Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP has a strong track record in reorganisations, the green agenda and numerous development projects in the education sector, and acts for notable clients that include key city councils. Matthew Gregson helms the practice, with vast experience in advising on senior-level departures and grievance and disciplinary issues within local authorities. Mark Cook is a key contact; his capabilities include handling joint ventures and income structures for councils. In addition, Sandy Munroe advises on local government property matters, such as disposals, the construction of new schools and regeneration projects, while Richard Brooks is experienced in working with clients on projects, construction, IT and energy matters pertaining to the local government space. Olwen Brown is recommended for her wide-ranging public sector experience; she has recently moved into a consultancy role at the firm. Associate Gayle Monk advises clients on various issues, including public procurement and subsidy control. In February 2022, Steven Brunning joined the team from an in-house role at Inzpire and Paul Slinger joined from Wright Hassall LLP, while in March of the same year, Claire Ward arrived from Herefordshire Council.
Local government in West Midlands
Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Matthew Gregson
Autres avocats clés:
Mark Cook; Sandy Munroe; Richard Brooks; Olwen Brown; Gayle Monk; Claire Ward; Steven Brunning; Paul Slinger; Alex Lawrence
Principaux clients
Coventry City Council
Shropshire Council
Worcestershire County Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
North Northamptonshire Council
West Northamptonshire Council
Leicester City Council
Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk
Mid Devon District Council
Somerset County Council
Newark and Sherwood District Council
The Barnet Group
Newcastle City Council
Cumbria County Council
Childrens Commissioning Consortium Cymru – (4C’s hosted by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council)
Oxford City Council
Principaux dossiers
- Instructed by Somerset County Council in respect of the reorganisation of local government in Somerset (bringing five councils into a single entity), which is one of only three such reorganisations taking place nationwide having been approved by the Government.
- Instructed by Newcastle City Council in relation to £27.5m of funding received from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to be utilised to provide low-carbon heating and other energy efficient measures across 32 sites.
- Instructed to advise Shropshire Council in relation to the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road which is a significant project (investment circa £90m) and an ambitious development to the historical market town Shrewsbury.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Providing an ‘insightful, collaborative, pragmatic’ service, Trowers & Hamlins LLP is capable of handling commercial and property projects; some key areas of work for the firm include the refinancing of operational contracts, investment vehicles for local authorities and various advisory matters, alongside large-scale regeneration projects. The practice is jointly led by the ‘technically brilliant’ Amardeep Gill, who has expertise in advising on transactions and pathfinder projects, and Chris Plumley, whose practice includes property regeneration and development work in the public sector; he is also rated ‘very highly’ by clients. Associate Louis Sebastian adds value to the practice, with recent experience in handling matters in sectors such as digital technology, supply contracts and leisure.
Responsables de la pratique:
Amardeep Gill; Chris Plumley
Autres avocats clés:
Louis Sebastian
Les références
‘Trowers offers an insightful, collaborative, pragmatic, and switched-on legal support hub to its client’s. They are interested in genuinely “getting under the bonnet” of a service/ directorate to identify the key issues through the malaise.’
‘I have found their practical approach incredibly useful. Trowers understands their client base and the space within which we orbit. This insight is invaluable.’
‘Amardeep Gill is not only technically brilliant but leads from the heart and with purpose. His genuine interest in getting to live and breathe his client experience is key to identifying the pressures, pitfalls and solutions.’
Principaux clients
Birmingham City Council
Urban Growth & Solihull MBC
Wiltshire Council, Gravesham Council, Gloucester Council, Cheltenham Council, East Cambridgeshire Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Stevenage Council
London Borough of Hounslow
Nottingham County Council
West Midlands Combined Authority
Wirral Council
Kent County Council
West Midlands Combined Authority
Kent County Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
Rutland County Council
Leisure Outsourcing – Various Public Sector clients
Plymouth City Council
East Hampshire District Council
Wolverhampton City Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Rother DC, RB Windsor & Maidenhead, West Northamptonshire and Leicester City Council
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Birmingham City Council on its capacity as Host City for the Commonwealth Games, replacing an existing provider and continuing to support on delivering legacy projects for local residents.
- Advised Urban Growth Company and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council on a large regeneration scheme. The scheme will evolve into 4000 homes, offices, retail, leisure, a new major medical facility and new transport links. This will also include multi-storey car parking.
- Advised West Midlands Combined Authority on a number of complex and pathfinder projects; this includes the development and installation of software for tracking transport across the region, the development of a mobile app aimed to improve customer service for travel around the West Midlands, and advising Transport for West Midlands in relation to a 70-day contingency plan for workplace and spectator access to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Bevan Brittan LLP
Bevan Brittan LLP‘s key areas of work include disputes, managing the expiry of PFI/PPP contracts, climate change response, health and safety and children’s services. The practice is led by Ash Woodcock, who routinely handles public procurement projects, with Rebecca Pendlebury specialising in regeneration schemes. Adam Kendall strengthens the team with experience in commercial litigation, as well as health and safety and wider criminal regulatory matters, whilst Kirtpal Kaur Aujla‘s strengths include handling service restructuring and outsourcing, among others within the fields of education, leisure and health and social care.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ash Woodcock
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Pendlebury; Adam Kendall; Kirtpal Kaur Aujla
Les références
‘The team are accessible and, most importantly, understand local government. Not all private practice firms have sufficient political awareness – knowing your audience is critical in local government and Bevan Brittan are skilled in that.’
‘They are approachable and are able to explain complex legal issues to a variety of audiences, in particular elected members.’
Principaux clients
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff
Reading Borough Council
City of Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council
Warwickshire County Council
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Walsall Council
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Birmingham City Council
Warrington Borough Council
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Birmingham City Council on their £500m new Waste PPP Project and delivery of their future waste management strategy.
- Advising the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council on the establishment of the Bradford Children and Families Trust following the Secretary of State for Education’s Statutory Direction.
- Advising Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council on Acting for the Council on the variations required to a 2005 Agreement with Centro (now WMCA) to enable the extension of the Metro to Dudley.
Browne Jacobson LLP
A team commended for giving ‘a high-quality service’, Browne Jacobson LLP‘s practice encompasses property investments, governance and environmental issues, to name a few. Ben Standing specialises in planning matters, whilst Zo Hoida has expertise in handling regeneration and development projects. Thomas Howard routinely handles acquisitions and disposals in the public and private spheres, with particular capabilities in relation to health and social care. Matthew Harpin adds considerable experience and expertise to the team, while the ‘highly knowledgeable’ associate Victoria Searle handles matters for local authorities that involve administrative, environmental and planning law.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ben Standing; Zo Hoida; Thomas Howard; Matthew Harpin
Autres avocats clés:
Victoria Searle
Les références
‘Quick response times, accurate advice and reliable, high-quality service’
‘Victoria Searle: excellent communicator, highly knowledgeable, passionate about the work and completely reliable.’
‘The social care claims team is second to none.’
Principaux clients
London Borough of Croydon
Lichfield District Council
Thurrock Council
Dacorum Borough Council
Oxford City Council
Sedgemoor District Council
Shropshire Council
Bath & North East Somerset
Staffordshire County Council
High Peak Borough Council
London Borough of Sutton
Harlow District Council
Principaux dossiers
DWF
A ‘professional, coordinated team’, DWF handles a broad array of matters, ranging from breaches of the Human Rights Act and abuse claims to governance and real estate advice. A key area of work for the firm is in public procurement, alongside acting on regeneration and infrastructure projects for local authorities. Derek Adamson has particular expertise in regard to insurance policy interpretation, fire and construction work, among others, while Jonathan Branton routinely handles public procurement matters. Paul Donnelly‘s specialism is in relation to historic abuse claims, such as professional negligence claims, and Melanie Williams‘ expertise encompasses property investment and development. Jacqui Kendall adds strength to the team with specific expertise in defending public and employers’ liability claims brought against local authorities. Colin Murray is another name to note in the practice.
Responsables de la pratique:
Derek Adamson; Melanie Williams; Jonathan Branton (Leeds); Paul Donnelly; Colin Murray (Manchester)
Autres avocats clés:
Jacqui Kendall
Les références
‘Good, professional, coordinated team.’
‘Responsive and helpful.’
‘Always good results with our cases’
Principaux clients
Coventry City Council
Urban Growth Company
Walsall Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Leeds City Council
West Midlands Combined Authority
Newcastle City Council
Wolverhampton Council
Cornwall Council
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Manchester City Council
London Borough of Greenwich
Birmingham City Council & Finance Birmingham
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Principaux dossiers
- Advised a high volume of Failure to Remove claims relating to alleged failings of social services brought under the Human Rights Act.
- Acting for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in connection with the personal injury claims (and the public inquiry) arising from the Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017.
- Acting for Sandwell MBC in a case relating to alleged devastating injury to a young toddler who fell from a first floor window, landing on concrete.
Freeths LLP
The ‘brilliant’ Freeths LLP has a practice that encompasses transactional property work and regulatory matters, as well as development projects and joint venture arrangements, to name a few. Co-lead Nathan Holden has particular expertise in regard to property, such as disposals, compulsory purchase orders and acting for authorities in defending judicial review claims. Alongside him, Mitchell Ball‘s practice involves food retail development work and town centre regeneration, with vast experience in town planning.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nathan Holden; Mitchell Ball
Autres avocats clés:
Clare Taylor
Les références
‘The individuals are brilliant, but they also quickly and effortlessly combine to act in concert when required to provide synchronised and mutually reinforcing advice.’
‘The key strength of the team is that it consists mainly of former local government lawyers who have the “insiders” in-depth knowledge to be able to advise and find solutions.’
‘Nathan Holden in the Local Government team is consistently the most responsive compared to lawyers in other firms, applying his extensive experience and knowledge of local government practices and processes to help find practical solutions, often at extremely short notice.’
Principaux 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
Principaux dossiers
- Advising on the acquisition by the North East Lincolnshire Council of the Freshney Place shopping centre and ongoing work around repurposing the space to revitalise the area.
- Advising the Royal London Borough of Greenwich on the contractual arrangements for joining a Regional Adoption Agency.
- Advising the Oxford City Council on its Blackbird Leys regeneration scheme, regarding housing development.
Pinsent Masons LLP
The ‘exceptional team’ at Pinsent Masons LLP routinely handles infrastructure, property and construction matters in the local government sphere, as well as being involved with some large transactions in the region. Practice head Kultar Khangura is particularly experienced in leading large regeneration projects, whilst Nigel Blundell’s practice covers building and infrastructure schemes, national main contractors and investment funds. Senior associate Rebecca Rowley‘s central focus is on housing-led development and infrastructure schemes. Further strengthening the practice is senior associate Gemma Glasspole, who is experienced in handling the setting up of joint working capabilities and the procurement of funding. Senior associate Amy Walker is well versed in high-profile development and regeneration projects. Associate Chris Haines specialises in delivering public housing, infrastructure and services. In October 2022, Didar Dhillon departed to join Severn Trent and David Meecham departed for TLT.
Responsables de la pratique:
Kultar Khangura
Autres avocats clés:
Nigel Blundell; Rebecca Rowley; Gemma Glasspole; Amy Walker; Chris Haines
Les références
‘An Exceptional team to work with who truly understand the workings of the public sector at local, regional and central Government Levels.’
‘They are always positive, solution oriented, hardworking and provide flexible and quick turnarounds.’
‘Very flexible on procurement approaches through Crown Commercial Services and always quick to respond, somehow reading my mind and laying out everything I was thinking I needed without me having to describe it in detail.’
Principaux clients
Cardiff Council and others (Cardiff Capital Region)
Coventry City Council
Durham County Council
Westminster City Council
LB Harrow
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Sandwell MBC
Worcestershire County Council
LB Waltham Forest
HIF Grant Funding – Various authorities
Cornwall Council
Northumberland County Council
LB Haringey
Suffolk County Council
Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council
Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Cardiff Council and nine other regional local authorities on the establishment and implementation of their £1.2bn City Deal which has included the creation of a £500m regional evergreen fund; £40m investment into a new high-tech semi-conductor facility for IQE Plc; equity investments into a new med-tech company; £10m SME Housing Fund; and £100m Strategic Sites Fund.
- Advising Coventry City Council on their ground breaking £150m Very Light Rail Project, in collaboration with Warwick University and Dudley Council to develop new battery powered fully autonomous technology in the light rail sector.
- Advising Bracknell Forest Borough Council on the procurement of a private sector partner, Countryside, to establish a corporate joint venture for the development of a number of Council owned sites in the Borough. The first three sites are in the town centre and have an estimated development value of £150m, and the project provides a 20-year pipeline of development opportunities valued at over £1bn.