Public law and judicial review

When dealing with the growing number of judicial review challenges against public body actions, it's important to have a proactive solution in place.

Overview

With our extensive experience representing public bodies in high-profile cases across the health and social care sector, we possess an unparalleled ability to quickly, practically, and cost-effectively handle cases.

We pride ourselves on offering tailored and bespoke advice on a wide range of matters, including constitutional and governance issues, equalities and human rights, commercial and income generating relationships, regulatory functions, and policy formulation and implementation.

Our approach goes beyond just the legal aspects of the case. We understand the importance of protecting your reputation, not just defending you. We believe in taking a proactive approach to legal challenges and work closely with you, as partners, early in your policy and decision-making processes to identify and mitigate potential risks and prevent legal challenges from occurring.

However, we also recognise that some cases cannot be prevented as individuals may challenge decisions or test points of principle in court. We will provide you with prompt and clear advice on your prospects of success and the associated risks of the review. If the review proceeds, we will defend you tenaciously with our expertise and knowledge of what works in these cases.

Our public lawyers all handle both advisory and contentious matters. Our judicial review expertise enables us to identify and mitigate real-world risks of challenge as we advise, as we know the trends and arguments used in the court.

Featured experience

  • Successfully defending NHS England in R (Gardner) v. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and NHS England, a high-profile judicial review of the impact of pandemic response measures on care home residents
  • Successfully defending the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in R (Bell) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, a high-profile judicial review challenge to the practice of prescribing puberty suppressing drugs to persons under the age of 18 who experience gender dysphoria
  • Successfully defending NHS England before the High Court and Court of Appeal in R (Professor Stephen Hawking) v. DHSC and NHS England, and R (Jenny Shepherd) v. NHS England and NHS Improvement, two high-profile judicial review challenges to proposals for integrated care partnerships
  • Successfully representing the Royal College of Physicians in connection with judicial review proceedings seeking to challenge the decision to adopt a public position of neutrality on the question of assisted dying

What our clients say

  • One client comments: "They're experts in their fields with a fantastic grasp of the issues facing public bodies and a very pragmatic approach".'

    Chambers and Partners UK 2019 Edition, Administrative and public law, UK-wide

  • DAC Beachcroft are able to provide clear and strong advice on complex governance issues.

    Chambers and Partners UK 2023 Edition, Administrative & Public Law: Mainly Public Sector & Charities client UK

  • DAC Beachcroft are very helpful and understand the links between changes in the law and data issues in healthcare

    Chambers and Partners UK 2023 Edition, Administrative & Public Law: Mainly Public Sector & Charities client UK

  • The team at DAC Beachcroft provide good technical knowledge throughout.

    Chambers and Partners UK 2023 Edition, Administrative & Public Law: Mainly Public Sector & Charities client UK

  • They have a good ability to field subject matter experts on every matter which may arise. They are extremely responsive and good at managing expectations realistically.

    Chambers and Partners UK 2023 Edition, Administrative & Public Law: Mainly Public Sector & Charities client UK

Public law and judicial review key contacts

Quiénes somos

¿Por qué elegir DAC Beachcroft?

Somos un bufete comercial de amplia base que presta servicios a una gran variedad de sectores, con una sólida herencia en seguros,
salud e inmobiliario. Combinamos excelentes conocimientos jurídicos y experiencia de vanguardia para diseñar soluciones en
que se adapten a las necesidades de nuestros clientes, a menudo con un uso inteligente de la tecnología.