Hall Of Fame

Next Generation Partners

Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Local government

Hill Dickinson LLP covers a variety of public procurement, regeneration, local government governance, pensions and dispute resolution mandates, with their offering in these areas being significantly bolstered with the hire of Jay Mehta from DWF in August 2024, Mark Gaffney from Addleshaw Goddard in October 2024 and Paddy Dwyer in January 2025 from DLA Piper.

Local government in North West

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard’s Manchester team forms an integral part of the firm’s extensive national practice, offering a ‘strong level of service’ to local government bodies on energy, transport, public infrastructure, residential and entertainment development projects, with a focus on major transactions. The practice is jointly led by Andrew Pettinger, who is well versed in infrastructure, outsourcing and commercial transactions, and Michael O’Connor, who has extensive experience on projects in the healthcare and social services spaces, as well as on complex regeneration schemes. Further members of the practice include Sara Gilmore, who splits her time between Leeds and Manchester and handles a range of transport and regeneration projects, Stephanie Townley, who oversees remediation and the management of expiring PPP and PFI contracts and Rob Thompson, who focuses on the energy and infrastructure sectors. Bradley Martin left the practice in May 2024 to join Browne Jacobson LLP.

Praxisleiter:

Andrew Pettinger; Michael O’Connor


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sara Gilmore; Stephanie Townley; Rob Thompson; Sarah Pownceby; Rajdip Kaur


Referenzen

‘The team are excellent. They are available when needed, work at pace and have supported us well with complex, specialist negotiations across Government, the wider public sector and the private sector.’

‘Always very professional, and continue to provide a strong level of service with the availability of very high quality associates in all aspects. Good knowledge of the industry sector and recognition of potential challenges.’

‘Rajdip Kaur and Sarah Pownceby have both been excellent in their continued help and support. Their level of commercial and legal acumen in dealing with the various issues and offering of advice has been exemplary. A timely and thorough response is always provided, with care taken to recognise other priorities should they arise.’

Kernmandanten

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority


Trafford Borough Council


Transport for London (Legal Framework Panel)


Kingston-Upon-Hull City Council


Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council


West Midlands Combined Authority


Leeds City Council


London Luton Airport Limited


Far East Consortium


South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising Wigan Borough Council on its procurement of a hospitality provider to deliver services at a cultural and leisure destination to benefit the local area.
  • Advising Far East Consortium in relation to a major city-centre urban regeneration scheme involving the development of the former Greater Manchester Police headquarters. We advised on strategy, procurement, joint venture structure and land issues and drafted the partnership, funding, property and development documents.
  • Advising West Midlands Combined Authority and South Yorkshire Mayoral Corporation on the development of their bus franchising assessments.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper‘s government contracting practice is instructed by a diverse client base, including local and central government and private sector companies. The team is recognised for providing strategic advice on large scale procurements, including services contracts, IT and public procurement, as well as ongoing planning and development advice to major energy and transport infrastructure projects. Sarah Bell makes up half of the leadership team and is based in Liverpool, leading on joint ventures, outsourcings and commercial projects, including a recent life sciences development, while Liam Cowell leads from Manchester and is well versed in PPPs and project finance transactions. Sophie Stewart has extensive experience advising councils on CPO backed schemes, and Mark Beardwood is well-versed in regeneration and property development schemes. Meanwhile, Lee Brierley leads on IT procurement and outsourcing mandates and Andrew S. Davies advises on projects in the waste, water and nuclear sectors.

Praxisleiter:

Sarah Bell; Liam Cowell


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sophie Stewart; Mark Beardwood; Lee Brierley; Andrew S. Davies; Gemma Cowap; Matthew Cliff; Mike Temple


Referenzen

‚The team members we work with are very experienced in the field we’ve engaged them on.‘

‚Individuals are approachable and friendly. They are able to offer support and advice in an accessible way.‘

Kernmandanten

Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council


Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority


Halton Borough Council / Mersey Gateway Crossing Board Limited


Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council


Liverpool City Council


Manchester City Council


Sciontec Developments Limited


Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council


Transport for Greater Manchester


Transport for the North


Wirral Borough Council


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in connection with the procurement of a state of the art multi-million-pound marine lake events centre. The plans include a theatre space, conference and exhibition centre and more.
  • Advised Sciontec Developments Limited from its establishment and continue to advise on multiple commercial and development projects.
  • Advised Greater Manchester Pension Fund on the acquisition of multiple assets including Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton, Volkswagen & Skoda’s flagship car dealership in West London, and a multi-let office building at 10-22 Victoria Street, Bristol with a cumulative value of circa GBP93 million.

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs regularly advises on strategic regeneration and large-scale development projects, including on PPP and other public and private sector collaborations, representing both public bodies and private companies. Other areas of expertise include project funding matters, infrastructure and transport sector projects as well as specialised knowledge of public sector pensions. Practice head Mark Barker is well versed in regeneration projects, and is supported by energy and property development projects expert Julian Scott and litigation specialist Victoria Leigh, who often handles pensions disputes. Amy Scott bolsters the team in construction matters.

Praxisleiter:

Mark Barker


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Julian Scott; Victoria Leigh; Amy Scott


Kernmandanten

Lancashire County Council


Preston City Council


Leeds City Council


Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund


Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council/Greater Manchester Pension Fund – GLIL Restructuring


Manchester City Council


Birmingham City Council


Warrington Borough Council


Wolverhampton City Council/West Midlands Pension Fund


Greater Manchester Combined Authority


Liverpool City Region Urban Development Fund


Chrysalis Fund


West Northamptonshire County Council


Greater Manchester Pension Fund


Highlight-Mandate


  • Acting for Preston City Council on several key strategic projects across Preston designed to drive economic growth and improve the built environment for the communities that live and work in the Preston region. The projects have included the Council’s flagship £45m Animate project, a leisure led regeneration scheme in the city centre.
  • Advising Lancashire County Council in connection with the development of new cricket facilities, including an elite pitch, community pitch and new pavilion upon land at Farington in Lancashire for Lancashire County Cricket Club.
  • Advising Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund on a facility to Production Park to facilitate the development and operation of 145,000 square feet of state-of-the-art studio space, solidifying its position as the largest production studio campus in the North of England.

TLT

TLT offers support to central and local government on a broad range of development and regeneration projects, including IT transformations and outsourcing, compulsory purchase matters, employment support and procurement and planning advice on infrastructure projects across road transport and real estate. Manchester-based Kuldip Dhanoya heads up the local government team and has wide ranging experience on PFI, PPP, joint ventures and outsourcing matters across local and central government. Further key names in Manchester include John Hyde, whose work in this sector includes the management of multi-let shopping centres, regeneration, and asset disposal programmes, Jon Hainey, who has dealt with contentious procurement matters, and Debbie Reynolds, who is noted as a ‘standout performer’.

Praxisleiter:

Kuldip Dhanoya


Weitere Kernanwälte:

John Hyde; Jon Hainey; Debbie Reynolds; Adam Pickavant


Referenzen

‘TLT has a seamless „one team“ approach – such that any individual’s absence on leave does not adversely impact service delivery. TLT remains ‚open for business‘ at all times. The team I deal with user friendly and approachable.’

‘The partner that I work with most closely (Debbie Reynolds) is user friendly and approachable. She offers practical advice in plain English – invaluable.’

‘The team were appointed part way through a claim and have seized the task and issues immediately, including reopening the directions issued by the court and securing their amendment to safeguard our position. They have been excellent at embedding themselves at the heart of the pre-existing team and driving the case forward.’

Kernmandanten

Cheshire East Council


Oxfordshire County Council


Stockport Metropolitan Council


Mayor’s office for Police and Crime


Greater Manchester Police


Manchester Airport Group


Bradford City Council


Homes England


Oldham Borough Council


Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council


Keolis Amey Metrolink


College of Policing


Cumbria Constabulary


Care Quality Commission


Covent Garden Market Authority


Liverpool City Council


Warrington Borough Council


BBC


Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council


St Johns Ambulance


Equalities and Human Rights Commission


University College London


London Borough of Ealing


National Maritime Museum


Herts Police


Lancashire Police


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising in relation to the redevelopment of the UK’s largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the United Kingdom – Covent Garden Market Authority. It covers a site of 57 acres
  • Advising Oxfordshire County Council on a £332m Housing Infrastructure Fund scheme to deliver new road infrastructure, cycle paths, and pedestrian facilities for Didcot Garden Village, including strategic advice on land assembly, planning, highways, and bridge schemes, with a new River Thames crossing.
  • Acted for Keolis Amey Metrolink following the deaths of two individuals, both of which took place in December 2021, both involving double trams.

Browne Jacobson LLP

Browne Jacobson LLP advises a plethora of North West authorities, as well as national organisations, including well-known names such as National Highways, with clients describing the team as ‘truly exceptional in its depth of knowledge, responsiveness, and strategic insight’. The broad practice covers procurement, disputes and financing advice across a range of real estate, social care, commercial health, waste management, transport and software licensing projects. Bradley Martin leads the team and is a public procurement expert, handling a range of infrastructure and regeneration projects as well as drafting procurement documentation in preparation of the new Procurement Act. Michael Mousdale covers public procurement, commercial public sector projects and waste and recycling initiatives, Peter Ware specialises in government commercial matters and Alex Kynoch– who was made partner in May 2024- has experience working with NHS trusts, education bodies and central government and specialises in subsidy control matters. Darren Ashworth joined the practice in July 2024 from Trowers & Hamlins LLP, while Simran Kaur joined in January 2025 from Pinsent Masons LLP.

Praxisleiter:

Bradley Martin


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Michael Mousdale; Peter Ware; Alex Kynoch; Darren Ashworth; Simran Kaur


Referenzen

‘Browne Jacobson LLP’s team is truly exceptional in its depth of knowledge, responsiveness, and strategic insight. What sets them apart is their ability to blend legal precision with a practical understanding of the public sector’s unique demands. Their advice is consistently clear, commercially grounded, and tailored to real-world challenges facing local authorities.’

‘The individuals I’ve worked with at Browne Jacobson consistently demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a genuine commitment to client service. Particularly impressive is Mike Mousdale, who brings calm authority and sharp legal mind to every issue, and, whose responsiveness and collaborative approach have been invaluable. Their ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders across all levels, including elected members, has made a real difference.’

‘Our contact at Browne Jacobson has been patient, innovative and very accommodating to an evolving contract situation. They provide solutions and work up bespoke documentation to address joint procurement challenges. They have also brought in specialist expertise as and when the project required.’

Kernmandanten

National Highways


East London Waste Authority


Liverpool City Council


South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Borough Council (joint instruction)


Wrexham University


Northern Ireland Audit Office


NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership


Wigan Council


Salford City Council


Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council


Western Riverside Waste Authority


Lampton Leisure Limited


RECAP Partners’ Recycling Contracts


South Staffordshire District Council


Freeths LLP

Leveraging its expansive UK network, Freeths LLP offers a comprehensive service to local authorities, regularly assisting them with town centre regeneration projects, which involves transactional, construction and planning, tax and property litigation advice. The national team is led out of Birmingham, while key practitioners in the firms Manchester office include Jackie Heeds, who is well versed in infrastructure and commercial transactions, as well as regularly advising on the development of heat networks across the UK, and Ian Tempest, who has extensive experience in real estate acquisitions and disposals for residential and commercial development projects.

Weitere Kernanwälte:

Jackie Heeds; Ian Tempest


Referenzen

‘One of the things that makes Freeths unique from other practices is the down to earth advice received. They are helpful, practical, honest and have extensive experience in the sector that gives me confidence in their ability. We are allocated a range of specialists to ensure we get the best advice for our needs.’

‘Jackie Heeds has provided clear and practical advice in a particularly difficult project and always delivers on her promises. I find her reassuring and her wealth of experience has helped to bring confidence.’

Kernmandanten

Allerdale Borough Council


Amber Valley Borough Council


Ashfield District Council


Audlem Parish Council


Babergh District Council


Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council


Basildon Borough Council


Bassetlaw District Council


Bath and North East Somerset Council


Bedford Borough Council


Bingham Town Council


Birmingham City Council


Blaby District Council


Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council


Bolsover District Council


Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council


Boston Borough Council


Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council


Bracknell Forest Borough Council


Brighton and Hove Council


Bristol City Council


Broughton Astley Parish Council


Broxbourne Borough Council


Broxtowe Borough Council


Buckinghamshire Council


Calverton Parish Council


Cambridge City Council


Cambridgeshire County Council


Cannock Chase District Council


Central Bedfordshire Council


Charnwood Borough Council


Cherwell District Council


Cheshire East Council


Cheshire West and Chester Council


Chesterfield Borough Council


Clowne Parish Council


Cornwall Council


Coventry City Council


Cumberland Council


Cumbria County Council


Derby City Council


Derbyshire Building Control Partnership


Derbyshire County Council


Derbyshire Dales District Council


Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority


Devon County Council


Dorset Police


Dronfield Town Council


Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council


Duffield Parish Council


Durham County Council


East Hertfordshire District Council


East Lindsey District Council


East Northamptonshire Council


East Sussex County Council


Eden District Council


Enfield Council


Epsom & Ewell Borough Council


Erewash Borough Council


Exeter City Council


Eynsham Parish Council


Fareham Borough Council


Fenland District Council


Folkestone & Hythe District Council


Forest of Dean District Council


Gateshead Council


Gloucester City Council


Gloucestershire County Council


Gravesham Borough Council


Guildford Borough Council


Halton Borough Council


Hampshire County Council


Hanborough Parish Council


Harborough District Council


Harlow Council


Havant Borough Council


Herefordshire Council


Hertfordshire County Council


High Peak Borough Council


Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council


Horsham District Council


Huntingdonshire District Council


Ipswich Borough Council


Isle of Wight Council


Kent County Council


Kingston Upon Thames London Borough


Kirklees Council


Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council


Lancashire County Council


Lee Valley Regional Park Authority


Leeds City Council


Leicester City Council


Leicestershire County Council


Lewisham London Borough Council


Lichfield District Council


Lincolnshire County Council


Liverpool City Council


Liverpool City Region Combined Authority


London Borough of Barking & Dagenham


London Borough of Brent


London Borough of Bromley


London Borough of Camden


London Borough of Ealing


London Borough of Hackney


London Borough of Harrow


London Borough of Havering


London Borough of Hillingdon


London Borough of Lambeth


London Borough of Newham


London Borough of Richmond upon Thames


London Borough of Sutton


Luton Borough Council


Mansfield District Council


Melton Borough Council


Merseyside Police


Merton London Borough Council


Mid Suffolk District Council


Middlesbrough Borough Council


Milton Keynes City Council


Milton Keynes Development Partnership


Mole Valley District Council


Newark & Sherwood District Council


Newcastle City Council


Norfolk County Council


North Devon Council


North East Derbyshire District Council


North East Lincolnshire Council


North Hertfordshire District Council


North Northamptonshire Council


North Somerset Council


North Warwickshire Borough Council


North West Leicestershire District Council


Northampton Borough Council


Northleach with Eastington Town Council


Northumberland County Council


Nottinghamshire County Council


Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service


Nottinghamshire Police Authority


Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council


Old Bolsover Town Council


Oxford City Council


Oxfordshire County Council


Peterborough City Council


Plymouth City Council


Reading Borough Council


Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council


Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services


Royal Borough of Greenwich


Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead


Rugby Borough Council


Rushcliffe Borough Council


Rushmoor Borough Council


Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council


Sefton Council


Selston Parish Council


Sheffield City Council


Shropshire Council


Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council


Somerset Council


South Cambridgeshire District Council


South Holland District Council


South Lakeland District Council


South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority


Southampton City Council


Spelthorne Borough Council


St Helens Council


Stafford Borough Council


Staffordshire County Council


Staveley Town Council


Stevenage Borough Council


Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council


Stoke on Trent City Council


Stratford Upon Avon District Council


Sunderland City Council


Surrey County Council


Swindon Borough Council


Tamworth Borough Council


Telford and Wrekin Council


Thanet District Council


The Cornwall Council


The Council of the Borough of South Tyneside


The North Yorkshire Council


The Police & Crime Commissioner for Kent


The West Yorkshire Combined Authority


Torfaen County Borough Council


Transport for the North


Truro City Council


Wakefield Metropolitan District Council


Walsall Council


Wandsworth Borough Council


Wantage Town Council


Ware Town Council


Warrington Borough Council


Waverley Borough Council


Welwyn & Hatfield Borough Council


West Berkshire District Council


West Lancashire Borough Council


West Midlands Combined Authority


West Midlands Fire Service


West Northamptonshire Council


West of England Combined Authority


West Suffolk Council


West Yorkshire Combined Authority


Westminster City Council


Westmorland & Furness Council


Wigan Council


Wiltshire Council


Winchester City Council


Winkfield Parish Council


Woking Borough Council


Wokingham Borough Council


Woodstock Town Council


Worcestershire County Council


Wyre Forest District Council


York City Council


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising Cornwall Council on a district heat network to supply renewable heat to up to 4000 homes, a school, leisure centre and hospital.
  • Advising Wigan Council on a £130m project involving the redevelopment of Wigan Town Centre.
  • Acting for Vital Energy Utilities Limited who were the successful bidder on the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Town Centre Low Carbon Energy Project.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

With a focus on the real estate sector, Trowers & Hamlins LLP is equipped to advise on all aspects of the procurement process and related litigation, with the team frequently advising on complex regeneration projects, green and brownfield development schemes, while recently also covering software procurement mandates. Suzanne Benson is the North West based partner leading the local government team and assists a host of local authorities and other public bodies on various real estate developments and acquisitions, with support from Louise Robinson and Katie Saunders in the team. Jamie Norris and Vicki Palmer cover various property development, regeneration and commercial transactions for public sector clients, while Tom Wainwright specialises on the governance, corporate and contracts side. Palmer joined the practice in December 2024 from Pinsent Masons LLP, while commercial real estate partner Darren Ashworth left the team for Browne Jacobson LLP in September 2024.

Praxisleiter:

Suzanne Benson


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Louise Robinson; Katie Saunders; Jamie Norris; Vicki Palmer; Tom Wainwright


Referenzen

‚Straightforward advice and easily communicated in an understanding way. Very easy to get hold of and turnaround of work is efficient and quick.‘

‚Very friendly and straight to the point to communicate things effectively. Straightforward advice in an easy to understand way.‘

‚Considerable experience of working with public and private sector landowners to achieve collaboration on large scale residential developments.‘

Kernmandanten

Greater Manchester Combined Authority


Cumberland Council


Warwick District Council


Bury Council


Lancaster City Council


West Midlands Combined Authority


East Midlands Combined Authority


Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead


Rochdale Borough Council


West Midlands Combined Authority


Nottingham City Council


St Helens Borough Council


Southend-on-Sea City Council


Wirral City Council


Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council


London Borough of Tower Hamlets


Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council


Liverpool City Council


Birmingham City Council


Nottingham County Council


Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for Liverpool City Council on their conditional exchange for a land price of 10 million of a large failed development site at Great George Street known as New Chinatown
  • Advising Greater Manchester Combined Authority on the provision of £150 million of funding to unlock brownfield land
  • Advising Wirral Borough Council on the redevelopment of a significant 12-hectare brownfield site to deliver 1,400 new homes in Birkenhead as part of Wirral Council’s 2021-2037 Local Plan.

Weightmans LLP

Local authorities across the UK frequently turn to Weightmans LLP for its ‘excellent approach to understanding the needs of a local government client’. The team handles a range of matters, which often include major town regeneration projects, property transactions, equal pay disputes, governance advice, public procurement assistance and framework advice. Liverpool-based Simon Goacher advises local authorities on governance, member conduct investigations and council constitutions and leads the team. Vincent King has expertise in procurement law, long-term contracts and the supply of services and funding agreements and is a further key contact based in the North West.

Praxisleiter:

Simon Goacher


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Vincent King; Radhika Aggarwal; Rike Ridings


Referenzen

‘Excellent approach to understanding the needs of a local government client which leads to pragmatic but technically sound advice. This is important to us as not all practices have that understanding.’

‘Weightmans constantly have their finger on the pulse around any commercial developments and recent matters which may impact their advice. Knowing the market and any issues which may crop up (including best ways to deal with them) puts Weightmans ahead of the pack. Weightmans have been excellent when faced with complex and sophisticated matters, which under Procurement law happens frequently.’

‘Rike Ridings is an excellent solicitor – considerable knowledge of local government, patient and quality advice always given. Vincent King is an excellent Lawyer with vast knowledge across multiple practices. Expertly advising in respect of Procurement and Contracts.’

Kernmandanten

West of England Combined Authority


Association of Directors of Public Health


Liverpool City Region Combined Authority


Liverpool City Council


Hertfordshire County Council


Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council


London Borough of Waltham Forest


Manchester City Council


EM Lawshare


NW Legal Consortium


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising Greater Manchester Combined Authority and local authorities on Project Skyline a significant project which seeks to address failures in the market for residential children’s care.
  • Advising Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority on issues arising from its two long-term waste PPP contracts.
  • Acted for Staffordshire County Council on a successful defence of a judicial with significant implications for local authority powers and decision making.