Local government in North West
Addleshaw Goddard
The local government group at Addleshaw Goddard handles complex transactions and provides consultancy and legal advice on matters such as development option appraisals, state aid and procurement. Areas of expertise include powers to borrow and invest, outsourcing and partnership transactions, high value procurement claims, renewable projects and development and construction transactions, often in cash-constrained scenarios. Andrew Pettinger is highly experienced in major outsourcing commercial transactions for local government. He jointly heads the team with Michael O’Connor, who focuses on project finance across various infrastructure and social infrastructure sectors.
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Key clients
West Midlands Combined Authority
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Manchester City Council
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Cumbria County COuncil
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
Burnley Borough Council
York City Council
Leeds City Council
Somerset County Council
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Bradford City Council
Salford City Council
Work highlights
- Acted for Lancashire Enterprise Partnership by advising on governance and overseeing Lancashire’s extensive portfolio of work on the Local Growth Deal, the Growing Places Fund, the City Deal and Lancashire’s four Enterprise Zones.
- Acted for Trafford Council in relation to a £30m project to create a new university in Trafford.
- Advised West Midlands Combined Authority on the West Midlands Rail Programme, which involves the rebuild of two existing train station and the construction of five new stations.
DWF
DWF is known for its strength in public procurement, with specialisms in regeneration and infrastructure schemes and insurance work for local authorities, with state aid expertise provided by a dedicated team led by public sector and EU competition head Jonathan Branton, who divides his time between the UK and Brussels. Colin Murray heads the practice and has significant expertise in public law, procurement, governance and commercialisation issues. Associate Bradley Martin is noted for his record of advising local authorities on regeneration projects and outsourcing deals.
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Key clients
Wirral Metropolitan Council
Liverpool City Council
Lancashire County Council
Wigan Council
Conwy County Borough Council
Cheshire and Warrington LEP
South Tyneside Council
Cornwall County Council
West Lindsey District Council
Bradford Council
Wakefield Council
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Wrexham County Borough Council
West Midlands Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Hull City Council
Leeds City Council
Birmingham City Council & Finance Birmingham
Work highlights
- Advised Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council on several regeneration projects.
- Advised Liverpool City Council on its ‘Park Life’ project which involves the refurbishment and upgrading of four new football facilities across Liverpool.
- Advised Lancashire County Council on public procurement and PFI arrangements.
Pinsent Masons LLP
The local government practice at Pinsent Masons LLP is comprised of lawyers from across a wide range of relevant disciplines, including real estate, housing, planning, disputes, education, health and energy. Scot Morrison heads the team and is known for his work in structuring public sector joint venture vehicles and partnership structures involving local authorities. The team consequently has a strong offering in PPP policy for local government in regeneration, development and housing, alternative investment models and infrastructure funds. Associate Liz Nuttall is noted for her work in planning and development.
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Testimonials
‘Pinsent Masons have supported the council in delivering two substantial estate regeneration schemes in recent years. Their key strength is that the size and breadth of experience throughout the firm allows experts to be found to cover the comprehensive range of issues involved in large strategic projects such as regeneration. This has enabled continuity of advice to be maintained throughout the projects’ gestation. The deliver advice at a consistently high level of quality, and more effectively than any other law firms I have worked with on previous schemes in other boroughs.’
‘Anne Bowden has been able to co-ordinate the substantial range of advice required to deliver the schemes, offering a tailored, highly effective balance of swift initial advice and, where appropriate, rapid and well briefed delegation to colleagues where different disciplines and areas of expertise are required. Anne has delivered this service to a consistently high level over a number of years.’
Key clients
Manchester City Council
London Borough of Harrow
Bracknell Forest Council
Colchester Council
Homes England
Folkestone and Hythe District Council
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council
London Borough of Croydon
Work highlights
- Advised Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council on Manydown, a £1.6bn residential-led development scheme.
- Advised the London Borough of Harrow on procurement of a private sector joint partner for a £2.5bn transformational project.
- Advised Bracknell Forest Borough Council in procuring a private sector partner to establish a corporate joint venture for a major regeneration project.
BLM
The team at BLM is particularly known for its advice on development, site acquisitions and funding, social housing, governance and regulatory matters. Other key areas of work include projects and procurements, social care, education, planning and environment, misfeasance, employment and abuse and child sexual exploitation claims. Paul Tarne, who acts for local authorities and emergency services in civil and regulatory matters, jointly heads the practice with Matthew Hyam, who concentrates on acting for stock-owning local authorities and registered providers of social housing. Associate Nicholas Leigh is noted for his 'impressive knowledge' which 'inspires confidence'.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Stephen Lintott; Jonathan Askin; Stephen Crook; Nicholas Leigh
Testimonials
‘Nicholas Leigh has impressive knowledge of his area of work, which inspires confidence.’
Key clients
Sheffield City Council
Crown Commercial Services
Surrey Administrators and Solicitors Property Legal Panel
Stockport MBC Legal Panel
North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO)
Work highlights
- Represented Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in the Manchester Arena Public Inquiry.
- Advised Redwater Developments Ltd on the development of a new housing scheme and adjacent cricket facility, working with the local authority as land owner.
- Acted for Lancashire County Developments in relation to all sales, acquisitions, lettings, property managements and property disputes at Lancashire Business Park.
Browne Jacobson LLP
Browne Jacobson LLP's public law practice works with local authorities across the country, and focuses on large scale procurement, regeneration, waste and other contractual matters. The practice has advised on contracts and outsourcing arrangements for services including ICT, social care, children's services, software and software licences, adult and community learning and bus services. It has also provided guidance on alternative delivery models such as community benefit societies. Michael Mousdale has extensive experience acting on local authority PFI schemes and strategic partnerships.
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Key clients
Manchester City Council
Cheshire East Council
Western Riverside Waste Authority
London Borough of Croydon
Tandridge District Council
DG Cities Limited
Milton Keynes Council
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Tapton School Academy Trust
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Work highlights
- Advised on a town centre regeneration for Cheshire East Council.
- Advised Manchester City Council on its city centre district heating project with a value of c. £20m.
- Advised DG Cities Limited on the establishment of the Smart Mobility Living Lab in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and gave state aid advice in relation to securing funding.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper supports local government clients across a range of practice areas, handling corporate and commercial projects, planning, outsourcing, real estate, pensions and litigation. The team offers guidance on large-scale procurements, joint ventures and other commercial collaborations, as well as complex planning issues. Sarah Bell, who has extensive experience in commercial projects and joint ventures, jointly leads the group with UK managing partner Liam Cowell, who specialises in infrastructure and project financed transactions. Gemma Cowap focuses on local authority commercial trading projects and public sector outsourcings.
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Testimonials
‘DLA’s expertise has always seemed to be second-to-none in my eyes. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge.’
‘DLA Piper’s team have over many years delivered an excellent service – they are knowledgeable and insightful.’
Key clients
Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
Halton Borough Council / Mersey Gateway Crossing Board Authority
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough COuncil
Liverpool City Council
Liverpool Vision Limited
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Transport for Greater Manchester
Transport for the North
Westminster City Council
Work highlights
- Advised Cheshire West and Cheshire Councils in connection with redevelopment of Chester Northgate.
- Advised numerous members of the North West legal consortium in relation to significant revenue generation projects.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Trowers & Hamlins LLP is particularly adept at advising local government clients on managing budget pressures and finding new, sustainable sources of income. The practice provides guidance on capital assets, commercial opportunities and developing partnerships with the private sector. The team has extensive experience in social care housing, including local authority housing development and transfer of council housing stock, schools and services such as waste collection and disposal. Suzanne Benson heads the team and specialises in major projects, including strategic land, joint ventures and regeneration.
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Key clients
Homes England
Liverpool City Council
Wokingham Borough Council
Bury Council
Wolverhampton City Council
London Borough of Lambeth
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
London Borough of Sutton
Reading Borough Council
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Northamptonshire County Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Work highlights
- Advised Liverpool City Council on re-opening the Housing Revenue Council to support the development of up to 10,000 new council homes.
- Advising Bury Council on their relationship with their arm’s length management organisation Six Town Housing.
- Acting for Homes England in implementing their national Local Authority Accelerated Construction fund.
Weightmans LLP
Weightmans LLP is known for its experience in governance, planning and property developments. It also provides a full support service to local authorities, handling major regeneration, property transactions, construction disputes, commercial debt recovery, governance, commercial contracts, shared services arrangements and public procurement. Other key areas of work include equal pay disputes, civil litigation, state aid, housing, child care and adult social care. Simon Goacher heads the team and focuses on conducting sensitive investigations on governance matters, whistleblowing investigations and investigations into the conduct of senior officers.
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Key clients
North West Legal Consortium
Liverpool City Council
Manchester City Council
Rochdale Borough Council
Wirral Borough Council
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Stockport MBC
Cheshire East Council
Cumbria County Council
Knowsley MBC
South Ribble
Oldham MBC
Bolton MBC
Staffordshire Moorlands DC
Salford CC
Telford BC
Shropshire CC
Derbyshire County Council
Work highlights
- Advised Liverpool City Council on its expansion site at the eastern gateway to the city.
- Advised Rochdale MBC on an integrated care project with NHS partners.
- Advised Bolton Council on the Rivington Chase Development, a regeneration project of heavily contaminated brownfield.
DAC Beachcroft LLP
DAC Beachcroft LLP is known for its work relating to town centre regeneration and large scale development schemes, strategic property investment acquisitions, procurement project delivery and corporate matters including arrangements with private sector partners. Other strengths are in public law and governance advice, commercial services arrangements and adult social care law. Alison Key heads the team and leads on a wide variety of commercial property matters.
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Key clients
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
St Helens Council
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Blackpool Council
Burnley Borough Council
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and John Laing Infrastructure Fund
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Greater Manchester Pension Fund
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Trafford Borough Council
Bradford City Council
Warrington Borough Council
Transport for Greater Manchester
Wigan Council
Liverpool County Council
Work highlights
- Advised Knowsley MBC on the acquisition from St Modwen of a shopping centre, a retail park development sire, and a residential development.
- Advised Burnley Borough Council on the acquisition of the existing Reel Cinema site.
- Advised Blackpool Borough Council on its acquisition of Houndshill Shopping Centre Blackpool.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP's team advises on public procurement, transport and education matters, as well as disputes arising from the process of procuring goods and services. Other key areas of work include advising on governance and public sector pensions. The team advises local authorities on projects, judicial review and public sector senior executive severances. Jackie Heeds and Kuljeet Gill are the key contacts in Manchester.
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Ecclesiastical Insurance Office Plc
Telford & Wrekin Council
The Haemophilia Society
The Welsh Language Commissioner
Transport for Greater Manchester
DVSA
Government Legal Department
West Midlands Pension Fund
Cabinet Office
Work highlights
- Advised Transport for Greater Manchester on the proposed delivery of a transport interchange facility and associated park and link to heavy rail station works within Stockport.
- Advised the Ymlaen Consortium on an infrastructure improvement project in the Heads of the Valleys area.
Hill Dickinson LLP
The local government team at Hill Dickinson LLP advises on public procurement, property and regeneration projects, governance, pensions, dispute resolution and telecoms, and also takes on education, health and social contract commission work. Practice head Mark Fitzgibbon undertakes a broad range of procurement and governance work; Tracy Sheehan leads the telecoms team.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Liverpool City Council
Rochdale Borough Council
Trafford Borough Council
Pendle Borough Council
Warrington Borough Council
Sefton Borough Council
South Kesteven District Council
Oldham Borough Council
Harrogate Borough Council
City of York Council
Work highlights
- Advised Liverpool County Council in relation to procurement, commercial, marine regulatory controls, property, planning and construction.
- Advised Rochdale Borough Council on lease and under lease agreements relating to a project.
- Advised Pendle Borough Council on grant funding arrangements relating to a potential regeneration project.
Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs is most well-known for its expertise in regeneration projects and development transactions involving public and private sector collaboration. Other key strengths include funding and development finance, infrastructure and finance projects, public sector pensions, legacy PFI schemes and clean air and decarbonisation initiatives. Mark Gaffney focuses on property development and portfolio transactions; he jointly heads the team with Mark Barker.
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Key clients
Leeds City Council
Manchester City Council
Birmingham City Council
Warrington Borough Council
Transport for Greater Manchester
Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund LP
Greater Manchester Pension Fund
South Yorkshire Pensions Authority
Preston City Council
Muse Developments
Equitix
Galliford Try Investments
Norfolk Pension Fund
Work highlights
- Advised Leeds City Council in relation to its HS2 growth strategy.
- Advised Norfolk Pension Funds on proposed major amendments to the government’s statutory guidance on investment pooling.
- Acted for Muse Developments on the joint venture with Wirral Borough Council to create the Wirral Growth Company.
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Stephensons Solicitors LLP handles a broad range of pensions, litigation and regulatory work in the local government sphere. The team also has significant expertise in childcare law, deputyships and discrimination. Regulatory head Sean Joyce, family head Victoria Gethin, real estate head David Baybut, employment head Philip Richardson and discrimination law-focused Maria Chadwick lead the team.
Practice head(s):
Sean Joyce; Victoria Gethin; David Baybut; Philip Richardson; Maria Chadwick
Testimonials
‘Excellent communication and support from the team.’
Key clients
NEPO framework
West Yorkshire framework
Crown Commercial Wider Legal Services
CLA Civil Contracts LAA
CLA Discrimantion
SRA Intervention Panel
TLT
TLT handles matters including planning, procurement, tax, real estate and complex projects for local government clients. The practice also advises on commercial contracts, IT work and large-scale development and regeneration projects. Kuldip Dhanoya, who heads the team, has significant experience in advising on the establishments of PFI/PPPs, outsourcing and joint venture arrangements.
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Testimonials
‘Debbie Reynolds is superbly knowledgeable in the complex area of compulsory purchase’
Key clients
Warrington Borough Council
Cheshire East Council
Oxfordshire County Council
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Work highlights
- Advised the London Borough of Waltham Forest on a wide range of commercial contracts for its year as the London Borough of Culture.
- Advised Warrington Borough Council in respect of numerous highways infrastructure schemes.
- Advised Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council on a high value compensation claim.