Addleshaw Goddard’s Manchester-based local government team is fully integrated into the firm’s national approach, blending sectoral knowledge and handling major and complex governmental, infrastructure and transport projects. The team is known for its strength in construction and real estate, including affordable housing projects, and stands out for its expertise in PPP arrangements as well as procurement processes. Andrew Pettinger who draws on a wealth of experience in infrastructure and outsourcing projects, jointly heads the practice with Michael O’Connor, esteemed specialist in public, private and project finance transactions across various infrastructure and social infrastructure sectors, particularly transport. Recently, Sara Gilmore acted for Merseytravel and the WMCA on their bus franchising options assessments.
Local government in North West
Addleshaw Goddard
Practice head(s):
Andrew Pettinger; Michael O’Connor
Other key lawyers:
Sara Gilmore; Stephanie Townley; Phil Dupres; Rob Thompson; Bradley Martin
Testimonials
‘The team listened and developed creative yet lawful approaches to the issues understanding the various constraints upon the client team which was worked into the solution. The options were put forward in an easy to read manner with a clear and concise analysis of the options and associated risks and opportunities.’
‘The individuals were pleasant and responsive taking care to work through the options.’
Key clients
Wigan Borough Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Merseytravel
West Midlands Combined Authority
Trafford Borough Council
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Greater London Authority
Transport for London
Work highlights
- Advised the Greater London Authority on a very significant procurement for the retrofit of existing public housing with net zero carbon solutions. This evidences our expertise on innovative procurement structures and the green agenda.
- Advised Wigan Borough Council on a secondary IT outsourcing involving the disaggregation of the existing service provision and a new procurement for a new Partner. This evidences our knowledge of how to deal with complex procurement issues and the delivery of service (including IT) contracts that are critical to local government operations.
- Advised GMCA and Stockport MBC in relation to the redevelopment of the Stockport Interchange site to regenerate the Stockport Interchange bus station and develop a residential PRS scheme. This evidences our commitment to regeneration and transport and evidences our expertise in leading deals to deliver the same.
DWF
DWF’s Manchester-based multidisciplinary team continues to consolidate its specialist public sector practice. Drawing on the firm’s geographical reach and cross-office team approach, the group supports clients on a variety of major high-value regeneration schemes and redevelopment projects and stands out for its expertise in public sector funding and subsidy control. Well-reputed Jonathan Branton jointly heads up the team with Colin Murray who is the key name for regeneration projects, while the former draws on expert knowledge in subsidy control and procurement processes and is supported by senior associate Jay Mehta on state aid and freedom of information matters.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Branton; Colin Murray
Other key lawyers:
Julie Simms; Elizabeth Riddles; James Lupton; Paul Brown; Sean Caldwell; Jay Mehta; Joseph White
Testimonials
‘As a public sector client, the Council finds DWF Law’s Partners and senior legal staff very knowledgeable of our delivery requirements, providing excellent advice that helps us work with private sector developers, as well as securing external funding. Examples include assistance in understanding changes in State Aid rules, public procurement, delivery under the Homes England frameworks and in the application of the NEC suite of contracts.’
‘I have been working with DWF Local Government Team for over a year now at Royal Borough Of Greenwich. At first when I learned they would be supporting the inhouse team on complex Regeneration projects involving compulsory purchase orders, procurement, housing, highways and planning law I was sceptical as I had never worked with them before. However very quickly I warmed to them as individuals particularly as the have excellent customer care and attention to detail skills. The difference with this firm is that they are attentive and proactive and they listen. If challenged at any point they are respectful and reasonable in their conclusions. They are excellent team workers and value for money. Lastly and most importantly they are masters in their own fields. They can be relied on to provide excellent advice within very tight time constraints and are very approachable and helpful if there is a last minute drama.’
‘We have always found the firm to be highly competent, prompt to respond and to have a clear commercial approach in solving issues as they arise. The firm offers very good value for money and has adapted well to the newer ways of working such as remote meetings on Teams. Being a North East local authority, we have been able to source appropriate advice from their national network of offices without difficulty.’
Key clients
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Blackpool Borough Council
South Tyneside Council
Swansea City & County Council
Manchester City Council
Cornwall Council
North of Tyne Combined Authority
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Transport for Greater Manchester
Conwy County Borough Council
Work highlights
- Advising the Royal Borough of Greenwich on all of their major regeneration matters over the next two years including the delivery of a masterplan for Charlton Riverside (8,000 new homes and 4,400 new jobs) and several multi-million pound grant-funded schemes.
- Advising Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council on several of its major regeneration projects including the Wirral Waters One project leading to the delivery of 500 new homes, Hind Street Regeneration project involving the delivery of a comprehensive mixed used scheme and a £22m Maritime Knowledge Hub.
- Advising Transport for Greater Manchester on the competitive procedure with negotiation procurement process for the selection of a bike hire supplier for the entire Greater Manchester region, forming a key aspect of TfGM’s Clean Air initiative.
Browne Jacobson LLP
Browne Jacobson LLP’s Manchester-based local government practice stands out for its work on waste management, recycling and disposal, infrastructure projects as well as procurement processes. The group is adept in providing advice on high profile PFI contract matters and handling disputes acting for local authorities. With a wealth of experience in procurement processes and advising local governments, Mike Mousdale heads up the team. While Nat Avdiu specialises in public procurement, commercial contracts, grant agreements, commercial projects and subsidy control, associate Daniel O’Brien assists with procurement exercises, commercial contracts and commercial projects.
Practice head(s):
Mike Mousdale
Other key lawyers:
Peter Ware; Nat Avdiu; Daniel O’Brien
Testimonials
‘Full attention to detail. Great people and focused and intelligent approach to all matters.‘
Key clients
Derbyshire County Council
Stockport Council
Plymouth City Council
Covanta Energy Limited
St Albans City & District Council
Stockport Council
RECAP Partners
Suez SA
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
DLA Piper
The local government team at DLA Piper UK LLP is known for supporting a diverse range of clients with a particular focus on corporate and commercial projects, planning and real estate as well as advising on large projects and assisting in litigious matters. With offices in Manchester and Liverpool, Sarah Bell jointly heads up the team with Liam Cowell; the former with a wealth of experience in commercial and procurement projects, the latter specialised in public social infrastructure and transport. While real estate expert Mark Beardwood continues to advice on complex regeneration projects, Sophie Stewart joined from Brabners LLP in January 2022, bringing in her specialism in planning, highways and compulsory purchase law. Gemma Cowap and Paddy Dwyer bring in their commercial expertise, providing joint venture projects and procurement advice to local authorities.
Practice head(s):
Sarah Bell; Liam Cowell
Other key lawyers:
Sophie Stewart; Mark Beardwood; Gemma Cowap; Paddy Dwyer
Testimonials
‘I consider the DLA team to be a highly experienced, competent and professional team that has a good understanding of the requirements of the public sector when delivering complex urban regeneration.’
‘They have strong competency levels across all of the various disciplines required in complex urban regeneration including planning, CPO, land acquisition, leasing and funding’
‘The lead partner is Mark Beardwood who is responsive, vastly experienced and commercial.’
Key clients
Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
Halton Borough Council / Mersey Gateway Crossing Board Limited
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Liverpool City Council
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Transport for Greater Manchester
Transport for the North
Wirral Borough Council
Sciontec Developments Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Sefton MBC in connection with the procurement of a state of the art multi-million pound marine lake events centre, including a theatre space, conference and exhibition centre.
- Advised Sciontec from its establishment and continue to advise on multiple commercial and development projects.
- Advising Wirral Borough Council in connection with its ongoing GBP1 billion Birkenhead town centre regeneration scheme.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Based in Manchester, the team at Trowers & Hamlins LLP provides the full range of support services including local authority powers and finance rules, procurement, state aid, data and competition law, town centre, housing and regeneration projects. The team is led by real estate specialist Suzanne Benson and now includes Victoria Robertson who joined from Weightmans LLP in April 2022 developing the commercial side of the practice. Building on his experience as an in-house counsel for a regional local authority, Darren Ashworth now leads on a number of major redevelopment projects.
Practice head(s):
Suzanne Benson
Other key lawyers:
Darren Ashworth; Dan Butler; Victoria Robertson
Testimonials
‘The team work well together, across a range of specialisms to offer a responsive and professional service to Local Authority clients. They share a broad understanding of the drivers, constraints and legal complexity of local government businesses, and this, combined with the detailed knowledge and experience of each field, results in an efficient and effective service. They are good at ensuring the Brief is accurate, at setting realistic fee estimates and at alerting clients to approaching fee budget caps. Individuals are approachable and offer practical solutions to problems.’
‘Deep understanding of local government clients’ needs. Able to provide practical advice from often vague central government guidance.’
‘The North West Affordable Team provide a holistic service with access to specialist Practitioners at a national level. The strength and depth of the service provided has been built up over 10’s of years practice, working in the sector advising Government, Registered Providers, Local Authorities and other stakeholder maintaining long lasting relations with clients as a trusted, knowledgeable and skilled Partner.’
‘I have worked with many individuals within Trowers, and all have been approachable, knowledgeable, and focused on solutions to problems. They bring energy and drive to the team.’
Key clients
Cumbria County Council
Central Bedfordshire Council
Warwick District Council
Bury Council
Lancaster City Council
Urban Growth Company and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Guildford Council
Wirral Council
West Midlands Combined Authority
Lewisham Council
Southwark Council
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Gloucester City Council
London Borough of Hillingdon
Gravesham Borough Council
Rochdale Borough Council
Nottingham County Council
Kent County Council
Work highlights
- Advising Cumbria County Council on aspects of the reconfiguration of the Port of Workington, the largest port in Cumbria, ahead of its future redevelopment.
- Acting for Bury Council on the disposal of a 70,000 square foot site at Chamberhall Bury, forming Phase 2 of the new logistics park developed in recent years.
- Assisting Wirral Council with strategic advice for the regeneration of the Woodside area sitting at the heart of Birkenhead’s waterfront.
Weightmans LLP
Weightmans LLP Liverpool-based local government practice offers a broad spectrum of advice to local councils and authorities ranging from regeneration projects and property transactions to procurement issues. With a previous career in local government law, Simon Goacher heads up the practice, and is an established practitioner on member conduct having carried out investigations on behalf of local authorities. While public law expert Morris Hill specialises in social care matters including child protection, Clive Bleasdale specialises in commercial property law and currently acts for Liverpool City Council on the £1bn Paddington Village project.
Practice head(s):
Simon Goacher
Other key lawyers:
Clive Beasdale; Morris Hill
Testimonials
‘Excellent in depth knowledge of local government law, with many of the team being former in house local authority lawyers.’
‘Simon Goacher has a huge amount of local government law expertise and experience, and was a former Monitoring Officer at Liverpool City Council’
‘Simon Goacher – very pragmatic and helpful’
Key clients
West of England Combined Authority
Association of Directors of Public Health
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Nottinghamshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Manchester City Council
EM Lawshare
NW Legal Consortium
Work highlights
- Advising West of England Combined Authority on its Future Transport Zone programme of projects throughout 2022.
- Advised Swale Borough Council on its change of governance model from a committee system to a leader and governance model, in particular advised on the changes required including drafting a new constitution.
- Investigated a complaint that one of the elected members of the London Borough of Waltham Forest had breached its code of conduct by arranging for the flag of Northern Cyprus to be flown at a ceremony at the Town Hall.
Freeths LLP
The team at Freeths LLP offers a wide range of advice to its extensive client base with particular expertise in matters relating to state aid and subsidy control, planning, real estate, public procurement, governance, and regeneration. The team is also adept in handling employment matters and commercial disputes. Practice head Jackie Heeds draws on extensive experience leading significant infrastructure projects, transactions and joint ventures.
Practice head(s):
Jackie Heeds
Testimonials
‘A very collaborative approach where Freeths were commissioned jointly by us and the other party to draft an agreement. This was done thoroughly with risks and remedials discussed and agreed in an open and transparent manner.’
‘Jackie Heeds was very thorough and committed to completing the tasks on hand. She was always available to explain and work through solutions that were acceptable to both the parties.’
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
Work highlights
- Supporting Wigan Council and procurement consultants on all steps of a £130 million project securing the redevelopment of Wigan Town Centre, including satisfying the pre-conditions of the development agreement, dealing with construction documentation relating to the demolition of the site, and advising on the property management contract.
- Advising Allerdale Borough Council on issues relating to the successful receipt of a number of Government grants, including Levelling-Up Grants related to the town centre redevelopment, Local Enterprise partnership Growth deal re Lillyhall Industrial Area, and Green Homes Grant agreements.
Hill Dickinson LLP
Hill Dickinson LLP’s offering spans across five key areas including public procurement, regeneration, local government governance, pensions and dispute resolution. Practice head Mark Fitzgibbon’s advisory work is focused on strategic positioning and approaches to be taken by local government clients in steering a path through regulated procurement requirements. With the arrival of senior associate Helen Feinson from Medicines Discovery Catapult in June 2022, the group is able to provide specialist subsidy control advice across our public sector client-base.
Practice head(s):
Mark Fitzgibbon
Other key lawyers:
Peter Winnard; Helen Feinson
Testimonials
‘The team always responds quickly to my requests for advice. If I have a quick question, this is answered through their helpline where I can arrange a teams call within a few hours to discuss.’
‘Mark Fitzgibbon has provided legal advice and guidance to my organisation for over a decade – he has the historical and cultural knowledge of how my organisation. He has good working relationships with myself and a number of my colleagues and is always responsive, open and honest with his advice.’
Key clients
Liverpool City Council
Rochdale Borough Council
Trafford Borough Council
Pendle Borough Council
Oldham Borough Council
Stoke City Council
Stockport MBC
Salford City Council
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Transport for Greater Manchester
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Incommunities Ltd
Liverpool BID company
Work highlights
- Advising Salford City Council in respect of the structuring and implementation of the Council’s long-term Borough-wide regeneration aspirations to maximise the delivery of regeneration outputs and benefits across the Borough as a whole.
- Continuing to advise Pendle Borough Council in connection with the completion of the procurement for a new development partner – completing the formation of the joint venture company with its selected joint venture development partner.
- Advising Incommunities Housing Group in connection with a broad range of funding streams being accessed through West Yorkshire Combined Authority (and other LA funders) in relation to subsidy control compliance, procurement compliance and contractual requirements.
Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs’ local government team has particular expertise in the delivery of complex and strategic regeneration projects, major transport and infrastructure projects, and large-scale development transactions involving public and private sector collaboration. Development and regeneration expert Mark Barker heads the team which includes Mark Gaffney who is specialised in property joint ventures and public sector funding. Nick Helm, head of the group’s energy and infrastructure team, is the key contact for renewable energy projects, decarbonisation initiatives and Clean Air projects, a core strength of the group.
Practice head(s):
Mark Barker
Other key lawyers:
Mark Gaffney; Nick Helm
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
Preston City Council
Lancashire County Council
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Sheffield City Council
Work highlights
- Advising TfGM (and indirectly 10 Greater Manchester local authorities) on the proposed Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan and the Greater Manchester Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Project.
- Advising Preston City Council on the key strategic redevelopment of the City’s indoor market for a leisure-led scheme anchored by a multi-screen cinema operator and a bowling operator.
- Acting for Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund LP and the funding for the redevelopment of the former Leeds Casino.
TLT
Based in Manchester, TLT’s local government practice provides a wide offering of advice across multifaceted projects including planning and real estate, complex procurement, IT transformations, and large-scale development and regeneration projects. The group headed by Kuldip Dhanoya was appointed to the new Public Sector Legal Services panel in September 2022. While legal director Debbie Reynolds specialises in compulsory purchase, regeneration and major infrastructure schemes, legal director Joseph Meredith handles estate management matters.
Practice head(s):
Kuldip Dhanoya
Other key lawyers:
Jon Hainey; Debbie Reynolds; Joseph Meredith
Testimonials
‘The great strength of this practice is that it frequently represents both the development industry and Local Authorities. This gives them an obvious advantage as they have an unrivalled insight into the practice of both the private and public sector. I have found them particularly strong on strategic planning, large scale public inquiries and especially compulsory purchase.’
‘Debbie Reynolds is the Legal Director of the Planning Team. I have worked with her on complex compulsory purchase matters in relation to housing and highway infrastructure schemes. This is from promotion of the CPO for Local Authorities, managing and organising the legal requirements of acquisition, the public inquiry and then dealing with complex and challenging compensation claims. I have also worked with her when she was acting for the LPA in a large minerals case (peat extraction) in the North West. She is quite superb at project managing major schemes and provides excellent service to the Local Government sector in bringing to fruition legally complex and technically difficult proposals.’
Key clients
Warrington Borough Council
Cheshire East Council
Wolverhampton City Council
Leicester Borough Council
Oxfordshire County Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Mayors Office for Police and Crime
London Borough Waltham Forest
Sci-Tech Daresbury
Work highlights
- Advising Wolverhampton City Council on a key regeneration project, the procurement of the construction of a new wholesale market and depot in its city as part of a new “mixed use” complex.
- Advising Warrington Borough Council in relation to the proposed Western Link road; a very high profile highway infrastructure scheme, which will open up c.205 acres of land for redevelopment. In particular advising on all matters pertaining to land assembly and the statutory order process.
- Acting for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime defending a claim brought in the High Court challenging a procurement relating to a framework contract for the provision of estate management and back office services in respect of the Metropolitan Police Service’s property estate.