Led by Ash Woodcock from the firm’s Birmingham office, the sizeable local government team at Bevan Brittan LLP has a national reach with disputes, climate change response and levelling-up funding among the mandates that have been keeping the Bristol team busy. Employment specialist Sarah Lamont has a niche focus on the processes required for disciplining or dismissing statutory officers. Chris Harper is well versed in company acquisitions and sales, while contentious construction specialist Louise Robling bolsters the team’s PFI disputes expertise. David Hutton has retired.
Local government in South West
Bevan Brittan LLP
Practice head(s):
Ash Woodcock
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Lamont; Chris Harper; Nadeem Arshad; Mark Calverley; Louise Robling; Liz Fletcher
Testimonials
‘Nathan Bradberry has been involved in the majority of large local authority led decentralised energy projects in the UK over the last few years. This has allowed him to develop excellent sectoral knowledge.’
‘Have been able to meet all of our requests for legal advice with significant breadth of expertise in their team.’
‘Highly responsive, willing to explore a range of innovative and sometime out-there ideas, when seeking to identify how best to move forward.’
Key clients
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff
Manchester City Council
Birmingham City Council
London Borough of Hammersmith
Merton Council
Reading Borough Council
Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA)
City of Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council
Flintshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Leicestershire Council
Dudley MBC
Local Government Association on behalf of 52 Fire & Rescue Authorities
Walsall MBC
London Borough of Bromley
Portsmouth City Council
London Borough of Havering
Lewisham LBC
Haringey LBC
Royal Borough of Greenwich
The Corporation of London
Work highlights
- Acting for 52 Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) in England and Wales, as part of the national public sector pension litigation.
- Advising Merton Council on the sale of its wholly-owned company (CHAS 2013 Ltd) to Veriforce (US) which is backed by Thoma Bravo Discover Fund II LP.
- Appointed by the Welsh Government to advise on the structure of the £1.5bn Welsh Education Partnership Strategy Partnership Delivery Model.
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP‘s multifarious local government team covers local authority pension schemes, the outsourcing of children’s services and major regeneration projects - the latter often goes hand in hand with the compulsory purchase expertise present at the firm. Practice head Gary Soloman is an authority on the compensation aspects of regeneration projects. John Houlden is a key contact for complex local authority mandates, advising on issues such as procurement and state aid matters. Matthew Ramus possesses considerable experience advising on major Children’s Services restructuring programmes. Additional names to note in the Bristol-based team include Emma Andrews, Paula McGeady and Sarah Sutherland.
Practice head(s):
Gary Soloman
Other key lawyers:
John Houlden; Matthew Ramus; Emma Andrews; Paula McGeady; Sarah Sutherland
Work highlights
- Advising Bristol City Council on its ‘City Leap’ initiative, bringing together private sector and community partners to deliver on a long-term multibillion programme of energy and infrastructure investment.
- Advising on the major highway improvement scheme at Junction 10 of the M5 motorway, which is needed to address congestion problems in Cheltenham and enable significant growth.
- Advising South Hams District Council in relation to a potential compulsory purchase order to enable land assembly of part of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport at Langage.
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Led by the Newcastle-based Iain Greenshields, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP‘s local government practice sits with the firm’s wider public sector offer and is well placed to advise on public-private sector partnerships. The unit is also noted for its experience of advising on procurement, real estate and complex litigation. Jonathan Bower, Kevin Gibbs and Richard Guyatt‘s capabilities in major infrastructure projects and compulsory purchase orders is frequently brought to bear, ‘from inception to delivery,’ on major mandates throughout the country. Katherine Douglas has a strong focus on commercial property, while Victoria Redman‘s diverse practice spans highways and planning matters.
Practice head(s):
Iain Greenshields
Other key lawyers:
Kevin Gibbs; Richard Guyatt; Katherine Douglas; Victoria Redman
Testimonials
‘The team provides strategic, practical and detailed advice on infrastructure projects from inception to delivery.’
‘Kevin Gibbs has a fine appreciation of strategic objectives and client requirements.’
‘Richard Guyatt has detailed knowledge of drafting and framing Transport and Works Act orders.’
Work highlights
- Advised North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority on the MetroWest Phase 1 DCO for the restoration of a rail service between Portishead and Bristol.
- Supported Plymouth City Council in relation to the Plymouth and South Devon (PASD) Freeport.
- Advised Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council on the procurement of a heat network project in Solihull town centre.
Ashfords LLP
The ‘great service’ provided by Ashfords LLP‘s public sector team spans employment, construction, and dispute resolution. Practice chair Lucy Woods‘ expertise extends to subsidy control for rural broadband projects and enterprise zones. Sian Gibbon focuses on telecoms work and right of light claims, while planning expert David Richardson assists local authorities with compulsory purchase and public law advice. Other key figures include regeneration and development projects specialist Robin De Wreede; Laura Reeve, a key contact for construction procurement mandates; and the ‘exceptionally knowledgable’ Ruth Yates. All named lawyers are based in Exeter.
Practice head(s):
Lucy Woods
Other key lawyers:
David Richardson; Robin de Wreede; Laura Reeve; Ruth Yates
Testimonials
‘Ashford’s team offers a great service that I cannot fault. I have worked with them for approximately seven years. They hire talented people with top drawer knowledge of procurement law.’
‘Ruth Yates is exceptionally knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Wandsworth Borough Council and Richmond Borough Council
London Borough of Brent
Cornwall Council
Bristol City Council
Exeter City Council
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Ashford Borough Council
Populo Living
London Borough of Southwark
Torbay Council
Dorset Council
Mid Devon District Council
Watford Borough Council
Mendip District Council
Shropshire Council
Advance Northumberland Commercial Limited
Herefordshire Council
Brick by Brick Croydon Limited
Sedgemoor District Council
North Devon District Council
West Devon Borough Council
South Somerset District Council
London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Hackney
Maidstone Borough Council
Kent County Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Portsmouth City Council
Thanet District Council
Stratford Upon Avon District Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Hampshire County Council
East Suffolk Council
Devon County Council
North Devon Council
South Hams District Council
Torridge District Council
Swansea Council
Work highlights
- Advised Ashford Borough Council in connection with a £250 million investment into the regeneration of one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK.
- Acting as standing legal adviser to Wandsworth Borough Council and Richmond Upon Thames Borough Council for a wide range of specialisms.
- Acted for Exeter City Council in the acquisition of Guildhall Shopping Centre.
Foot Anstey
The core pillars of Foot Anstey‘s practice are infrastructure, development and energy work, with the team assisting a range of public sector bodies with major projects involving multiple stakeholders and legal specialisms. Brian Hitchcock, who spearheads the unit’s offering, has extensive experience of public sector infrastructure law. Construction and engineering disputes specialist Tris Tucker assists clients from the firm’s Plymouth office. Further south, in Truro, commercial property specialist John Catchpole advises local authorities on issues such as site acquisitions and asset disposal. All named lawyers are based in Exeter unless stated otherwise.
Practice head(s):
Brian Hitchcock
Other key lawyers:
Tris Tucker; John Catchpole
Key clients
Cornwall Council
Spaceport Cornwall (Cornwall Council)
Plymouth City Council
Devon County Council
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Bristol City Council
Celtic Sea Power
Work highlights
- Advising Devon County Council on their EV charging infrastructure and services procurement programme known as DELETTI.
- Advising Aerospace Cornwall, part of Cornwall Council, on their programme promoting research, development and innovation across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
- Advising 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.
Freeths LLP
Described by some clients as ‘exceptional in every way’, Freeths LLP pulls together a strong offering in areas such as public infrastructure, joint ventures between local government and the private sector, and regeneration and development schemes. The ‘outstanding’ Duncan Tringham marshals the South West team, frequently leading on local government-led real estate projects. Daniel Cuthbert specialises in contentious telecom matters while his Bristol colleague Michael Bray excels in local government-led developments. Coralie McKeivor and Emilie Criddle are also recommended for their public sector acumen.
Practice head(s):
Duncan Tringham; Nathan Holden
Other key lawyers:
Daniel Cuthbert; Michael Bray; Coralie McKeivor; Emilie Criddle
Testimonials
‘The individuals are brilliant but they also quickly and effortlessly combine to act in concert when required to provide synchronised and mutually reinforcing advice.’
‘Duncan Tringham in particular is outstanding and great to work with. You can always rely on him to keep everyone on track and to maintain the momentum on a deal.’
‘The team at Freeths has been exceptional in every way.’
‘Duncan Tringham has been the lead partner now for a number of years and on a number of projects, all of which have been exceptional.’
‘The team at Freeths has been a huge support on all things concerning our telecoms legal matters including guidance through a (successful) tribunal.’
‘All of our contacts within Freeths are brilliant. They go above and beyond with their work for us.’
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
The West London Alliance (7 London Boroughs)
Work highlights
- Advising Cornwall Council on the £450m Langarth Garden Village scheme involving the strategic acquisition and development of a new town.
- Advising the Council on the creation of Habitat Banking Vehicles (HBV) that will enhance the biodiversity of substantial areas of land within Plymouth.
- Advising Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Energy Community on the joint venture development of a new community owned solar farm at Chelson Meadow.
Browne Jacobson LLP
A recent focus on local authority insurance claims and housing repair claims at Browne Jacobson LLP complements a broad public sector offering which includes PFI work, regeneration projects and a national ombudsman practice. Social care expert Joanne Pruden leads the team from Exeter; she has specific expertise in sex abuse, bullying and harassment claims. Longstanding criminal advocate Dale Collins is well versed in health and safety, environmental and food safety breaches.
Practice head(s):
Joanne Pruden
Other key lawyers:
Dale Collins
Key clients
Municipal Mutual Insurance
Zurich
Gallagher Basset
Resolute
Devon County Council
Cornwall Council
Isle of Wight Council
Bristol City Council
Worcestershire County Council
Dorset Council
Cornwall Housing Limited
Plymouth Community Homes
Work highlights
TLT
The ‘personable and knowledgeable’ local government team at TLT assists a variety of local government organisations and local authorities on issues such as pensions, tax and commercial property investments. Jointly led by Andrew Glynn, Bill Hull and David Isaacson, the Bristol-based group is additionally well placed to advise on clean energy projects and planning issues for regeneration projects. David Meecham, who joined the firm from Pinsent Masons LLP in November 2022 has longstanding experience of advising on public sector housing transactions. Nicola Mead-Batten joined from Capital Law Limited in December 2022.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Glynn; Bill Hull; David Isaacson
Other key lawyers:
David Meecham; Ed Pitt; Nicola Mead-Batten
Testimonials
‘I have found them to be personable and knowledgeable with the ability to understand and account for the soft issues on matters.’
Key clients
Waltham Forest Borough Council
Work highlights
- Advised Waltham Forest on the £250m regeneration of Score Centre, Leyton.
- Advised London Borough of Brent on the procurement of a hybrid developer/contractor for a flagship housing-led regeneration scheme forming part of the Wembley Housing Zone.
- Advising South Somerset District Council Advising in relation to commercial property acquisitions.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Spanning local authority housing developments, local government reform, and shared service arrangements, the wide-ranging advisory work carried out by Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s ‘expert team’ is frequently completed on a cross-office basis - the Exeter-based practice often calls on the expertise present in the London, Birmingham and Manchester offices. Lynne Rathbone, John Turnbull and Rory Stracey co-lead the unit, with Emma Barnfield and Gail White further contributing to the collective expertise on offer.
Practice head(s):
Lynne Rathbone; John Turnbull; Rory Stracey
Other key lawyers:
Emma Barnfield; Oliver Williams; Gail White
Testimonials
‘They are very friendly, approachable and knowledgeable.’
‘I have mainly worked with Rory Stracey who has always been very helpful and knowledgeable.’
‘This is an expert team which has helped us move forward on projects.’
‘We trust the firm and the individuals who work there, more so than other comparable outfits.’
Key clients
Dorset Council
East Devon District Council
West of England Combined Authority
South Somerset District Council
Gloucester City Council
Bristol City Council
Tewkesbury Borough Council
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Torbay Council
Sedgemoor District Council
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Tamworth Borough Council
London Borough of Camden
Westminster City Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
Sevenoaks District Council
Kent County Council
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Gravesham Borough Council
Three Rivers District Council
Work highlights
- Acting for Stevenage Borough Council in connection with their flagship town centre redevelopment known as Queensway North.
- Advising Gloucester City Council on the Forum city centre regeneration and employment initiative.
- Advising Sevenoaks District Council on Millwall Football Club’s application to develop a new training facility within a 50 acre green belt site in West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks.
VWV
VWV‘s Bristol-based team advises a range of public sector bodies on mandates including procurement matters, employment tribunal claims, and an increasing number of code of conduct cases. Allison Cook, who leads the public sector practice, is well regarded for advising on issues pertaining to senior individuals in local government and the emergency services. Property litigation specialists Michelle Bendall and Daniel Hall and procurement expert Stephanie Rickard are also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Allison Cook
Other key lawyers:
Stephanie Rickard, Michelle Bendall; Daniel Hall
Testimonials
‘VWV stood out as a full-service law firm with experience in the local government sector.’
‘Excellent knowledge of the employment law and, in particular, how it operates within the public sector.’
‘Partners and associates are accessible, well informed, and are able to distil complex information for clients.’
Key clients
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Northumberland Council
Fareham Borough Council
Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council
Herefordshire Council
Dorset Council
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
West Berkshire Council
East Suffolk District Council
Work highlights
- Advised Dorset County Council in relation to their exciting new specialist housing and community development near Wareham town centre.