Law firm appoints two former Government Legal Department lawyers to public law team
Law firm Kingsley Napley has hired two former senior government lawyers – Natalie Cohen and Harry Carter – to strengthen its public law offering on public body-related challenges, litigation and procedures.
Cohen is joining the firm as a partner after more than 20 years of experience advising central government departments at the Government Legal Department.
In her time in Whitehall, Cohen oversaw litigation for departments including the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Education, the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Lord Carter of Haslemere CB, is meanwhile leaving his role as general counsel at 10 Downing Street to become a consultant at the firm.
During his 34-year-long career as a Government Legal Department lawyer, Lord Carter also held senior roles at the Home Office and at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
He took up his seat as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords in December 2023.
The pair will become part of Kingsley Napley's public law team, which covers public inquiries, administrative & public law (commercial) and administrative & public law (public sector and charities).
The team advises a variety of public, private and third-section clients on judicial reviews, public body powers, select committee hearings, FOI requests, human rights law and public inquiries.
Commenting on her appointment, Natalie Cohen said: "I am pleased to be joining such an excellent team and am very much looking forward to my new role in private practice, bringing challenges against the Government rather than defending them.
"The fact I know how Government and policy making works from the inside will hopefully be a valuable perspective for clients."
Harry Carter added: "Kingsley Napley has a great tradition of taking on former Government lawyers and I am pleased to be following that path. The firm has a leading Public Law practice and a long-standing reputation for advising on complex, high-profile and politically sensitive matters, where I hope my knowledge and expertise will be of assistance."
Adam Carey