Leading Individuals

Next Generation Partners

Public sector in East Midlands

Browne Jacobson LLP

With dedicated teams across the education, healthcare and local government sectors, Browne Jacobson LLP is equipped to handle some of the biggest and most complex matters in the market. The team works for significant public and private sector clients, including multi-academy trusts, charities and various government and NHS bodies. Peter Ware is the head of the government sector and is known for his projects and procurement work. Gerard Hanratty leads the health team, specialising in advising clients on their public law obligations. The education team is led by Mark Blois who has a particular focus on governance matters. Leanne Wareham moved to an inhouse role with NHS England.

Practice head(s):

Mark Blois


Other key lawyers:

Simon Tait; Heather Caddy


Testimonials

Accessibility. Knowledge. Prompt responses.’

Mark Blois is excellent.

Browne Jacobson are very well respected in the education industry and are very knowledgeable with regards to sector specific and wider issues. They have the capacity and ability to effectively support us. They give us valuable insight into emerging threats and opportunities.’

Browne Jacobson staff give a personable but professional service, and we have the ability to have open and frank discussions about our challenges. Staff have knowledge in relevant areas that our requests relate to.’

Mark Blois has always been supportive and gave very good quality advice.’

Key clients

Midland Heart


Platform housing Ltd


EMH Housing and Regeneration Limited


Nottingham Community Housing Association


Derbyshire County Council


Freeport East


Midlands Net Zero Hub


Derby City Council


Nottingham City Council


Staffordshire Moorlands District Council


Derbyshire Fire Authority


Nottinghamshire & City of Nottingham Fire Authority


Leicestershire County Council


Leicester City Council


East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)


Rutland County Council


Peterborough City Council


Nottingham City Transport Limited


EMH Care and Support


Peak Rural Housing


North West Leicestershire District Council


Derbyshire Dales District Council


Freeths LLP

Taking advantage of the firm’s national framework, the local government team at Freeths LLP is able to handle complex work for local authorities in the East Midlands and across the country. The team is skilled in helping clients navigate the regulatory environment of local government while also advising on all aspects of property work, telecoms and development projects for public sector bodies. Stephen Pearson has extensive experience offering procurement advice and guiding clients through governance investigations. The team is led by Nathan Holden in Birmingham.

Practice head(s):

Nathan Holden


Other key lawyers:

Stephen Pearson; Gillian Roberts; James Hart; Clare Taylor


Testimonials

‘There is real quality in the firm, their ability to understand Local government political environments and to help you to navigate the associated challenges is what sets them apart.’

‘The lawyers are very knowledgeable and experienced in their respective fields and brought new and innovative ways of dealing with the issues.’

‘Their breadth of knowledge and professionalism.’

Key clients

Royal Borough of Greenwich


Buckinghamshire Council


Rushmoor Borough Council


Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council


North East Lincolnshire Council


East Northamptonshire District Council


Leicester City Council


London Borough of Ealing


Milton Keynes Development Partnership


Solihull MBC


Mansfield District Council


Nottinghamshire County Council


Walsall Council


Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council


Gloucestershire County Council


Cherwell District Council


Cambridge City Council


Reading Borough Council


Bassetlaw District Council


Broxtowe Borough Council


Derby City Council


Derbyshire Dales District Council


Kent County Council


London Borough of Bromley


Oxford City Council


Telford and Wrekin Council


Shropshire Council


Leicestershire County Council


Milton Keynes Council


Enfield Council


Nottingham City Homes Limited


East Lindsey District Council


Staffordshire County Council


South Cambridgeshire District Council


Bristol City Council


Nottingham Community Housing Association


North Yorkshire County Council


Ashfield District Council


Central Bedfordshire Council


Kirklees Council


West Northamptonshire Council


Charnwood Borough Council


London Borough of Richmond upon Thames


Rugby Borough Council


Nottingham City Council


Luton Borough Council


Newark & Sherwood District Council


Worcestershire County Council


Plymouth City Council


Somerset County Council


Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council


Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council


York City Council


Folkestone & Hythe District Council


Sheffield City Council


Herefordshire Council


Merton London Borough Council


High Peak Borough Council


Hertfordshire County Council


Boston Borough Council


Bolsover District Council


Rushcliffe Borough Council


Huntingdonshire District Council


East Hertfordshire District Council


Birmingham City Council


Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council


South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority


Isle of Wight Council


Harborough District Council


London Borough of Sutton


Blaby District Council


Melton Borough Council


Chesterfield Borough Council


Wakefield Metropolitan District Council


Wokingham Borough Council


Bedford Borough Council


North East Derbyshire District Council


Peterborough City Council


Cheshire East Council


Scape Group Ltd


North Northamptonshire Council


Old Bolsover Town Council


Amber Valley Borough Council


Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service


Derbyshire County Council


Erewash Borough Council


Stoke on Trent City Council


Lichfield District Council


Forest of Dean District Council


Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority


Arc Property Services Partnership Ltd


Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority


Welwyn & Hatfield Borough Council


Ashfield Homes Ltd


City of Lincoln Council


Corby Borough Council


Cotswold District Council


Coventry City Council


Daventry District Council


Fenland District Council


Harrogate Borough Council


Kettering Borough Council


Lincolnshire County Council


North Hertfordshire District Council


North Lincolnshire Council


North West Leicestershire District Council


Northampton Borough Council


Nottinghamshire Police Authority


Peak District National Park


Sedgemoor District Council


South Staffordshire Council


Stratford Upon Avon District Council


The Borough of Oadby & Wigston


Transport for the North


West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue


Wolverhampton City Council


Middlesbrough Borough Council


The Council of the Borough of South Tyneside


Durham County Council


Northumberland County Council


Gateshead Council


Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council


Wigan Council


Warrington Borough Council


Cheshire West and Chester Council


Halton Borough Council


South Lakeland District Council


Sefton Council


Allerdale Borough Council


Eden District Council


Cumbria County Council


Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council


London Borough of Hackney


London Borough of Camden


London Borough of Newham


London Borough of Hillingdon


Defence Infrastructure Organisation


The Cornwall Council


Tamworth Borough Council


Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service


Mole Valley District Council


Waverley Borough Council


Guildford Borough Council


Runnymede Borough Council


Spelthorne Borough Council


West Yorkshire Combined Authority


Leeds City Council


Wakefield Council


Leicestershire County Council


London Borough of Lambeth


West of England Combined Authority


West Midlands Combined Authority


The Police & Crime Commissioner for Kent


Swindon Borough Council


Southampton City Council


Bath and North East Somerset Council


East Sussex County Council


Gravesham Borough Council


Surrey County Council


Orbis Reporting Group


Cornwall Council Reporting Group


Ipswich Borough Assets Limited


London Borough of Havering


Stevenage Borough Council


London Borough of Barking & Dagenham


Exeter City Council


The West Midlands Growth Company


Cambridgeshire County Council


Havant Borough Council


Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council


Ware Town Council


Wantage Town Council


Buckinghamshire Advantage


Gloucester City Council


Harlow Council


Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce


Derbyshire Building Control Partnership


Broxbourne Borough Council


Castle Point Borough Council


Darlington Borough Council


Cheltenham Borough Council


Rochford District Council


Ipswich Borough Council


Liverpool City Region Combined Authority


Oxford City Housing Limited


South Somerset District Council


Landau Forte Charitable Trust


University of Nottingham


Work highlights


  • Advising Gravesham Borough Council on the legality and justification for creating an LLP Investment JV Body and drafting the Members Agreement and other core documentation.
  • Advising Waverley Borough Council, Surrey, from Contract Notice and Specification through pre-selection to appointment of bidder including bespoking Standard Sport England agreement related to long-term refurbishment and management of 4 Leisure Centres.
  • Advising Shropshire Council on a complex relationship with an Academy Trust including land transfers and advice on DFE procedures related to school closure/opening.

Geldards LLP

Geldards LLP has a strong track record in handling complex and sensitive projects for public sector clients, including those that require collaborations with other public bodies or with the private sector. The team is frequently involved in major infrastructure and regeneration projects, as well as public procurement, subsidy control and data protection matters. The team has a strong reputation for acting on large scale and complex regeneration and infrastructure projects. Newly-promoted partner Clare Hardy advises on a range of governance, procurement and administrative law issues.

 

Practice head(s):

David Williams


Other key lawyers:

Paul Hilsdon; Chris Hawrylak; Clare Hardy


Testimonials

‘They really understand local government, its requirements and how to achieve its objectives. Their assistance has been excellent.’

‘Clare Hardy is clear, pragmatic, and has outstanding attention to detail.’

 

Key clients

Burnley Borough Council


Warrington Borough Council


Derby City Council


Derbyshire County Council


Milton Keynes Borough Council


Carlisle City Council


Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council


Rushmoor Borough Council


South Staffordshire District Council


Leeds City Council


Redditch Borough Council


Tees Valley Combined Authority


City of York Council


Isle of Wight Council


Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council


The Council of the City of Wakefield


South Derbyshire District Council


Nottinghamshire County Council


Cheshire West and Chester Council


Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council


Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council


Copeland Borough Council


South Lakeland District Council


Eden District Council


Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council


Lancaster City Council


Work highlights


  • Advising Derbyshire County Council on the South Derbyshire Growth Zone (“SDGZ”) Project.
  • Advising Warrington Borough Council on the acquisition of a solar farm at Doncaster, having previously advised the Council on the acquisition of solar farms at Hull, York and Cirencester.

Wilkin Chapman LLP

Wilkin Chapman LLP is known for its role in conducting the most complex and politically sensitive investigations into local government and other public sector bodies. Additionally, the team is experienced in advising internal drainage boards on governance, land drainage and information governance. Jonathan Goolden leads the team, regularly advising large public bodies on high profile investigations. Estelle Culligan joined the team in August 2022, having previously served as monitoring officer in councils across the UK.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Goolden


Other key lawyers:

Estelle Culligan


Key clients

Cambridgeshire County Council


Somerset County Council


Middlesbrough Council


Broads Authority


Cheshire East Council


South Holland District Council


Water Management Alliance


Somerset Drainage Board Consortium


Work highlights


  • Performed the role of Investigation Officer (IO) for Cambridgeshire County Council in relation to recommendations arising from an external audit of allegations against a former Councillor.
  • Advised Cheshire East Council on how to approach a hearing following the infamous Zoom meeting.
  • Acted as Monitoring Officer (MO) and as Deputy Monitoring Officer (DMO) to the Broads Authority.

Flint Bishop LLP

The education team at Flint Bishop LLP offers support to a wide range of educational establishments, including nurseries, secondary schools, universities and after school clubs. Additionally, the firm acts for a number of large multi-academy trusts on matters concerning academy conversions and re-brokerages. Practice head Louise Easthope is experienced in all forms of contentious and non-contentious employment matters for clients in the education sector.

Practice head(s):

Louise Easthope


Other key lawyers:

Haroon Younis; Briony McDermott


Key clients

Embark Federation


DCG


The Rutland Learning Trust


Central Co-operative Learning Trust


The SENAD Group


The University of Derby


Derby Teaching Schools Alliance


Odyssey Collaborative Trust


Birkett House


Howes Percival LLP

Howes Percival LLP acts for a range of prominent public sector clients across the education, healthcare and social housing sectors. This includes universities and colleges, as well as care home operators and specialist care providers. The team handles a wide array of matters relating to employment, construction, data protection and property. Oliver Pritchard is an expert in advising NHS clients on mergers and governance clients, while Graham Irons handles employment matters in the education sector.

Practice head(s):

Oliver Pritchard; Graham Irons


Key clients

Anchor Carehomes Limited


Anchor Hanover Group


BHR Pharmaceuticals Limited


De Montfort University


EMCare


Enterprise Retirement Living


E-Surgery / Total Access Health


HSBC


Learners Trust


Medigold Health Consultancy Limited


Milton Keynes College


P J Care Limited


Polyco Healthline


St Matthews Healthcare


University of Coventry


Work highlights


  • Advised a further education college in relation to a disciplinary process in relation to a senior post holder.
  • Advised a university on a contract with the regional NHS Foundation Trust for the provision of medical facilities to the trust.