The Legal 500

The ‘excellent’ team at Eversheds LLP has ‘strong national reach’, handling most local government work through its regional offices. Lead partner Stephen Cirell, ‘the biggest figure in local government’, is assisted by Judith Barnes, and the team includes specialists across regeneration, planning, projects, transport, shared services, and powers and governance, acting for over 200 local authorities. The team is expanding, despite Neil Logan Green’s departure to K&L Gates.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP ‘shows a very good grasp of local authority issues’, with strengths in projects and housing. It recently advised Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on creating a local asset backed vehicle to regenerate sites across Kent, and worked on numerous housing stock transfers. Ian Doolittle and the ‘stellar’ Helen Randall lead the practice, while Malcolm Iley is ‘attentive to clients’ needs’. ‘Attention to detail is excellent’, and ‘advice is accurate, incisive, proactive and strategic’.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has taken on Andrew Yates from Pinsent Masons LLP as joint head of local government alongside Lesley-Anne Avis. The practice is ‘well regarded’ and ‘provides extremely complex advice’, particularly on regeneration and planning matters. Key clients include the Homes and Communities Agency, Liverpool City Council, Stevenage Borough Council and Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

LG has a niche practice in outsourcing leisure services, handling projects for Oxford and Gloucester City Councils among others, as well as covering LSVTs of housing stock, town centre regeneration and public procurement. Simon Randall leads the team, which includes Joanna Bussell and associate Avril Smith, who displays ‘excellent knowledge’. The practice is ‘very efficient’ and ‘excellent in all aspects’.

Ashurst LLP’s niche lies in property and regeneration work, bolstered by the arrival of Trevor Goode from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP to work with existing partners Anthony Curnow, Jamie Chapman and Richard Vernon. The practice recently advised Bristol City Council on the £500m Cabot Circus redevelopment in the city centre.

Beachcroft LLP advises local government auditors and ombudsmen, the Greater London Authority and former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. The practice is led by Tony Child, who has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of local government law’, encompassing governance, housing, social services, public procurement, freedom of information and electoral law.

Bevan Brittan LLP’s Bristol-based practice, led by Bethan Evans and Peter Keith-Lucas, covers standards and conduct issues, major projects and PFI work, regeneration and employment. The team advised several local authorities affected by the Icelandic banking crisis, Bedfordshire County Council on its reorganisation, and the London Borough of Islington on its BSF project.

Stephen Ashworth leads Denton Wilde Sapte LLP’s practice, which advised Kent County Council on a joint transport agreement, and Newry and Mourne District Council on procurement issues regarding its city centre redevelopment. Other key clients include Milton Keynes Council and the London Boroughs of Southwark, and Barking and Dagenham.

The ‘close and co-ordinated team’ at Herbert Smith LLP specialises in major regeneration, such as the £1bn redevelopment of Swansea city centre. Clients are ‘impressed by the quality of their work’ and ‘commitment to the needs of clients’, praising Andrew Lidbetter for his ‘considered and sensible approach’, and Richard Forsdyke.

A ‘stalwart of the sector’, Nabarro LLP has a varied local government offering led by Stephen Matthew in London and Elizabeth Cooper in Sheffield. Projects work is very prominent, including a £500m BSF project for Kent County Council, along with numerous leisure PPP and outsourcing schemes, and waste and regeneration projects.

Pinsent Masons LLP displays ‘dedication to the sector’ and is ‘very impressive in BSF and PFI’, along with other projects, and regeneration, social housing, and data protection matters. Alan Aisbett leads the practice, which last year assisted Basildon District Council on two town centre regeneration schemes valued at £1.25bn.

The ‘excellent’ Addleshaw Goddard LLP concentrates on major projects work, primarily BSF, waste schemes and housing regeneration; examples include advising Derry City Council on its £150m waste infrastructure project. The practice, led by Michael O’Connor, ‘gives a client confidence that a deal is going to be well managed, efficient and effective’. Clients also praise Leeds partner Richard Goodfellow for his ‘excellent client interaction and management skills’, and London-based Jacqui Langley-White.

The team at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, led by John Goodman, acts for numerous local authorities in London and the South East, focusing on property, employment, health and safety, education, data protection and freedom of information issues.

Gary Soloman is sole head of local government at Burges Salmon LLP following John Smith’s appointment as Chief Executive of Avon and Somerset Police. The team advised on a collaborative £500m IT procurement contract for Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, and Avon and Somerset Police Authority.

DLA Piper UK LLP offers ‘first-class service’ and the ‘right skill sets for specific projects’, especially in urban regeneration and procurement. The practice represents the London Development Agency and new clients Coventry City Council and Kings Lynn Borough Council. Practice head Howard Bassford ‘leads with assurance and commitment’, while Marnix Elsenaar also standsout.

Mills & Reeve LLP’s ‘local government focused’ team primarily covers regeneration, employment and projects. Birmingham partner Nathan Holden leads the practice, which is ‘very responsive’ and ‘gives pragmatic and appropriate advice with good access to all areas of expertise’. Clients include the London Boroughs of Harrow, Greenwich and Waltham Forest.

The urban regeneration team at Norton Rose LLP comprises ‘excellent solicitors’ from across the firm, covering social housing, regeneration and compulsory purchase orders. Headed by Rajindh Mangat, the group is acting for the Homes and Communities Agency in a regeneration scheme on the Isle of Wight.

Sharpe Pritchard has a ‘fabulous local government practice’, covering the full array of local authority work. Recent highlights include advising Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire County Councils on the joint procurement of street lighting, East Sussex County Council on a PFI to provide adult social care facilities, and Suffolk County Council on a waste treatment PFI. Key contacts include Roseanne Serrelli, Julia Rudin and Brian Hurwitz.

Wragge & Co LLP’s practice is led by employment specialist Mark Greenburgh, who is ‘very highly regarded in local government’, alongside regeneration specialist Stephen Sellers. Clients include Bristol County Council, Birmingham City Council and the Local Better Regulation Office.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP handles contentious work for local authorities, defending Derby City Council against a highways inspection claim, and representing Birmingham City Council in claims of historic abuse against children in care. Key contacts include Henry Bermingham in Birmingham, Chris Coughlin in Leeds, David Evans in Liverpool, and Michael Pether in London.

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP has a ‘good reputation for planning work’ and excels in infrastructure projects, recently advising Cambridgeshire County Council on the construction of a guided busway. The practice offers ‘good value for money’ and is ‘excellent at working as part of a team with council officers’. Clients praise Robbie Owen, David Mundy and Nicholas Evans.

The practice at Clarkslegal LLP is led by Kirstin Parker following Simon Thorne’s departure to an environmental consultancy. The team handles waste management and environmental projects for clients such as Swansea Council and Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council.

Cripps Harries Hall LLP’s practice has been restructured, with Andrew Fermor now heading the practice and Carol Wakeford managing the property litigation department. New client wins include Crawley Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council and West Kent Housing Association.

Headed by Jenny Thorp, DMH Stallard LLP’s practice covers employment disputes, property, community care and prosecutions on behalf of local authorities. The firm advised new client the London Borough of Enfield on tackling unlawful roadside advertising.

Martineau’s practice is led by Clive Read, with expertise in planning, projects, regeneration and employment. The department is representing Warwickshire County Council in a joint regeneration venture with a private developer, and also acts for Wolverhampton and Birmingham City Councils.

Steeles Law LLP’s practice is headed by David Merson, and has acted for the London Borough of Lambeth on two housing redevelopment schemes, and Croydon on the improvement of Selsdon District Centre.

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers advised Poole Council on employment issues and the procurement of dementia services, as well as Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen County Borough Councils on an integrated waste PPP, and various other councils in the South West. Simon Baker leads the practice.

Ward Hadaway has a strong local government practice in the North East, led by Melanie Pears. It acted on BSF schemes for Hartlepool Borough Council and Nottingham City Council, valued at £90m and £250m respectively, and also advised One North East. Keith Wilkinson is highly recommended.

Weightmans LLP ‘provides excellent service and has a thorough understanding of police needs’, with a forte in defending local, fire and police authorities against litigation. Key contacts include Andrew Cooper and Graeme Creer in Liverpool, Bob Hetherington in Manchester, and ‘excellent practitioner’ Roger Johnston in London.

Winckworth Sherwood’s practice draws on the firm’s parliamentary expertise to promote bills for local authorities, and handles employment, procurement, outsourcing and infrastructure projects. Key figures include Alison Gorlov, ‘an extremely able lawyer with a huge capacity for work’, Paul Irving and Stephen Wiggs. ‘Response times are excellent’, and the team is ‘very good value for money’.