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.
Local government in North West
Addleshaw Goddard
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.