Administrative & Public Law: Mainly Commercial
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
About
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Commercial and regulated industries are faced with an increasingly complex landscape of regulatory and governmental decision-making, resulting in more contentious and non-contentious issues which require specialist advice.
Our market-leading Public Law and Regulatory practice has unrivalled specialist expertise and experience in advising clients on the full range of contentious and non-contentious administrative and public law and regulatory issues. We bring a commercial and strategic approach, protecting our clients' positions in anticipated regulatory and Governmental decision-making, and in proceedings and investigations.
We regularly assist our clients with:
- Judicial review and statutory appeals
- Procurement disputes
- Proposed legislative, regulatory and policy changes
- Inquiries, investigations and Parliamentary select committees
- Freedom of Information
Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills is a leading practice in administrative and public law litigation. The firm is adept at representing both claimants and defendants in complex judicial reviews, as well as broader regulatory challenges. The team counsels major clients in the financial services, energy and transportation sectors. It is instructed on behalf of core participants in sensitive public inquiries and also continues to advise on a wide range of public law issues arising from Brexit.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehills defended High Speed Two (HS2) in a challenge to its decision to acquire 54 high speed trains for operation on the UK's new high speed railway.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team is always accessible. They provide proactive and timely advice in a calm and professional manner."
"The lawyers are very client focused."
"Herbert Smith Freehills is the Rolls Royce of the city public firms. They are all incredibly personable, reasonable and really bright."
"The team is always accessible. They provide proactive and timely advice in a calm and professional manner."
"The lawyers are very client focused."
"Herbert Smith Freehills is the Rolls Royce of the city public firms. They are all incredibly personable, reasonable and really bright."
Notable Practitioners
Andrew Lidbetter co-leads Herbert Smith Freehills' public law practice. As a dispute resolution partner, he demonstrates expertise in judicial reviews, regulatory disputes and human rights matters.
"Andrew is strong on the overlap between human rights and public law. He has this real instinct for points."
"Andrew has a strong style of approaching cases."
"Andrew is vastly experienced in the field."
Nusrat Zar co-heads the public law practice at Herbert Smith Freehills. She offers tremendous experience in an array of public law matters and is proficient in judicial reviews, public inquiries and procurement-related challenges.
"Nusrat Zar is tremendously good with clients in challenging circumstances."
"Nusrat is very responsive, calm under pressure and provides very good advice."
Jasveer Randhawa is a solicitor advocate in the administrative and public law practice at Herbert Smith Freehills. She has in-depth experience handling judicial reviews and disciplinary investigations for public bodies and private organisations in the charities and financial services sectors, among others.
"Jasveer Randhawa is brilliant and strong with clients."
"Jasveer is super good on the law and a very thoughtful public lawyer."
James Wood of Herbert Smith Freehills is a partner in the team with a public law and regulatory disputes focus. He is noted for his broad practice which encompasses judicial reviews and regulatory advice.
"James Wood has got a very good litigation skillset."
"James has just the right reaction to things. He is really clever and delightful to work with."
"James is very engaged and proactive."
Christine Iacono is a senior associate at Herbert Smith Freehills. She focuses her practice on regulatory matters, inquiries and judicial reviews.
"Christine Iacono is very hardworking and tenacious."
"Christine is very organised, impressive and responsive to client needs."
"Christine is extremely talented."
Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills