitutions and the governance policies for internal drainage boards. The team also rewrote the latest edition of the Good Governance Guide for the Association of Drainage Authorities and the guide “Local Councils Explained” for the National Association of Local Councils.

Estelle Culligan is the author and presenter of the Committees Basic and Advanced Survival Guide two day course for Lawyers in local Government. The team regularly presents seminars and talks for public sector trade organisations and we have provided several individualised training days for public and private sector clients.

Our data protection experts work closely with small, medium and large businesses to ensure that their data processes are compliant.

Working with one of the UK and Ireland’s largest providers of temperature-controlled storage, we have created privacy notices, data policies and ensured compliance with Article 30 of GDPR. We offer our clients a single point of call for all their data law solutions.

Education Law

Our team advises maintained schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, colleges and individuals on a wide range of education and public law matters.

We have particular experience in judicial review claims, EHCP and SEND disputes, and disability discrimination claims, including challenges to decisions made by schools and local authorities. We also advise on admissions, exclusions, safeguarding, equality and complex complaints.

We also advise on complex governance matters, including senior leadership and governance issues, significant organisational restructures, changes to leadership arrangements and other sensitive matters involving regulatory or public law considerations.

Information Law

We advise organisations on all aspects of data protection and information law, from day-to-day compliance and complex projects to contentious matters.

Our experience includes conducting data audits, advising on complex data structures and international data sharing, undertaking data protection impact assessments for technical projects, responding to data breaches and complex subject access requests, and preparing and reviewing policies. Our clients include major transport providers, international non-profit organisations and public bodies.

We also advise on contentious privacy and information law matters, including claims brought by individuals, from the pre-action stage through to proceedings, as well as disputes arising from data breaches and the misuse of information.

Bence v Cornwall Council & Information Commissioner [2025] UKUT 420 (AAC)

We successfully acted on behalf of Ms Bence in the proceedings that led to the Upper Tribunal’s landmark decision and the first information law case in which a public authority has been found in contempt of court by the UT. The UT upheld our client’s application finding contempt and awarding £35,000 in costs. The judgment breaks new legal ground and provides authoritative guidance on the approach to contempt proceedings arising from freedom of information appeals.

Professional discipline 

We advise professionals facing regulatory investigations and proceedings, providing support from the initial investigation through to final hearings and appeals.

Our experience includes representing teachers in proceedings brought by the Teaching Regulation Agency concerning allegations of serious professional misconduct, advising healthcare professionals in fitness to practise investigations and proceedings before the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service, and acting in appeals against Disclosure and Barring Service decisions.

Our regulatory solicitors have drafted an array of modern slavery and human trafficking guidance for local and national corporate clients.

Working with a CO2 specialist based in the UK and Ireland, we drafted their modern slavery and human trafficking statement, ensuring that they are compliant with Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act.

The team also advised on organisational structure and practical steps to be taken to safeguard individuals from modern slavery.

We work closely with a wide variety of clients to create anti-bribery and corruption policies. Our work helps ensure that our partners are working in good faith and providing their employees and clients with options that are in keeping with best practice.