Former No.10 GC and senior Government lawyer join Kingsley Napley’s leading Public Law team

Kingsley Napley’s top-ranked Public Law team has been joined this week by two additional senior and highly experienced Government lawyers, strengthening the firm’s bench of advisers on public body-related challenges, litigation and procedures.

Natalie Cohen joins as a Partner from the Government Legal Department. One of the Government’s most senior lawyers with over 20 years’ experience advising central government departments on a diverse range of public law matters, she has overseen high-profile litigation for departments including the Ministry of Justice, Department for Education, the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Harry Carter, Lord Carter of Haslemere CB, General Counsel at 10 Downing Street from 2016 to 2023, becomes a Consultant at the firm. During his distinguished career as a Government Legal Department lawyer for 34 years, Harry 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 last year. 

Natalie and Harry join the market leading team led by Sophie Kemp, Head of Kingsley Napley’s Public Law practice. The team is the only triple Band One ranked team for Public Law in the latest Chambers and Partners directory [rated for i) Public Inquiries, ii) Administrative & Public law: Commercial and iii) Administrative & Public law: Public Sector & Charities]. The team advises a variety of public, private and third sector / NGO clients (businesses, organisations and individuals) on judicial reviews, public body powers, select committee hearings, FOI requests, human rights law and public inquiries.

Sophie Kemp comments: “We are delighted that Natalie and Harry have chosen Kingsley Napley for the next steps in their careers. Their tremendous experience and expertise across a diverse range of public law areas will be a huge asset to our clients.”

Natalie Cohen says: “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 says: “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.”