DLA Piper continues to strengthen its global Government Affairs offering with the appointment of Lord Barwell

DLA Piper continues to strengthen its global Government Affairs offering with the appointment of Lord (Gavin) Barwell as a senior strategic and political consultant.

Lord Barwell, who was Chief of Staff to Theresa May from 2017-2019, will support the firm and its clients with strategic advice on UK and EU policy development and implementation. He joins Lord (Andrew) Tyrie, the former Chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards and Chair of the Commons’ Treasury Select Committee, who joined the firm in December 2020, and will work alongside an established team of consultants including Lord (Edward) Garnier QC, the former UK Solicitor-General. DLA Piper’s UK Government Affairs team is led by Paul Hardy, a former senior legal counsel in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Lord Barwell’s appointment, and the continued growth of DLA Piper’s Government Affairs team, reflects an increasing awareness of the need to operate in fast-changing regulatory environments. As a consequence, businesses are demanding strategic advice beyond traditional legal services, focused on how best to adapt to political and regulatory risk. DLA Piper continues to invest in ensuring that its clients are able to draw on this support. This is a trend that is here to stay, and the firm will continue to adapt its offering to meet client need.

The UK practice is part of a global government affairs offering with other centres in Washington DC and Brussels, servicing clients from around the world. It is made up of lawyers and policy professionals, many of whom have held senior elected, appointed and staff positions in governments or gained public policy experience in the corporate world.

Lord Barwell, commenting on his appointment said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Andrew and Edward and the wider DLA Piper team. The last year has illustrated the significant political risks businesses must navigate at the moment. They are only likely to increase over time. Understanding how public policy is likely to evolve - on trade, climate change, taxation, regulation and foreign affairs - is vital to effective business planning.”

Simon Levine, DLA Piper’s Global co-CEO and Managing Partner, commented: “The investment in our Government Affairs offering is a response to the increasingly politicised environment in which our clients operate. Businesses have had to react quickly and effectively to global regulation brought about by COVID-19, a sharper focus on ESG and the new trading relationship between the UK and EU. We remain committed to providing the best possible advice to clients in this area, which is reflected in the calibre of strategic appointments we are making to the team. I am delighted that Lord Barwell is joining us and look forward to the contribution that he and the wider team will make to our clients and their objectives in the future.”