Claire Whittle

She/herPartner

Our interactions with Claire are always positive and the work she does is to a high standard.

Administrative & Public Law, Chambers 2024

Emailclaire.whittle@akd.partners

Call+44 20 7153 72 25

London

About

Claire Whittle is a regulatory and public lawyer who advises on a wide range of advisory and contentious matters. Claire has over 14 years’ post-qualification experience and is recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for administrative and public law.

Claire’s practice includes judicial review, public inquiries, equalities and human rights, freedom of information and public procurement.

Claire has experience of advising public, private and third sector clients on a variety of public law issues including consultation and the lawfulness of decision making, and bringing and defending related challenges via judicial review, statutory appeal and under equalities and human rights law. She has extensive experience of advising on the application of regulatory regimes, including registration, compliance, enforcement and related legal challenges, and particular experience of advising clients subject to more than one regulatory regime.

Claire has advised public, private and third sector clients on compliance with the public procurement regime, engagement in public procurement processes and bringing and defending legal challenges.

Claire has acted for clients (including core participants and witnesses) in relation to the COVID-19 Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Grenfell Inquiry and the Leveson Inquiry into phone hacking.

Claire’s practice covers a range of sectors including consumer goods, food and retail; education; energy and natural resources; healthcare; infrastructure, construction and transport; local government; media, sport and entertainment; and technology.

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and Retail Energy and Natural Resources Healthcare Infrastructure, Construction and Transport Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Media, Sport and Entertainment Technology

Professional QualificationsSolicitor-Advocate in England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

Acting for a number and range of government bodies to defend public procurement.
Acting for a claimant in a public procurement challenge in the transport sector.
Recently advised a public sector body on a public procurement process and related Freedom of Information Act requests.
Advising a statutory body on its establishment and compliance with public law duties and the public procurement regime.
Advising a public sector body on public law risks in relation to a significant digital transformation project.
As part of a wider DLA team, advising a government department in relation to a regulatory project and associated legal risks.
Lead public lawyer for a client in relation to the COVID-19 Inquiry.
Advising a commercial client on potential public law challenges and Freedom of Information Act requests in the transport sector.
Advising a commercial client on potential public law challenges in relation to tax.
Advising a client in relation to its engagement with the Financial Reporting Council.
Advising a client in relation to the potential acquisition of an education business, including advice on CQC and OFSTED regulation.
In a pro bono capacity, Claire has provided advice to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in relation to the jurisdiction of children without parental care under the provisions of the 1996 Hague Convention regarding the Protection of Children, and in particular how those provisions apply to specific circumstances arising from the conflict in Ukraine.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Education

BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course, 2008

Oxford University, BA (Hons), Jurisprudence (Law), 2007

Prior Experience

2015 to 2023, Partner (2022) and Head of Public & Regulatory Department, London based national law firm.
2009 to 2014, Trainee solicitor and associate, London based international law firm.

Additional Information

Claire s recent pro bono work includes providing equalities law training to LGBTQ and disability charities.
Claire is a member of DLA s social mobility network and has been actively involved in social mobility initiatives since university.

Memberships and Affiliations