Public sector contracts

Gain expertise in the nuances of public sector contracts, where legal precision is paramount. This topic offers insights into drafting, negotiating, and managing contracts within the public domain, ensuring practitioners can effectively serve their clients' interests.

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Latest Public Law News

State aid—weekly round-up 13 May 2026

State aid—weekly round-up 13 May 2026

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 6–12 May 2026....

King's Speech 2026—key public law announcements

King's Speech 2026—key public law announcements

His Majesty the King set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the 2026–27 parliamentary session at the State Opening of...

Is a judicial review the right remedy for a claim for sex discrimination?—R (Sex Matters) v Corporation of London

Is a judicial review the right remedy for a claim for sex discrimination?—R (Sex Matters) v Corporation of London

Public law analysis: In this case, the Administrative Court at first instance rejected an application by the campaign group Sex Matters (the claimant)...

Police facial recognition policy compatible with human rights—R (Thompson) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

Police facial recognition policy compatible with human rights—R (Thompson) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

Public Law analysis: The Administrative Court held that the Metropolitan Police Service’s Live Facial Recognition (LFR) policy satisfied the ‘quality...

Featured Public Law content

Sources of constitutional law

Sources of constitutional law

Sources of constitutional lawIn briefThe British constitution is unwritten in the sense that it does not derive from a single constitutional text. It...

Methods of statutory interpretation

Methods of statutory interpretation

Methods of statutory interpretation used to resolve disputes about the meaning of legislationIntroduction to statutory interpretationThe aim of...

Convention rights—structure of qualified rights

Convention rights—structure of qualified rights

Convention rights—structure of qualified rightsThe rights preserved under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as set out in the Human...

Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocol

Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocol

Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocolWhen considering whether and how to bring a claim for judicial review, the first step is to...

Practice notes

Grounds of judicial review—unreasonableness

Grounds of judicial review—unreasonablenessThis Practice Note outlines the ground of judicial review usually known as unreasonableness or...
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Produced in partnership with Siân McGibbon, Barrister, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
2nd Jun
Q&As

What is fettering of discretion in judicial review? When is it an actionable ground of challenge and what must be established for a challenge to succeed?

What is fettering of discretion in judicial review? When is it an actionable ground of challenge and what must be established for a challenge to...
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Produced in partnership with Jamas Hodivala KC of Matrix Chambers
13th Oct
Practice notes

Separation of powers—legislative, executive and judiciary

Separation of powers—legislative, executive and judiciarySource of the doctrine of the separation of powersThe origins of the doctrine of the...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Grounds of judicial review—illegality

Grounds of judicial review—illegalityOverview of the illegality groundIllegality is the first of the grounds on judicial review set out by Lord...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

What is a public authority?

What is a public authority?There is no single, universal answer to the question whether a particular organisation is treated, in law, as a public...
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30th May
Practice notes

Grounds of judicial review—procedural impropriety

Grounds of judicial review—procedural improprietyProcedural impropriety as a ground of judicial review‘Procedural impropriety’ is the last of the...
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Produced in partnership with Siân McGibbon, Barrister, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Judicial review—interested parties and interveners

Judicial review—interested parties and intervenersInterested partiesIn the context of judicial review, an interested party is 'any person (other than...
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Produced in partnership with Julia Marlow and Megan Smith of Hogan Lovells
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Parliamentary supremacy—implied repeal

Parliamentary supremacy—implied repealEssential to Parliament’s legislative supremacy is the principle that Parliament is not bound by its...
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2nd Jun
Q&As

What is the legal basis and effect of revoking UK legislation?

What is the legal basis and effect of revoking UK legislation?What does it mean to repeal legislation?To repeal a piece of legislation revokes or...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Grounds of judicial review—breach of legitimate expectation

Grounds of judicial review—breach of legitimate expectationThe ground of challenge based on legitimate expectations is designed to hold a public...
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Produced in partnership with Jack Castle of Henderson Chambers
13th Oct
Practice notes

Royal Charters

Royal ChartersWhat is a Royal Charter?The term 'Royal Charter' has transformed over time. Originally, a Royal Charter was a procedure by which the...
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Produced in partnership with Adam Cygan of University of Leicester and Darragh Connell
13th Oct
Practice notes

Costs for judicial review—general principles

Costs for judicial review—general principlesGeneral rule on costs in judicial reviewThe general rule in relation to costs in judicial review, as in...
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Produced in partnership with Adam Heppinstall of Henderson Chambers and Jack Castle of Henderson Chambers
13th Oct
Practice notes

Judicial review—what it is and when it can be used

Judicial review—what it is and when it can be usedWhat is judicial review?Judicial review is a process by which the courts exercise a supervisory...
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Produced in partnership with Mathew Purchase of Matrix Chambers and Dr Mirza Ahmad of St Philips Chambers
13th Oct
Practice notes

Judicial deference and the margin of appreciation

Judicial deference and the margin of appreciationJudicial deference is also known as the principle that 'respect is a central concept in judicial...
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Produced in partnership with Alexander Campbell of Cornerstone Barristers and Eric Metcalfe of Monckton Chambers
13th Oct
Practice notes

Consultation: requirement and process

Consultation: requirement and processAny consultation exercise carried out by a public authority in relation to a proposed decision must be conducted...
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30th May
Practice notes

Secondary or delegated legislation

Secondary or delegated legislationLegislationThe English legal system is based upon two primary sources of law:•legislation, and•case law, or common...
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30th May

Popular documents

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal fees, will that count as a PET against their estate?A disclaimer is the refusal of a gift prior to acceptance. The refusal of the gift must take place before the beneficiary accepts any benefit