We have been advising Ministerial Departments and Executive Agencies as well as local authorities, NHS Trusts, Universities, Registered Providers and Academy Trusts throughout the UK for decades, with focus spanning across high profile, strategically important government projects, defence and security, regeneration, health, education, PFI/PPP, transport, energy, pensions and employment, general commercial and IT. 

Our full commercial service, includes all aspects of public law including procurement, powers or vires and subsidy control, acting on schemes and projects of all types, including joint ventures, development schemes, service contracts and outsourcing arrangements. 

We understand both the legal framework within which the public sector operates, and the high level of political scrutiny which is applied to the decisions public sector bodies make.  We know how this impacts on the legal advice required. Our work fully always embraces the need to demonstrate value for money, transparency and statutory compliance.  

We know that contract terms and our advice must consider the wider strategic, policy and economic objectives under which our public sector clients operate. 

Our agile Central Government and Public Sector teams work from offices across the UK, combining true national reach with local roots.

Our Local Government team are a dedicated resource of professionals experienced in advising and training local authorities on major projects and programmes. 

With members of our team having worked in-house as local authority lawyers, we understand the many sensitivities and complexities of local government and make ourselves available for informal discussions or to act as a sounding board for new ideas. The team are experienced in advising on general local government law issues including:

• Joint committees and powers
• Procurement
• Local authority finance and governance
• Joint venture and incremental partnership structures
• Property portfolios (local asset-based vehicles)
• Regeneration and social housing
• Infrastructure
• Waste
• Education
• Outsourcing
• Technology projects

We have acted for local government in across a wide range of assignments including in the housing, care, education, regeneration or construction, street lighting, real estate, car parking, ICT and broadband and FM sectors. Our practice is also active advising on many outsourcing, energy and IT schemes involving local authorities.

On the contentious side, we have acted on major construction and procurement disputes and our leading procurement practice is highly valued by our local government clients.

The higher education sector is vibrant & dynamic, fast-moving, challenging the status quo, looking for and meeting opportunities head on.

We understand the individuality of schools, colleges and universities. As for students, one size does not fit all.

We help solve the complex problems of the transport sector from a regulatory and operational perspective. We focus on rail, urban transit, ports, freight and logistics and aviation and more.

Visit our Transport page

We help deliver complex major infrastructure projects and overcome their challenges. We fully understand the significant stakes involved in large-scale infrastructure endeavours, which encompass substantial investments and considerations related to your reputation. Our unwavering commitment is to assist you in achieving positive outcomes.

Visit our Infrastructure Projects page

We are long-term partners with initiatives like the National Health Service in the UK and are known for working across the UK on public and private healthcare.

Visit our Healthcare and Lifesciences page

PFI/PPP contracts have been used in the UK since the 1990s. The National Audit Office recommend that we plan for expiry at least seven years before the project expiry date, we help you to start thinking about hand back and the transition to the future. 

These projects cover new schools, hospitals, roads, housing, prisons, and military equipment and accommodation.