Hogan Lovells head of public law and policy Charles Brasted is acting for Uber on its appeal against Transport for London's (TfL) decision to strip it of its licence to operate in London. He joined the firm in 2003 as a counsel from IT company Domus Internet Services and made partner in 2014, before succeeding Paul Dacam as public law and policy head earlier this year.
What is the most memorable case you ever have worked on and why?
The Uber licence appeal could well be the most memorable, because of the sheer volume of public support that it has gained so quickly. There aren't many people in London who are not taking a personal interest in our making sure that they can continue to get to work in the morning and home at night.
Why did you become a litigator?
I like arguing. I like being right. And I like being right to matter. I strongly believe that there is no more creative, problem-solving process than the clash of ideas, forcefully articulated.
What's the closest you have come to doing something other than law?
Every day much of what I do is not law. One of the great things about our public law and policy practice is that we are not just lawyers or litigators but we work across law, policy and good government. That intersection is more important now that it ever has been. Before I became a lawyer, I had a brief foray into the dotcom world as a founding director of a tech startup. I learnt that having a great product and some fine minds was not enough to make a fortune.
Why work in a law firm rather than become a barrister?
At first, because of the quality of the training. I always thought that once I had done that, I would transfer to the Bar. But the people, the teamwork, the support it's addictive.
Which judge or barrister do you most admire and why?
I probably owe my career in public law to former Master of the Rolls, Lord Greene, for his judgment in Associated Provincial Picture Houses v Wednesbury Corporation. I also owe it to my wonderful, late director of studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge Sir Derek Oulton QC, a man whose humility and kindness belied the extraordinary contribution he made to our modern justice system as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor.
What's been your proudest professional moment/moment in court?
Seeing two RAF planes full of banknotes set off for Libya in the aftermath of the overthrow of Gaddafi. Whatever difficulties that country still faces, securing the release of that cash at that time was crucial to avoiding an immediate humanitarian and political crisis. That was not litigation it was persuasion based on hard law, compelling policy. Advocacy comes in many forms and I learned a lot about diplomacy in those weeks.