Freeths LLP‘s local government team advises on sizeable housing and regeneration schemes as well as energy and sustainability matters. The firm is also well-placed to advise on public-private joint ventures, and assists local authorities in connection with government grants and subsidy control work. Leading the South West team, Bristol-based head Duncan Tringham has expertise covering public-private joint ventures and clean energy mandates. Daniel Cuthbert stands out for his knowledge of the Electronic Communications Code, among other property issues, while Michael Bray has a focus on transport and energy projects together with local government-led development and regeneration schemes. At the associate level, Coralie McKeivor, Emilie Criddle and Gareth Fortey are recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The Freeths team have always been very professional. They have provided advice across a wide range of subjects which had made navigating complex legal challenges a lot easier.’

  • ‘We have worked with several lawyers at Freeths, all of whom have been highly professional and working relationships have been excellent.’

  • 'Approachable, highly capable and efficient lawyers delivering pragmatic solution-focused advice.'

  • '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 stands out and is great to work with. You can always rely on him to keep everyone on track and to maintain the momentum on a deal. He has an unerring ability to quickly get to the nexus of the issue, to add insight based on extensive experience, and to shift the focus from the problem to the solution.'

  • 'I think that Duncan Tringham bridges the gap between being personable and explaining complex legal issues in the most approachable and knowledgeable way.'

  • 'The local government team at Freeths are friendly, down to earth and highly competent.'

Key clients

  • Plymouth City Council
  • The Cornwall Council
  • North Devon Council
  • Bath and North East Somerset Council
  • Gloucestershire County Council
  • Torfaen County Borough Council
  • Runnymede Borough Council
  • Waverley Borough Council
  • Rushmoor Borough Council
  • Walsall Borough Council

Work highlights

  • Advising Cornwall Council on a geothermal district heat network to supply renewable heat to up to 4000 homes, a school, leisure centre and hospital.
  • Advising Plymouth City Council on the creation of a Habitat Banking Vehicle (HBV) called Ocean City Nature which is designed to generate and sell biodiversity units to enable developers to meet their statutory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
  • Advising Cornwall Council on the Langarth Garden Village project involving the strategic acquisition and development of a new town with up to 4000 homes, new schools, commercial, retail and public space and a £47m grant funded highway scheme in collaboration with three developers.

Lawyers

Practice head

Duncan Tringham

Other key lawyers

Daniel Cuthbert; Michael Bray; Coralie McKeivor; Emilie Criddle; Gareth Fortey