PUBLIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

This area concerns the decision-making and polices of public bodies and private bodies that work on behalf of the State. These bodies are obliged to act in accordance with established principles of fairness and human rights. If they fail to do so, their decisions and polices are unlawful and can be challenged in the High Court.

Smith v The FA

Judicial review of The Football Association in connection with its partnership with Stonewall and regarding its authorisation and encouragement of players to wear rainbow laces and armbands during Pride month. The Claimant was a gay Newcastle supporter who is gender critical and does not want to see politics in football. The FA changed its position after we issued proceedings in the High Court and announced it was dropping the Rainbow Laces Campaign, which had been running for over 10 years, and henceforth was dissociating itself from Stonewall. CONCLUDED

The Good Law Project & Others v The Equality and Human Rights Commission

Represented the charity, Sex Matters, in its intervention in a case brought by the Good Law Project, which challenges guidance issued by the Commission on single sex spaces. Awaiting judgment. ONGOING

Christian Institute v Civil Service

A judicial review claim against Keir Starmer as head of the Civil Service and against the Cabinet Office for serious breaches of the duty of impartiality owed by civil servants as evidenced by the taxpayer-funded, centrally organised mass official participation by thousands of civil servants in dozens of Pride marches across the country every summer. ONGOING

Beedell & Stephenson v Bristol City Council

A judicial review of Bristol City Council concerning its failure to comply with its obligations regarding the conduct of council business and, in particular, full meetings of the Council as demonstrated inter alia by the disorder occurring in the July, Sept and Nov 2025 meetings. When members of the public raised questions about the Council’s unlawful trans-inclusion policy, councillors waved placards and many left the chamber. The Council’s ban on the claimants entering City Hall for six months and the removal of one claimant from the Council’s remuneration committee are also being challenged as unlawful. ONGOING

Bayswater v London Safeguarding Children’s Partnership

The LCSP, a publicly funded body, was offering online training courses to safeguarding professionals and others which strongly promoted the affirmation of a child’s trans identity without any investigation or discussion thereof. The training misrepresented the law and advocated for activism, in stark contrast to the careful and cautious approach of NHS Guidance, DFE Guidance and the Cass review. It gave rise to grave safeguarding concerns but was marketed as a safeguarding course. After receiving a letter from CGL on behalf of our clients, The Bayswater Support Group, the LSCP backed down and withdrew the course. CONCLUDED