Charles Felgate > Geldards LLP > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

‘Equally competent in both Welsh and English planning’ matters, both from an advisory and contentious perspective, the ‘very knowledgeable and customer focused’ team at Geldards LLP provides a ‘versatile service’ for public and private sector clients. ‘Outstanding’ team head Charles Felgate is ‘a very commercial and astute tactician’, ensuring that he is a popular choice among clients, including local authorities, on their highest-profile mandates, including as it relates to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and Section 106 agreements. ‘Outstanding’ senior associate Tomos Phillips is ‘a wise head on young shoulders’, providing a very effective advice across a range of matters, including for both local authorities and objectors on CPO mandates, particularly in relation to highway schemes.

Drawing upon a breadth of experience developed over many years acting for local authorities, central government and regulatory bodies, Geldards LLP can provide an ‘extremely knowledgeable, professional and very responsive’ service, which is considerate of the often unique challenges and expectations of clients in the space. As well as drawing upon a considerable amount of pure public law expertise, the team, which is headed by ‘amazing’ employment lawyer Helen Snow, operates in a multi-disciplinary fashion across many different practice groups. Construction partner Tony Norris has deep knowledge on contract drafting and framework agreements for central government and local authorities, including on key infrastructure projects, as well as in any subsequent arbitrations. On the planning front, ‘very good tactician’ Charles Felgate has a ‘meticulous eye for detail’ and provides ‘outstanding support’ to local councils and central government on contentious and non-contentious matters including as it relates to Compulsory Purchase Orders. For litigation, Jonathan Griffiths is particularly adept at representing public sector clients, including in the defence of public procurement challenges.