Constitutional & Writ Petitions

Constitutional litigation is a distinct discipline requiring a different kind of preparation from ordinary civil work, and the firm has practised it since its founding. We bring and defend petitions challenging executive and regulatory action, and act in service matters for public servants.

The writ jurisdiction is often the fastest effective remedy against an unlawful administrative decision — a cancelled licence, an arbitrary assessment, a transfer or dismissal made without authority. It is also frequently misused, and we will say plainly when a matter does not belong in the constitutional jurisdiction at all.

What we do

• Constitutional petitions under Article 199 of the Constitution
• Petitions under Article 184(3) in matters of public importance
• Judicial review of administrative and regulatory action
• Service matters: appointment, promotion, transfer, dismissal and pension
• Challenges to notifications, licensing decisions and executive orders
• Fundamental-rights litigation
• Contempt proceedings arising from non-compliance with court orders
• Intra-court appeals and appeals to the Supreme Court

How we work

Matters in this area are handled by senior counsel from first instruction to final order. We give a candid view of the merits at the outset — including where a claim is not worth running — and agree fees before work begins rather than after.

If your matter touches more than one of our practice areas, it will be dealt with by the same team rather than passed between departments.