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Headed by Michael O’Connor, Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘well-balanced’ team represents a mix of developers, sponsors, funders, contractors and operators in some of the most significant regional and national infrastructure projects. Richard Fleetwood continues to be involved in a number of projects in the education sector, including the £450m Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council BSF. The team is also very strong in social housing and regeneration, where Caroline Hilton has an excellent pedigree.

Led by Liam Cowell, DLA Piper UK LLP’s five-partner team advises public sector, sponsor and funder clients across a range of schemes. Strengths include in the education sector; the firm has been involved in a raft of BSF schemes, and it is also the preferred adviser to the Department of Education in relation to PFI Academies, leading to involvement on over 15 active schemes. Working alongside its US offices, the team recently advised the senior lenders in the first civic infrastructure scheme to close in California. Clients include Amey Ventures, Dexia Bank, John Laing and Sellafield.

The ‘excellent’ Graham Alty heads Pinsent Masons LLP’s three-partner group, whose work spans a wide array of sectors, with energy an area of particular strength. Clients include the top five contractors in the UK, including Balfour Beatty, Carillion and Kier. Recent highlights include advising Wates Construction as building contractor on a £100m social housing PFI project. The firm has also successfully increased its procurer and investor client base, gaining clients such as Scottish Power.

Eversheds LLP saw the departure of Mike Mousdale to Trowers & Hamlins LLP, but can still call upon the expertise of the well-regarded Jackie Heeds, who specialises in PFI/PPP work across a range of sectors including housing, education, defence and leisure.

Hill Dickinson LLP continues to pick up a raft of instructions advising on energy and energy management facilities in the healthcare sector; examples included advising the procuring authority on a project to re-provide such facilities at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Stephen Lansdown, who led on this matter, is recommended.

Squire Sanders Hammonds has recently been involved in a number of energy projects, such as Julian Scott’s lead role in the drafting of a contract for a €700m 200MW German offshore wind farm. The firm also regularly handles work for banks in PFI projects.

Beachcroft advised Liverpool City Council on a high-profile deal in the city centre.

At Gateley, Neil Wilson heads a team whose clients include Barclays, GDF Suez, RBS and MastLift.

Udo Pope at Pannone LLP is recommended.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

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  • Standards

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  • A justified retrospective

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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
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  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

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