Andrew is a Principal Associate in our Public Law team.
Andrew is an Australia-trained solicitor working in the UK for over 20 years. He is a senior member of the Public and Regulatory Law team, and is highly experienced in Public and Administrative Law, Government Advisory, Regulatory Law, Litigation and Legal Research.
Andrew is a trusted advisor to his public body clients, providing clear and pragmatic public law and regulatory advice and helping them make good decisions, within the rule of law, to reduce the risk of successful challenge.
Andrew is mindful of the impact that decisions of public bodies can have on individuals and groups within the community. He advises individuals and businesses to ensure transparency and accountability from decision makers, including challenges to decisions where appropriate.
Andrew joined us in early 2023 from the Government Legal Department where he provided public law advice to Ministers in various Departments on a number of high priority, high profile and/or complex matters, including litigation, with significant impacts across the country and internationally.
Expertise
- Public/administrative and constitutional law
- Judicial review/litigation
- Regulatory law
- Equality and human rights
- Public inquiries and investigations
- Commercial disputes
Recent work
Andrew joins us from the Government Legal Department where he provided advice to Ministers in various Departments on a number issues including:
COVID travel measures
Senior Lawyer within Department for Transport Legal Advisors, leading on advising Ministers and senior officials regarding international COVID travel measures (international travel restrictions (including the “traffic light” system), vaccine certification).
Volkswagen emissions scandal
Advising the Secretary of State for Transport with respect to the Government response to the Volkswagen emissions scandal, including defending potential legal claims by Volkswagen.
Op Yellowhammer
Advising the Department for Transport on Op Yellowhammer (contingency planning for a “no deal” Brexit”) – including supporting various strands of the Kent Traffic Management plan, facilitating the deployment of Operation Brock, and legal support for the freight prioritisation programme to ensure the supply of category 1 goods into the UK.
Detaining asylum seekers
Defending the Home Secretary in multiple challenges brought against the policy of detaining asylum seekers whose claim is capable of a quick decision (the “Detained Fast Track).
London Metropolitan University
Acting for the Home Secretary in a challenge brought by London Metropolitan University (LMU) against the revocation of its Tier 4 sponsor licence on the basis that it had failed to meet its screening obligations and was a risk to immigration control. LMU was the first university to face revocation.
Ministry of Defence
Conducting litigation for the Ministry of Defence (particularly the “Camp Breadbasket” litigation) defending civil claim brought by foreign claimants alleging mistreatment by British troops in Iraq – including a successful mediation outside the UK.
Guantanamo Bay
Defending numerous government Departments (including the Home Office and Security Services) in private law claims brought by former detainees at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Al Rawi v The Security Service & Others).