Specialisation:
Melanie is a specialist in judicial review proceedings: recent cases include acting in relation to a local government tender process, a challenge to the placement of an vulnerable adult in the community and the striking off of a medical professional from the register.

She is particularly well known in her field for her work with the external auditors to local government and NHS Trusts, including the high profile investigations into corporate governance matters at Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and Lincolnshire County Council. She acts for the Audit Commission including in relation to Westminster City Council's recovery of the surcharge against Dame Shirley Porter. She regularly acts for the big accountancy firms conducting external audit for local authorities.

She is well known for her work in the field of local government standards. She has represented individual members, acted as an investigating officer for local authorities and as an adviser to Standards Committee panels. She was one of the first Chairs of the Adjudication Panel for England and is an Independent member appointed to a local authority Standards Committee.

Melanie has developed a particular expertise in information law. She has advised many authorities and private companies in relation to Freedom of Information and data subject access requests. She regularly trains and has devised online data protection training for the staff at KPMG UK LLP. She is a Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) - formerly the Information Tribunal.

Melanie is a specialist in corporate governance for professional regulatory bodies and is retained by the General Optical Council for their public law, information law and legislative drafting work. She has sat as a legal assessor for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, the Accountancy & Actuarial Investigation and Discipline Board and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants.

Melanie has significant experience in drafting both primary and secondary legislation. This spanned her in time in Government and more recently she has drafted rules and regulations for a variety of professional regulatory bodies.

She works internationally most recently drafting a Prison and Parole Bill for the Government of Maldives and an efficiency review of the Ministry of Legal Affairs for the Government of Guyana.

Career:
BA Law Cambridge University 1983; called to the Bar 1988; became solicitor 1988; Melanie has worked in both the public sector (Home Office, Treasury Solicitors Department, professional regulatory body etc.) and in the private sector (she is formerly of the Public Law Groups of Bindman & Partners and Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP).

Type of Work:
• advises generally on the powers and duties of public authorities
• a specialist in judicial review proceedings and has a particular interest in corporate governance
• acts for a range of individuals and companies challenging the actions of public authorities
• acting for and against professional regulatory bodies
• regularly advises on data protection law, privacy and the Freedom of Information Act