Public Law

Our team of public law lawyers has over twenty-five years of experience acting in 'sensitive, high profile and politically inflected' matters. We act for individuals (including senior professionals and public figures), companies and business groups, charities and pressure groups as well as government and public bodies themselves.
 

Whether you are contemplating or defending a judicial review challenge, appearing before a public inquiry, major inquest or select committee, or concerned about protecting personal information, we understand that you have wider interests at stake, be they organisational, financial, commercial, reputational or business and human rights.

Public law solicitors

We are a leading public law team in the UK, consistently top-ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. We are recognised for our "exceptional capabilities" and "enormous strengths'' acting on behalf of public and private sector clients.

As one of the only dedicated public law teams in the country, we rapidly get to the heart of the issue, providing realistic legal advice so that you can confidently navigate the bigger picture, as well as the litigation or inquiry at hand.

Our team is led by Sophie Kemp, recognised as “impressive lawyer” and “contributor to public law”.

Contact our Public Law Team

What clients and directories say

Kingsley Napley has one of the most outstanding teams of public lawyers in London. They are a go-to firm for challenging public law case."

The Legal 500, 2025

Kingsley Napley responds very quickly to queries and always responds with positive, constructive solutions which are practical to implement."

Chambers and Partners 2025

The group has a unique blend of government experience as well as private client experience. They really understand government work and clients."

Chambers and Partners 2025

The team is very focussed and ensures that the right people are in situ to provide the right advice. I also find them extremely organised in terms of setting out clearly what their terms are, their likely costs and their contractual arrangements. The advice given is very precise and detailed and the quality of their correspondence is exceptional."

The Legal 500, 2024

The team now has quite a few solicitors who each tend to develop a specific expertise, either in estate planning or in administration of estate. They are very interested by international matters and understand that the differences between the legal systems lead to a need for adaptation."

The Legal 500, 2024

Impressive versatility to deal with all manner of public law work, particularly touching on commercial interests. KN draws in this on its extensive history in reputational protection for companies and individuals.”

Legal 500 UK, 2023

Kingsley Napley have a public law team which is unrivalled in depth and public law experience."

Legal 500 UK, 2023

I am impressed with their ability to think very holistically and strategically. They also think about the complexity of our organisational structure and how this could impact any proceedings in future.”

Chambers UK, 2023

The public law team at KN are exceptional. They are clever, pragmatic, reassuring and approachable.”

Legal 500 UK, 2023

They are easy to get hold of, very agile and speak plainly about what outcomes are likely and what are reasonable, which is really helpful in delicate situations."

Chambers UK, 2022

They are strong public lawyers who understand the area well and ensure clients do the right thing on the way to winning."

Chambers UK, 2022

They inspire confidence and their teamwork is very good."

Chambers UK, 2022

Their manner is excellent. They understand your needs and are sympathetic to them. They listen. Their advice is thoughtful and realistic."

Legal 500 UK, 2022

The team has a broad range of skills and handles all public law issues effectively."

Legal 500 UK, 2022

Knowledgeable, responsive, thoughtful, professional, well networked and well connected, with a touch of elegance which goes beyond what one normally encounters in a legal firm.”

Legal 500 UK, 2021

The team is small but packs a punch well above its size: they are quick, flexible, continuously on the ball and efficient.”

Legal 500 UK, 2021

They are outstanding; they combine high-level legal skills with real human understanding."

Chambers UK, 2021

Legal advice is always given with an awareness and deep experience of the wider legal context (in our case, public inquiries) and a sensitivity to the client’s objectives.”

Legal 500 UK 2021

One of the top public law teams."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2020

The team has a strong focus and the determination to achieve what is required."

Legal 500 UK, 2020

I find them hands-on, engaged and willing to provide feedback for the work we do."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2020

The firm has an amazing engagement with clients and barristers with a real sense of teamwork."

Legal 500 UK, 2020

Provides high-quality public law advice to public and private sector organisations alike."

Legal 500 UK, 2020

One of their main strengths is the personal touch - you get the sense the lawyers really care about the work they undertake and you as a client."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2019

Pragmatic advice which always demonstrates a sensitivity to the concerns and objectives of the client."

Legal 500 UK, 2019

Experience, willingness to challenge and be challenged, understanding of legislation, regulations and drafting skills."

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2018

Clients are ‘very impressed with the degree of care’ Kingsley Napley LLP has in handling judicial reviews, public inquiries, inquests and regulatory matters."

Legal 500 UK, 2017

A real diversity of work. They benefit from experience acting for individuals, companies and public bodies, which gives them a depth and gravitas that sets them apart. Also, they are very friendly and down to earth individuals."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2017

All the people I have come across there are very high quality and know what they are doing."

A client

Client service has been good, always with a quick turnaround to requests for advice. They are responsive and have a good understanding of client needs."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2017

They were very approachable, friendly and responsive, and they provide good value for money." 

A client

They have exceptional capabilities, their strengths are enormous and we have been extremely pleased with the work the public law team has done."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2016

What I like about them is that they are quite a small firm but have extremely good management of big cases. All of their clients get a great deal of attention." 

A client

The ‘fantastic’ team at Kingsley Napley LLP ‘is dedicated and undertakes some of the most high profile public cases."

Legal 500 UK, 2015

Practice head Adam Chapman’s ‘experience working in government makes him the ideal lawyer for both commercial and claimant judicial review."

Legal 500 UK, 2015

Sources praise the group's abilities in 'sensitive, high-profile, politically inflected work' and attest that 'what is really refreshing is their commitment to their clients and the care they take'..."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Adam Chapman "is a very wise, astute public law lawyer," according to sources, who add: "He was a Treasury solicitor for a long time, which gives him a very well-rounded judgement."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Stephen Parkinson is an "extremely astute and enormously experienced" former government lawyer who is considered to be one of the leading public law solicitors in the country."

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession