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Energy

Jonathan Hewitt’s team at Dickinson Dees LLP continues to advise CE Electric UK on initiatives for smart grids and low-carbon electricity works, and EDF Energy Renewables on its onshore wind farms.

Eversheds LLP handles oil and gas matters, and has a growing renewable energy offering. Key highlights included advising on wind farm and biomass projects.

Mark Whitehead is the key contact for energy matters at Watson Burton LLP.

Rob Langley recently joined the team at Muckle LLP from Watson Burton LLP, bringing upstream oil and gas and wind farm fabrication expertise. Will McKay recently advised Port of Blyth on a major new biomass power station development. New arrival Ian Fells, formerly a professor at Newcastle University, is an energy strategy expert.

Ward Hadaway counts Emerald Biogas, NAREC and Cleaner Air Solutions as clients, and continues to act for landowners granting wind farm leases to developers.

Private finance initiative (PFI)

Dickinson Dees LLP continued to advise St Helen’s Council on its BSF scheme, and Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside Fire and Rescue on its £60m joint procurement of 16 new community stations. Iain Greenshields heads up the ‘fantastic’ team.

At Eversheds LLP, Ruth Connorton and Karen Lockwood are recommended for complex public procurement matters. Adrian Stanley is the firm’s key PFI contact in Newcastle.

Ward Hadaway is currently advising North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust on various matters relating to its £450m hospital scheme. Practice head Melanie Pears is said to ‘consistently deliver the goods’, and Karen Andrews recently joined the team from Trowers & Hamlins LLP.

Andrea Gardner heads up the projects and PFI department at Watson Burton LLP.

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • COUNCIL TAX

    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.
    - 11KBW

  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW

  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW

  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW

  • 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.
    - 11KBW

  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW

  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
    - 11KBW

  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
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