Administrative Law and Judicial Review

Our solicitors specialise in resolving disputes relating to decisions taken by local councils and public bodies.

Councils and Public bodies are trusted to make important decisions every day and those decisions can have severe consequences on people’s lives. Whilst these public bodies are entrusted with significant statutory powers over very important areas (e.g. housing, education, health, transport), their decisions must comply with the law and should not be unreasonable.

We regularly act on behalf of public bodies to help them understand the scope of their powers and to structure their decisions so as to avoid judicial review claims. We have considerable experience advising on the Welsh language standards and have acted in appeals in the Welsh Language Tribunal.

We regularly help those who have been adversely affected by a public body acting beyond the scope of its power. Our specialist solicitors can help individuals, groups, charities and companies overturn decisions where a public body has failed to follow the correct procedure or comply with its legal obligations.

RhAG could also not have won this successful outcome without the excellent legal advice and flexible approach to legal fees rendered to us by … Darwin Gray LLP

Judicial review claims are complex and have strict time limits which you must comply with, so it is essential to take specialist legal advice as soon as possible to give your claim the best chance of success. We have strong connections with very experienced barristers who specialise in such claims, this will give you the comfort of knowing that our firm will be able to assemble a specialist team very quickly and urgently deal with your case.

If you have been affected by a Council or public body decision or believe that a statutory decision-making process was not correctly followed, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team today for a free, no-obligation consultation and discuss whether we can be of assistance.

We are proud to offer bilingual advice and our solicitors are confident to conduct litigation through the medium of Welsh. Find out more.

Why Darwin Gray?

Wales’ Leading Welsh Language Law Firm

We’re the leading commercial law firm with offices in South and North Wales offering Welsh language legal services at every level, from trainees right through to partners. This isn’t an add-on or a tick-box exercise. It’s part of who we are.

For judicial review matters involving Welsh Government, Welsh local authorities and other Welsh public bodies, our ability to work fluently in Welsh can make a real difference. Many Welsh public bodies conduct their business bilingually, and having solicitors who can engage with Welsh language documents, correspondence and proceedings as a matter of course adds genuine value.

Direct Access to the People Doing the Work

You won’t be passed through layers of gatekeepers here. When you call, you’ll speak to the solicitor handling your matter. You’ll have their mobile number, their email, and a genuine working relationship. Our clients tell us this makes all the difference, particularly in judicial review matters where time limits are tight and decisions need to be made quickly.

A Team That Actually Collaborates

We don’t work in silos. Our team shares knowledge across departments, jumps in on each other’s projects, and stays close to every case. If your usual contact is unavailable, someone else can step in quickly, without a formal handover and without missing a beat. Better continuity for you, and faster results all round.

Quick Decisions, Faster Responses

Devolved decision-making and flexible working hours mean we can move at pace. You’ll get faster responses, even outside regular office hours. Judicial review claims have strict time limits, and sometimes you need an urgent answer on a Friday evening. We’re set up for exactly that.

Relationships That Go Beyond the File

Getting to know our clients properly matters to us. Face-to-face meetings, regular catch-ups, networking events, and yes, the occasional dinner. We bring clients and referrers into our offices, get out to visit yours, and put real effort into building lasting partnerships. Plenty of larger firms aren’t prepared to do that. We are.

Straight-Talking, Commercial Advice

You’ll always get the full picture from us. Clear options, each with its own risk level, so you can make informed decisions. No sugarcoating, no hedging. Just practical, commercial guidance and high-quality legal work at a fair price.