Ms Melanie Pears > Ward Hadaway LLP > Newcastle upon Tyne, England > Lawyer Profile
Ward Hadaway LLP Offices
SANDGATE HOUSE
102 QUAYSIDE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 3DX
England
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Ms Melanie Pears
Work Department
Commercial
Position
Partner
Career
Melanie originally trained as a barrister, and worked in industry for Shell and then in publishing for Sweet and Maxwell before qualifying as a solicitor in 1992.
She heads a team of specialist lawyers which has won the prestigious PFI Law Firm of the Year award in 2017, 2016, 2014 and 2013.
Melanie has particular expertise in advising on EU Procurement, complex contracting, PFI/PPP and outsourcing efficiencies as well as travel and tourism.
She was a member of the legal board of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, a Non Executive Director of Darlington PCT, is on the Board of two charities, one healthcare the other a youth orchestra. She is also a Board Member of the DLA.
Melanie has spoken at many local, national and international events on all of her specialist subjects.
Melanie has completed a significant number of PFI schemes/ PPP outsourcings and advised on many conventional tender exercises particularly for the public sector.
Her knowledge/ experience have seen her involved in some of the largest, most innovative public sector development schemes in the country
Melanie assists in managing/ running operational PFI schemes some of which are detailed above.
Guidance includes contractual disputes, refinancing, corporate structures, variations, insurance, benchmarking, market testing.
Melanie was involved in all NHS pathfinder schemes in the last 6 years, including the first and only PFI buy back in the UK.
More recently, Melanie has been involved in successfully resolving a number of PFI disputes.
Lawyer Rankings
North > Public sector > Health
(Leading individuals)Nicola Richardson, who heads the health and regulatory department at Ward Hadaway LLP, regularly acts for NHS trusts involved in potential corporate manslaughter claims, including those which have progressed to inquests and clinical negligence claims. Melanie Pears leads the public sector team, where she frequently advises NHS foundation trusts on the procurement and contracting of facility developments and redevelopments, as well as assisting with contract variations to PFI project agreements. Regulation specialist Rachel Birks is a go-to advisor for both claimants and defendants in professional discipline cases, while associate Victoria Parker advises healthcare providers on disputes concerning mental health act-related issues. Georgina Rowley is a key contact for matters concerning applications to the court of protection. Saji Bratch is a name to note for public sector property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and management of sites as well as development work. The employment healthcare team is co-led by Caroline Shafar and Stuart Craig, who represent clients in employee tribunal claims and company re-organisations. Lisa Evans – praised for her ‘excellent instincts in the healthcare sector’ – is also noted.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Newcastle
- Real estate > Commercial property: Newcastle
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Newcastle
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Employment
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Energy
- Public sector > Health
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing
- Real estate > Planning and environment
- Real estate > Property litigation
Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Construction
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Public sector > Education
- Insurance > Personal injury and clinical negligence: defendant
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Social housing
- Private client > Agriculture and estates
- Private client > Family