DWF's team delivers integrated advice across procurement, competition, regeneration, and complex outsourcing. It has well-established capabilities in large-scale public infrastructure and tech projects. Jonathan Branton leads the practice and handles competition matters, subsidy control, and public procurement cases. Colin Murray advises on local government matters, including governance, procurement, and regeneration schemes. Lee Pickett handles housing-led development projects and joint ventures, and James Lupton advises on outsourcing, PFI, and complex public sector contracts.
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Key clients
- Gateshead Borough Council
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- Durham County Council
- Cornwall Council
- Leeds City Council
- Derry City and Strabane District Council
- Port of Dover
- West Midlands Combined Authority
- Plymouth City Council
- The Royal Borough of Greenwich
- Bradford Council
- Westmorland & Furness Council
Work highlights
Advised the client on three major operator procurements: a £420m leisure venues concession under the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016, a £185m Sheffield City Hall operator procurement and a £310m Sheffield Utilita Arena operator procurement, both using competitive dialogue under PCR 2015.
Advised the Royal Borough of Greenwich on a £1bn+ programme of regeneration and housing procurements, including establishing a bespoke dynamic purchasing system and acting as sole adviser across multiple projects.
Advised Bradford Council on procurement strategy and structuring across multiple major projects, including the £25m One City Place development using a competitive dialogue procedure to appoint Muse, the £250m City Village scheme via the Pagabo framework to secure English Cities Fund and appoint consultants, and the procurement and legal framework for City of Culture 2025, including engagement with DCMS and BCCL.
Practice head
Jonathan Branton
Other key lawyers
Colin Murray; Lee Pickett; James Lupton