Local Government | UK

Bevan Brittan is an outstanding local government practice with a strong bench of practitioners handling contentious matters, projects to integrate health and social care services, regeneration and housing. The team is also well versed in alternative business structures and outsourcing. It assists local authorities with the formation of joint ventures and advises on the implications of subsidy control, as well as governance and standards issues. The firm demonstrates its prowess in local government matters nationally, with lawyers based across the firm's offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds.

Browne Jacobson has a prominent team acting on behalf of local authorities across the country. The firm's primary areas of focus include commercial projects, service delivery and governance, as well as matters involving combined authorities, regeneration and development, planning, and data protection advice. Its lawyers handle contentious matters on behalf of local authorities with significant expertise in the social care space. The team continues to act in a series of complex procurement matters on behalf of borough and county councils across England.

Trowers & Hamlins has a stellar public sector offering with considerable experience in development schemes, local authority powers, and procurement work. In addition, the team deals with the large-scale voluntary transfers of council housing stock and various PPP/Private Financial Initiative projects. It has a focus on local authority investment vehicles used to assist economic growth and the team also engages in an array of advisory work on matters involving state aid and competition law. The firm is noted for its work on significant regeneration projects, as well as large-scale housing and healthcare mandates.

Anthony Collins Solicitors has considerable expertise in major development projects, including city centre regeneration and housing projects. The team establishes alternative delivery models for services and assists local authorities with dispute resolution, including procurement challenges and judicial review. It has a strong focus on governance and in-house work for local authorities, including assistance on matters relating to employment and pensions.

Sharpe Pritchard is a well-established public sector firm that advises a wide variety of clients including public bodies and local authorities. It handles judicial review work for local councils and also advises those clients on issues concerning procurement and waste projects. The firm additionally continues to handle significant infrastructure and construction projects on behalf of local council clients.

Addleshaw Goddard handles an impressive array of public sector work across the UK with expansion into Scotland and a dedicated focus on partnership work across the North West. The team demonstrates expertise in renewable projects for local government and mandates in the PPP/Private Finance Initiative sector and has a strong focus on powers, vires and commercial transactions. It also acts for combined authorities on investments and can represent local government clients in defence of significant procurement challenges.

Freeths is known for advising on issues including redevelopment projects, the management of pension funds and procurement work. It has extensive experience in outsourcing matters and compulsory purchase orders. The team assists local authorities with the creation of joint ventures, land and property acquisition, as well as regulatory issues. It has a strong focus on town planning and environmental work, as well as employment matters. One of the firm's key strengths is its nationwide offering from 13 locations in the UK.

Geldards regularly acts for local authority clients across England and Wales on a range of commercial and contentious matters. The firm is adept at advising on major projects, regenerations and planning matters with additional strength in procurement and state aid. It offers expertise in regulatory issues such as those intersecting with employment and environmental law.

Pinsent Masons has a multidisciplinary team handling an extensive range of local government issues including complex real estate, employment and energy matters. The firm continues to advise on new affordable housing delivery structures and developing new models for co-operative housing ownership. It is recognised for expertise in regeneration work. In addition, the team offers specialist PPP consultancy services to both public and private entities across the UK in relation to public sector service delivery.

Weightmans is well versed in all aspects of public sector law and acts for numerous local authorities across the UK. It has significant experience in funding, service transformation and real estate matters. The team offers support to local councils on matters involving regeneration projects, public procurement and housing, while assisting with a range of subsidy control and governance issues. In addition, the firm is experienced in handling employment matters arising within the local government context.

Winckworth Sherwood has extensive knowledge of local government matters involving procurement, regeneration, housing and development. The firm is noted for its strength in planning and infrastructure projects, with the team advising local authorities on the development of leisure centres, museums and theatres. In addition, the team has a broad base of clientele, acting on behalf of local authorities all over the UK from its London base.

Ashfords is an experienced group noted for its expertise in major infrastructure and regeneration projects, subsidy control and employment work. The team advises local authorities on outsourcing, joint venture agreements and matters involving public procurement. It also provides cross-disciplinary expertise with deep strength in a range of real estate and construction projects involving public entities.

Blake Morgan has a growing local government group that acts for local government clients on a range of matters. The team is well versed in advising on construction, procurement and regeneration projects, demonstrating their broad cross-sector knowledge. The firm is particularly adept in advising local authority clients on leisure developments and related contractual and regulatory challenges.

Burges Salmon is well versed in advising across a range of issues that affect local authorities. The team has a strong presence in the field of local authority pension schemes and significant experience in compulsory purchase issues, as well as experience in regeneration and infrastructure projects. It is also adept at providing advice across a range of areas including procurement, planning, commercial and corporate law.

Womble Bond Dickinson has a strong reputation acting for local authorities on a range of contentious and regulatory matters. The firm has extensive experience advising across a variety of sectors including education, charities and housing, with particular strength in the leisure space. It also offers additional expertise in energy and waste. The team is bolstered by a strong planning and infrastructure offering at the firm, with additional strength in regeneration and development projects.