The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > South West > Local government

Bevan Brittan LLP's Bristol team, which is part of a larger national operation, which spans four offices. Its recent work included advice to clients on the commercialisation of public services, including new housing vehicles. The group also advises on property regeneration and housing, local government governance and reorganisation, contract management advice to councils and contractual disputes. The ‘certainly impressive’ David Hutton, who leads the practice nationwide, assists clients with developing their strategies on transport, housing and other infrastructure matters. Sarah Lamont provides employment advice to councils, housing associations and education bodies. Chris Jarman retired from private practice in 2018.

Housing a number of former local authority lawyers, Burges Salmon LLP provides a comprehensive range of services, which includes advice to local authorities on statutory and constitutional interpretation of powers, corporate and commercial work, public procurement, infrastructure projects, and waste and energy projects. The team also has particular expertise in planning and environmental work and pension schemes. In addition to acting for local authorities, other clients include central government departments and bodies, as well as government-owned organisations. The practice is led by planning expert Gary Soloman, who advises on local authority, regeneration and compulsory purchase matters. John Houlden specialises in in procurement, state aid and project funding. Matthew Ramus, Marcus Harling and senior associate Paula McGeady are also highly recommended.

Ashfords LLP's public sector group is led by Exeter-based Elizabeth Gibson, who advises local authorities and other public bodies (including unitary, county and district councils) on public law, project structuring, governance support, procurement, state aid and EU law matters. The firm is also increasingly active in the advice to externalised public sector companies. Recent highlights for the team included housing development work, regeneration projects concerning residential and school property, and technology and broadband projects. Senior associate Lucy Woods advises on high-value projects and outsourcing.

Davitt Jones Bould's strong market presence in the South West is evidenced by the fact that it acts for a significant number of local authorities in the region. It recently advised clients on property investments, the delivery of development projects, and high-value regeneration projects. Robin De Wreede is adept at handling large infrastructure developments both for local authorities and their joint venture partners.

Foot Anstey’s team provides a wide range of services to clients, such as advising on regulatory issues, judicial reviews, procurement, state aid, real estate, planning and litigation. Department head Duncan Tringham is adept at handling collaborations in the public and private sector, including grant-funded development, regeneration and infrastructure projects. Legal director Mark Li, who has experience of acting on local government-led regeneration projects, joined from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP. In February 2019, James Falle departed to join Temple Bright LLP.

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP's local government team has a particularly strong capability in complex and innovative regeneration schemes and development projects. It also has a standout offering in the heat networks and leisure sectors. In addition, the firm has a national reputation in contentious and non-contentious procurement mandates. Elsewhere, the firm is becoming increasingly well-known for its expertise in the state aid space. Infrastructure planning expert Jonathan Bower has a wealth of experience acting for clients on town centre and highways schemes.

Browne Jacobson LLP acts for more than 200 local authorities, either directly or through their insurers. It also advises central government departments, as well as police, fire and rescue services. The scope of its wide-ranging practice includes corporate and commercial work, regeneration projects, housing, state aid and employment matters. In addition, contentious work is another driver of activity for the group. Peter Ware advises all types of public sector clients on public procurement, state aid and alternative service delivery models.

DAC Beachcroft LLP leverages strengths in multiple disciplines to advise local authorities on property, development, income generation projects and complex public law work, including state aid and procurement. In addition, it has had an increase in mandates from local authorities seeking GDPR and data protection advice. Stephen Hocking is knowledgeable about local authority governance, powers and conduct issues.

The cross-practice local government team at Michelmores LLP’s covers a full spectrum of local authority law issues concerning real estate transactions, planning, environment, employment, regeneration, and funding and asset management. Mark Howard’s practice focuses on planning and environmental matters. Real estate partner Sally Rice assists local authorities with transactions involving redevelopment work.

TLT's practice is going from strength to strength, with the firm gaining a sizeable number of new local authority clients recently; it now acts for more than 70. The team advises clients on a wide ambit of issues, such as employment, procurement, project arrangements, planning, renewable energy, real estate and general commercial issues. In addition to acting for local authorities, other clients include central government departments and government agencies. Senior partner Andrew Glynn and Bill Hull co-head the practice.

VWV's clients, which include local authorities and the emergency services, turn to the firm for advice on particularly complex issues, such as governance reviews, disputes, Code of Conduct complaints and constitutional matters. In addition, the firm is sought out to advise on projects, employment and real estate matters. Also notable is that it has had a longstanding role running and facilitating the Local Government Training Partnership (LGTP), which is a platform that is intended to enable members to provide and receive sector-specific training. Department head Allison Cook has been instrumental in growing the emergency services practice.