Withers Worldwide

Administrative & public law (UK)

We act for private individuals when they get into public law disputes of all descriptions.

An important aspect of our work involves representing clients who wish to challenge the lawfulness of a decision or action by a public body - for example, a local authority or immigration authority - through judicial review proceedings.

We also advise on regulatory matters before such bodies as the Revenue and Customs authorities, the Charity Commission, the planning authorities, OFCOM, the Financial Services Authority, the Takeover Panel and others.

Such matters often attract media attention. We have a wealth of experience in advising how best to manage the media, for example, in taking pre-emptive action to prevent the publication or broadcast of damaging stories or afterwards in obtaining damages, corrections and apologies from the media or redress from the media regulators.

Recent work

Advising Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay on the reform of the Channel Island of Sark's Constitution including its legislature, electoral system, inheritance, land, trust and tax laws to ensure that they are legally robust and human rights compliant. This has resulted in a successful application to the European Court of Human Rights, as well as numerous domestic applications in the UK and Guernsey.
Representing an individual client who is challenging an assessment to inheritance tax on his late partner's estate. He has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that failure to extend the spouse exemption from IHT to same-sex couples is discriminatory and breaches the Human Rights Act.
Advising HM Coroner for Inner West London in a high-profile case concerning the shooting of a beautician at Harvey Nichols by a former boyfriend and fellow employee.
Acting for 21 part-time fee-paid immigration judges of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, regarding a judicial decision not to reappoint them on new fixed-term renewable contracts.

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Administrative & public law (UK)

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