Melanie Carter has worked for over 25 years as a public law specialist, in the public sector (Home Office, Treasury Solicitors Department, Commission for Racial Equality etc.), the third sector and in the private sector.
Melanie is a specialist in parliamentary process, public law and legislative drafting. Her expertise was learned in Government and is now provided to politicians, political parties, regulators responsible for their own legislation, foreign states and those seeking to challenge decisions and draft opposition amendments.
Examples of legislative work since leaving Government have included the Prison and Parole Act in the Maldives, the Recall of MPs Bill for a backbench MP, statutory instruments achieving the transfer of public powers to a national charity and rules for a professional regulator.
She is a specialist in judicial review proceedings and regularly advises a broad range of public authorities on their powers and duties, as well as acting for those seeking to challenge the decisions of public authorities. Current and recent examples include advising the Compliance Officer for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in relation to her procedures and Tribunal work, the National Audit Office in relation to a judicial review in which it is an Interested Party, the British Council in relation to major public inquiry and various political parties in relation to election law and campaign expenses.
She has been a Tribunal Judge in the First Tier Tribunal for many years.
An expert in information law, she has advised many authorities, individuals and political parties in relation to freedom of information and data subject requests.
Qualifications and career
- Cambridge University, BA, 1983
- Called to the Bar in 1984
- Admitted as a solicitor in 1998
- Solicitor at public law groups of Bindman & Partners and Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
- Partner at Bates Wells
- Head of Public & Regulatory since 2011
Pro bono, memberships and appointments
- Tribunal Judge, First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights and Environment jurisdiction)
- Independent adjudicator, Marine Stewardship Council
- Formerly Tribunal Judge, First-tier Tribunal (Standards)
- Formerly a magistrate
- Member of Administrative Law Bar Association, Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers Association
- Former trustee of Public Law Project
- Founding member of Public Law Solicitors Association
