Parliamentary and public affairs

We are at the heart of Scottish parliamentary and public affairs, with an extensive list of public sector clients, including the Scottish Government and UK government departments.

We have a successful track record in the following areas:

• devolution and the constitutional settlement in the UK
• legislative drafting and advice on the legislative process
• advice on parliamentary procedures
• ethical standards and investigations
• advice to political parties, stakeholders and local government on electoral law
• representation in parliamentary inquiries, private bill proceedings, judicial review and public inquiries
• extensive experience in statutory interpretation
• all-encompassing local government practice
• strategic advice in relation to parliamentary and public affairs activities, including issues arising from Brexit, including the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023

Led by Jennifer Jack, a top-ranked individual in this practice area, our team at Harper Macleod boasts over two decades of expertise. With members who have held key positions in the Scottish Parliament and other legislative bodies, we offer invaluable insights for clients navigating parliamentary matters and legislation.

Our team prides itself on providing directly relevant legal advice and effective representation using not only our legal knowledge, but our deeper understanding of the wider political context. This enables clients to reach key strategic decisions from an informed position.