Kieran Laird
Kieran Laird specialises in assisting clients interpret and apply public law concepts and complex regulatory frameworks. In doing so, he helps clients to identify and manage their public law and regulatory issues quickly and commercially.
Kieran works for a wide range of public bodies and the private companies who deal with them. His practice includes both contentious and non-contentious work and encompasses domestic and EU law across a range of sectors including energy, water, health, retail, qualifications, transport, gambling, telecoms, and elections and lobbying.
Kieran is a member of the firm's Government sector team and assists public bodies, including regulators, in understanding and using their statutory powers, taking enforcement action and in defending decisions when challenged. He has also assisted with the development of regulatory frameworks in the UK, Africa and the Middle East and enjoys working closely with in-house advisers and policy teams to ensure that the development of strategy and policy progresses with the benefit of high quality practical legal advice.
He also provides private companies with commercially focused advice in relation to dealings with public bodies and understanding and complying with regulatory obligations, including mounting challenges where necessary.
Kieran regularly publishes updates and insights on current issues in UK public law and regulation across the various areas in which he works, including drafting content on public law issues for LexisNexis and PLC. He has also provided training to central government lawyers on public law issues.
Kieran is the Head of Constitutional Affairs for the Gowling WLG Brexit Unit and a major contributor to the firm's Brexit content. In that role, he has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, the Times, the BBC, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the China Daily (as well as by the trade press), and has appeared on Radio 4 and commercial radio on Brexit-related issues.
Kieran is also a member of the firm's internal ESG panel and wider ESG sector team. He has a particular interest in business and human rights issues, and regularly publishes articles and provides training on that topic.