DLA Piper appoints new partner to head up UK Contentious Public Law team

DLA Piper has appointed Emma Dowden-Teale as a partner to head its UK wide Contentious Public Law team, that sits within the wider Litigation and Regulatory practice.

Emma, who joins from Bates Wells, is a trusted advisor to government and multiple regulators, and often advises at the intersection between the public and private sector. Her well-respected practice includes, on the public sector side, the drafting and implementation of legal frameworks, policies and decisions, and defending public bodies in judicial review and appeal litigation. In the private sector, Emma advises clients in the shaping of operations to comply with legislation and regulation, and challenging public sector decisions when appropriate to do so. Within her broader practice, Emma advises on equality, human rights, procurement and public inquiries.

Emma will lead DLA Piper’s established and highly respected UK practice in this deeply technical field of law. Under Emma’s leadership, the team is looking forward to building on recent appointments to the UK Government Legal Service panels (on Lot 1 - General Legal Advice and Services (GLAS) and Lot 2 - Finance and Complex Legal Services), and to developing its rich private sector client base comprising organisations which operate in highly regulated sectors within and outside the UK.

Neil Bowker, Head of Litigation and Regulatory in the UK, commented: “Emma was already known to and highly respected by our Contentious Public Law team. Her deep experience and sophisticated approach will naturally blend with our existing team and client base. I look forward to the team making further excellent progress under Emma’s leadership in this strategically important area of law for our clients”.