COVID-19 Pressure Points: The Right to Property

22 April, 2020
The current pandemic has led to an extraordinary level of state action. In many cases this has involved interference with the private rights of businesses and individuals. While states are undoubtedly seeking to balance health and economic concerns of the utmost importance, their actions nevertheless must comply with rules of domestic and international law. In … Read more

High Court finds that the suspension of pension benefits breaches the Human Rights Act

25 February, 2020
In R (on the application of British Medical Association) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2020] EWHC 64 (Admin) the British Medical Association (the “Claimant”), a trade union and professional body for doctors, successfully challenged the National Health Service Pension Schemes, Additional Voluntary Contributions and Injury Benefits (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (the “Regulations”). … Read more

Labour’s plans for energy and medicines – public law analysis

10 December, 2019
We have published two papers which consider the impact of the Labour Party’s recently announced policies on two heavily regulated sectors, namely the energy and pharmaceutical industries. The policies proposed in relation to both sectors, which are similar to those now also proposed in other industries (such as the water industry and in relation to … Read more

Practice head receives award for pro bono contribution

05 December, 2019
The public law team is delighted that Andrew Lidbetter, practice head, has won the Best Contribution by an Individual Award at the LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards 2019. This category considers pro bono lawyers as well as senior partners who have championed pro bono legal work in a firm. The award was presented by the … Read more

Supreme Court holds that public authorities may disapply secondary legislation in cases of incompatibility with the Human Rights Act

13 November, 2019
In RR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2019] UKSC 52, the Supreme Court has dealt with an important constitutional question on the powers of public authorities and tribunals. In its judgment handed down today, it held that a public authority, court or tribunal can disapply a provision of subordinate legislation which would … Read more