Local Government and the Public Sector

Local Government and the Public Sector

Local government (and the public sector generally) are subject to increasingly complex legislative requirements. This presents a growing challenge for in-house legal teams, many of whom meet the challenge by working in partnership with external firms of solicitors. 

Our experience

Our local government and public sector team boasts not only a number of solicitors who joined the firm after successful careers in the public sector but also lawyers with many years of experience acting in private practice for public sector clients. We really understand the issues faced by local government and the public sector – we’ve experienced them first hand. Between us we have a depth and breadth of experience enabling us to provide a service tailored to local government and public sector requirements at reasonable cost.

Buying and selling property and land

We advise local government and the public sector in connection with right-to-buy sales, one-off sales and major property development schemes.

Voluntary registration, planning and preparation

We have considerable experience in advising local government on the necessity for, or desirability of, voluntarily registering currently unregistered titles at the Land Registry, including planning the process and carrying it out on a cost-effective bulk basis.

Corporate governance

We have considerable experience advising local government on all corporate governance issues including constitutional and probity issues; dealing with Monitoring Officer issues within local government; powers to charge and trade; Best Value, Comprehensive Performance Assessment; and Wellbeing Powers

Planning and environment

We advise local government and the public sector on all Town and Country planning matters including contentious and non-contentious environmental work; all contentious and non-contentious planning matters including advice on site acquisitions and disposals, planning prospects of development, all types of enforcement notices, Section 106 Agreements, representation in magistrates’ courts; and all waste management matters including strategic policy advice.

Highways and road traffic

Advice on all areas of highways law and road traffic including CPOs and other highway orders, agreements, licences and road traffic regulation orders.

Licensing

Our licensing team has many years' experience in all kinds of licensing matters. Our senior licensing partner, Andrew Potts, enjoys a national reputation as a specialist in this area and provides advice and representation on all licensing-related matters including alcohol and entertainment licensing; betting and gaming; and other local authority-specific licensing matters such as taxis.

Housing

Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVTs) of council housing stock (we have already been involved in over 40); housing management; funding / finance; and litigious matters.

Property-related matters

Development and redevelopment; commercial conveyancing, acquisitions and disposals; leasehold work; and compulsory purchase.

Construction/commercial contracts

All non-contentious work including procurement and PFI/PPP; and contentious work including arbitration, adjudication and mediation.

Employment

Contentious and non-contentious work including TUPE regulations; drafting policies, contracts and agreements; dealing with discrimination matters; and advocacy in tribunals.

Information and privacy

Advice on IP and copyright issues; data protection; Freedom of Information Act; and Human Rights issues.

Debt recovery

We advise local government on all debt recovery matters and pursuit of civil debts of all types.
For a no-obligation chat about our services for local government and the public sector and how we can help you, please contact Pritpal Singh Swarn.