The public sector is a key source of work for Blake Morgan LLP with additional expertise in administrative law. Team head Eve Piffaretti is particularly skilled at navigating the regulatory and public law issues within the health and social care sectors, from responding to safeguarding issues and advice relating to adults at risk to Court of Protection and human rights and equality act matters. Public procurement law is a key strength of the team, with Penri Desscan advising public sector bodies tendering for long term services and supplies contracts; Joanne Thompson is also a key name in this space. Sarah Whittle is skilled at representing public sector healthcare entities, and Daniel Taylor is noted for his aptitude in handling complex Court of Protection-related litigation matters.

Drawing upon ‘a wide depth of knowledge and experience’ within the public sector, Geldards LLP is a popular choice with central and local government entities. As well as regularly representing public sector entities in employment litigation and advisory matters, ‘very responsive and helpful’ team head Helen Snow is also active in strategic mandates. Charles Felgate has a ‘wide depth of knowledge and experience in planning law matters’, including acting for local authorities and national park authorities on large-scale projects and developments, as well as defending judicial review challenges. Construction expert Tony Norris regularly advises the central Welsh government on large infrastructure projects, as well as helping local authorities draft framework agreements and the related disputes. Litigator Jonathan Griffiths is also a key member of the team and excels at handling procurement disputes as well as judicial review matters.

Forming a key part of the firm’s UK-wide public sector offering and acting for a roster of major Wales local and central government entities, the team at Browne Jacobson LLP‘s Cardiff office, which opened in July 2023, has a core focus on public law matters impacting Welsh public sector entities and the interplay between devolved Welsh law/policy and UK-wide laws. Tim Edds is key to the firm’s advisory expertise, advising on policy development and implementation through legislation, and acting in litigation with regard to judicial review proceedings. The arrival in December 2024 of Trish D’Souza  from Blake Morgan LLP enhanced the firm’s public sector expertise in the education sector.

With a multi-disciplinary approach that leverages the firm’s full-service capabilities, the team at Hugh James delivers ‘an absolutely superb’ service to central and local government, health boards, and education bodies. As regulatory head, the ‘approachable, knowledgeable and responsive’ Martin Jones  has notable expertise in public sector work. Alongside newly promoted partner Justin Davies, Jones is also pivotal to the firm’s work for non-police prosecutors, with Davies advising on fire safety matters. Combining ‘an astute realism and a client focus’, Sara Tomaszewski acts for local authorities on challenging children services matters such as care proceedings. ‘Very knowledgeable but also realistic and practical’, Connor Hegarty is also skilled at social care-related work and is regularly instructed by local authorities on adult social care matters. Ioan Prydderch oversees the public sector team.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s Cardiff team is well known for its public inquiry and inquests offering. Following Peter Jones' move to a consultancy role, Angharad Haf Hurle is a key name in the practice with considerable experience in major public inquiries. Combining ‘great intelligence with a fierce work ethic’, Anna Lois Senter also provides support on both statutory and non-statutory inquiries and is praised for her ‘strong analytical skills’. The team is also very skilled at advising on public procurement matters, where both Richard Pitt and Helen Rowland regularly defend contracting authorities as well as represent unsuccessful bidders in challenges to the process. The overarching multi-disciplinary public sector team is co-headed by Pitt and employment lawyer Huw Jones.

Praised for its ‘fearless and expert representation’ of individuals and communities seeking justice, Watkins & Gunn Limited is at the forefront of the market for claimant public law matters. Michael Imperato ‘provides a vast amount of expertise and experience’, including in the context of public law challenges concerning issues of devolved Welsh law. Imperato co-heads the team alongside Lucy O’Brien, who has ‘a wealth of public law knowledge, especially in education work’.

Under the expert leadership of Craig Court, Newport-based Harding Evans LLP has a strong reputation as a claimant public law practice, handling cases linked to civil liberties and human rights. Court has a ‘healthy degree of ruthlessness, whilst still remaining practical’.