Bevan Brittan LLP has an established public sector practice which is active for local authorities all across England. It is at the forefront of different agendas such as property regeneration, housing, commercialisation and climate change. The team regularly handles local government reorganisations, investigations, contract management and disputes. David Hutton leads the practice and is the first point of contact for the group's various panels. Sarah Lamont has employment law know-how
Local government in South West
Bevan Brittan LLP
Practice head(s):
David Hutton
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Lamont
Testimonials
‘Bevan Brittan acted for multiple local authorities and further education institutions in a completion during the pandemic which had to be done entirely remotely. The whole team did an exemplary job in incredibly difficult circumstances. ’
‘David Hutton has an unrivalled understanding of how the public sector works and how the capability and capacity of such clients can vary hugely. He flexes his advice to suit the client which is what singles him out from other providers.’
Key clients
Welsh Government
BCP Council
Local Government Association
London Borough of Haringey
Sunderland City Council
Northamptonshire County Council
London Borough of Brent
Thanet Council, Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone & Hythe Council, East Kent Homes
Birmingham City Council
Cardiff Council
City of London Corporation
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Work highlights
- Appointed by the Welsh Government and Welsh Councils to advise all potential participating authorities on the £1.5bn Welsh Education Partnership – Strategic Partnering Delivery Model.
- Assisted the BCP Council with designing the scope of the procurement and contract structure to create an innovative procurement whereby the Council will procure a Strategic Implementation Partner (SIP) to enter into a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) to support in the implementation of BCP Council’s Organisational Design Model.
- Acted for 52 Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) in England and Wales, defending claims brought by over 5,000 fire-fighters against 52 Fire and Rescue Authorities in England and Wales.
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP offers ‘high quality, pragmatic and accessible legal advice‘ to local government clients; those often instruct the team in regeneration, planning and environment matters. Other areas of expertise are local authority pension scheme work and the firm has a dedicated net-zero services team. Practice head Gary Soloman is a specialist in CPOs. John Houlden has experience in State Aid and procurement matters. Matthew Ramus is a ‘first class lawyer‘ and director Paula McGeady is strong in planning issues.
Practice head(s):
Gary Soloman
Other key lawyers:
Marcus Harling; John Houlden; Matthew Ramus
Testimonials
‘Really excellent and friendly service, modern and inclusive team working and collaboration, reflective leadership.’
‘Good knowledge base and expertise. Strong customer service ethos. Flexible, collaborative approach.’
‘Approachable, helpful and highly knowledgeable. Their understanding of the nature of social care and education services enables them to work with clients to ensure robust arrangements are in place to improve outcomes and practice.’
‘Matt Ramus has a knack with clients and is a first class lawyer. He makes complex legal issues look simple. You would want him on your side when negotiating as he is very intuitive and insightful.’
‘This practice has a real and in-depth understanding of local government. It provides high quality, pragmatic and accessible legal advice. Gets to the heart of the matter promptly and connects with clients with ease and skill.’
‘Gary Soloman – excellent partner with spot on client care skills, puts client and the case before himself and the firm; goes the extra mile; excellent communication and resourcing; patient and reflective leadership.’
‘John Houlden is very pragmatic, responsive and considers issues from all angles. Also a pleasure to work with.’
‘Approachable, helpful and highly knowledgeable. Highly experienced lawyers specializing in the establishment of safe, legal and sustainable Children’s Trusts that are focused on improvement and outcomes.’
Key clients
Birmingham City Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Northamptonshire County Council Children’s Trust
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Kent County Council
Greater London Authority
Isle of Anglesey County Council
Bristol City Council
Cornwall Council
North Somerset Council
ESB Asset Development
All Wales LGPS Pool
Torbay Borough Council
Work highlights
- Advising Bristol City Council on its ‘City Leap’ initiative, which has received national and international interest along with significant support from central government.
- Advising Birmingham City Council in its role as Host City for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with a focus on BCC’s capital projects – a series of infrastructure and development schemes to support the delivery of the Games and key commercial arrangements.
- Advising the GLA and Transport for London on a series of regeneration projects in the Royal Docks Opportunity Area in East London.
Ashfords LLP
Ashfords LLP takes a cross-discipline approach, so it can offer clients support in employment, construction, dispute resolution, procurement and finance matters. Instructed by local government organisations, it provides those with 'practical and commercially pertinent advice.' Practice head Lucy Woods is busy with state aid, procurement and EU law related instructions. Melissa Jones left the firm in June 2020 for a role at the Department for Education, while planning specialist Robin de Wreede joined the team from Davitt Jones Bould in February 2021.
Practice head(s):
Lucy Woods
Other key lawyers:
Charles Pallot; Ruth Yates; Robin de Wreede
Testimonials
‘Ashfords have a great breadth of experience, relevant to what we need and support our solutions with practical and commercially pertinent advice.’
‘Charles Pallot provides excellent Pensions and Employment advice and guidance, including ensuring there are no surprises, the extent of risk is known and that all documents are drafted without ambiguity and fully transparent.’
‘The team are very approachable & always very responsive to any queries raised. ’
‘Consummate knowledge and experience combined with a very personable approach and a willingness to find solutions to problems. In my experience this is far and away superior to any other firms in the region.’
Key clients
Torbay Council
Brick by Brick Croydon Limited
The London Borough of Lambeth
Wandsworth Borough Council and Richmond Borough Council
Somerset County Council
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Isles of Scilly Community Venture
Herefordshire Council
The London Borough of Hackney
Work highlights
- Advised on RBKC’s procurement of a Contractors’ Framework valued at £118m and Consultants’ Framework valued at £16m in respect of its Housing Capital Investment Programme which was conducted using the open procedure.
- Advised the Council in relation to its multi-million pound Fastershire Broadband project since its conception in 2011, and provided detailed State aid advice throughout.
- Advised BxB on variety of areas including construction, corporate structuring contractual matters, employment, energy, intellectual property, planning and real estate.
Browne Jacobson LLP
Browne Jacobson LLP is instructed either directly by local authorities or their insurers. The group covers a wide range of matters; practice co-head Peter Ware is a specialist in procurement and commercial projects but the team also handles State Aid and subsidy controls, PFIs, regeneration projects and planning matters. Joanne Pruden, who also leads the group, is well versed in employer liability and public liability claims.
Practice head(s):
Jo Pruden; Peter Ware
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Howard; Jennifer Grigg
Key clients
Cornwall Council
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue
Devon County Council
Dorset County Council
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
East Devon District Council
Environment Agency
Exeter City Council
Isles of Scilly Council
Kernow CCG
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council
Plymouth City Council
Public Sector Transformation Academy
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
West Devon Borough Council
Worcestershire County Council
Sedgemoor District Council
Somerset County Council
Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
South West Audit Partnership.
Work highlights
- Advised South West Audit Partnership on changes to change governance arrangements.
- Advised Teignbridge District Council on prosecution of the tenant by the Council as owner of the premises for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
- Acted for Cornwall Council in a claim for harassment and misfeasance in public office.
DAC Beachcroft LLP
DAC Beachcroft LLP's key contacts are Stephen Hocking, Ben Pariser, Ben Thornycroft, Stan Campbell and legal director Karen Howe. The team covers pensions, mental health, procurement, state aid and governance matters, among others.
Other key lawyers:
Ben Pariser; Stephen Hocking; Ben Thornycroft; Stan Campbell; Karen Howe
Foot Anstey
Foot Anstey's local government practice regularly assists clients on energy, construction, retail and leisure, utilities and banking and finance matters. It also has niche expertise in the space sector. The team works seamlessly with other practice groups at the firm, and is led by infrastructure specialist Ian Stubbs, construction practitioner Tris Tucker and procurement advisor Brian Hitchcock.
Practice head(s):
Ian Stubbs; Tris Tucker; Brian Hitchcock
Other key lawyers:
Suriya Edwards
Key clients
WElink
BSR (British Solar Renewables)
DWR Cymru Welsh Water
Goonhilly Earth Station
TClarke plc
Eden Project
Plymouth City Council
Bank of London and the Middle East
Devon County Council
Acorn Property Group
Willmott Dixon
Green Frog Connect
ABC International Bank Limited
Screwfix / Kingfisher / B&Q PLC
WElink Energy Group
NEC Energy Solutions, Inc
Corre Energy
Studio Hive Group
Apartment for London
Atlas Hive Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for WElink in relation to two major utility scale solar PV projects, both in Portugal.
- Advised Plymouth City Council on the design and construction of the Forder Valley Link Road and early feasibility stages of the Manadon large local major scheme.
- Advised TW Dixon in relation to successfully resisting enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision on the grounds of “manifest injustice”.
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP has notable experience in advising on heat projects, regeneration and development projects. The team also assists councils with procurement documents, defending and bringing challenges and joint venture structures as well as regulatory law and governance. Practice head Jonathan Bower focuses on the delivery of infrastructure projects.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Bower
Other key lawyers:
Charles Robson
Key clients
Hampshire County Council
City of York Council
West Lancashire Borough Council
Cardiff Council
Havant Borough Council
North Somerset Council
Telford & Wrekin Borough Council
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
The Borough of Broxbourne
South Gloucestershire Council
Bath & NE Somerset Council
West Berkshire Council
Fareham Borough Council
Portsmouth City Council
Bristol City Council
South Tees Development Corporation (STDC)
Work highlights
- Advising Cardiff Council in relation to its Cardiff Bay Heat Network project.
- Acting for the City Council of Bristol on the disposal of Temple Island, Bristol to Legal & General (L&G) for redevelopment including a lease back of office building to the City Council of Bristol.
- Providing Somerset West and Taunton Council with commercial investment property conveyancing service to support the acquisition by SWT of £100m of property.
Davitt Jones Bould
The team at Davitt Jones Bould has experience in regeneration and development projects. It is active for local authorities and local government bodies, and Madeleine Davitt is the key contact. Robin de Wreede left for Ashfords LLP in March 2021.
Other key lawyers:
Madeleine Davitt; Sean Bulman
Michelmores LLP
Through its full-service offering, Michelmores LLP can advise its local government clients on real estate, employment, planning and environmental matters. The key contact is Carol Mccormack OBE.
Practice head(s):
Carol McCormack OBE
TLT
TLT's team is regularly involved in projects, procurement, IT transformations, and development and regeneration projects. It also advises local authorities on issues relating to pensions, tax, planning and State Aid law. Real estate specialist Andrew Glynn and public procurement expert Bill Hull jointly lead the public sector practice, while the firm-wide local government group is headed by Manchester-based Kuldip Dhanoya.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Glynn; Bill Hull; Kuldip Dhanoya
Key clients
London Borough of Lambeth
Cornwall Council
Oxfordshire County Council
London Borough of Waltham Forest
London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Ealing
Work highlights
- Assisting the London Borough of Hounslow with real estate matters.
- Advising Warrington Borough Council in relation to a high profile highway infrastructure scheme.
- Advising SSDC in relation to commercial property acquisitions.
VWV
The breadth of knowledge at VWV is 'excellent'; the group is active in commercial property, procurement and employment matters, and takes a close cross-practice collaboration approach. It also regularly handles governance and code of conduct complaints. Group head Allison Cook often acts for senior members of local authorities.
Practice head(s):
Allison Cook
Testimonials
‘Breadth of knowledge excellent. Able to work well with Senior Members across all political parties as well as officers.’
‘Allison Cook was very helpful, supportive, patient and knowledgeable in assisting the Council throughout an extended period. She brought in colleagues from VWV to advise on matters as required which ensured the Council received a well rounded service from VWV.’
Key clients
Dorset Council
Avon Fire and Rescue Service
Herefordshire Council
Oxford City Council
Thanet District Council
BCP
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Carmarthenshire Council
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Work highlights
- Acting for an Emergency Service following a death whilst undertaking a training exercise.
- Appointed as legal advisers to a local authority to provide property and regulatory support in relation to their involvement in a significant development which will eventually see up to 1500 homes built in their local area.
- Advising the Council on the data protection implications of entering into a crime reduction partnership.