Emma Dowden-Teale

Emma Dowden-Teale is DLA Piper UK's Head of Public Law and is Global Co-Chair for Public, Constitutional and Administrative law comprising DLA Piper’s public lawyers across the UK, Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Emma is also the Global Co-Lead of the firm's ESG Treating People Fairly pillar, which co-ordinates and supports the firm's intersectional, inter-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional work in relation to advice on human rights and risk management of potential harm to individuals in connection with organisations' global operations.

Emma advises on all aspects of public law, both contentious and advisory, including in respect of human rights, equality, procurement and inquiries.

Emma is a trusted advisor to government in the UK, and often advises at the intersection between the public and private sector. Her practice includes, on the public sector side, drafting and implementation of legal frameworks, policies, decisions and legislation, as well as defending public bodies in judicial review, human rights claims, equality claims and statutory appeals. Emma also advises private sector clients in the shaping of operations to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulation and broader human rights requirements; in respect of procurements; and representing them in challenges to public sector decisions when appropriate.

Her experience reaches the four corners of public law practice. She has previously been seconded to a number of UK public bodies to provide advice as in-house counsel, as well as acting in reviews, inquiries, public law litigation, human rights complaints and constitutional challenges outside of the UK. Emma is particularly adept at advising and litigating in legally and politically dynamic contexts.

Emma is highly experienced in liaising with sponsoring central Government departments and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in connection with the production and passage of draft legislation through Parliament and variously drafting and commenting upon legislation, statutory instruments and statutory and other guidance, policies and procedures.

She therefore has a truly 360° view of public law issues: from policy inception, development, related decision-making and implementation, enforcement and potential challenge.