An update on current issues including avoiding legal challenge to procurement decisions, public decision making, state aid and commercial and supply chain.
This webinar took place on 30 April and is now available on-demand.
In this Covid-19 webinar a number of key members of the team provide an update on current issues arising in relation to the pandemic and its effect on local authorities, arms length bodies and government.
Avoiding legal challenge to procurement decisions taken during the COVID-19 crisis by Jason Coppell QC, 11KWB
The Government and the EU Commission have been keen to emphasise the flexibility of the procurement regulations in enabling quick and effective procurement during the crisis. But these assurances cannot be relied upon by contracting authorities in defence of legal claims. What should authorities do to help ensure that their procurement decisions can be defended, now and in the future?
Public decision making by Laura Hughes
Many public bodies are under intense pressure during the current crisis, needing to make crucial decisions at speed. To what extent can the normal public law requirements in respect of decision making be relaxed, and what are the risks of such an approach.
State aid and supporting businesses by Alex Kynoch
The government has implemented several support packages to protect businesses in the current crises, from direct financial support to encouraging softer support to contractors through procurement policy notes. Alex highlights the key state aid issues for local authorities engaging with their contractors and local businesses.
Commercial and supply chain by Anthony Nagle
Anthony talks about non-performance in contracts caused by force majeure events or frustration in connection with Coronavirus and he will also look at other practical approaches of dealing with the impact of this pandemic in supply chain contracts.
Laura Hughes is head of our public law team, as well as head of the insurance and public risk department. Laura is an experienced public law expert who advises her clients on their most important and high-profile matters. She acts across the public sector advising clients in government, local government, education, health, audit, sports and natural resources.
laura.hughes@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)115 976 6582
Alex leads our subsidy control team and is recognised as a leading expert in this complex field. He also specialises in procurement and public sector clean energy and regeneration projects. Clients appreciate his ability to translate complex legal issues into pragmatic and clear advice.
alex.kynoch@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)115 976 6511
Anthony.Nagle@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)20 7871 8501
In this session, we examined the legal framework around grant funded collaborations and discussed the key risks to be aware of, including IP ownership and compliance with grant terms.
Law firm Browne Jacobson has collaborated with Wiltshire Council and Christ Church Business School on the launch event of The Council Company Best Practice and Innovation Network, a platform which brings together academic experts and senior local authority leaders, allowing them to share best practice in relation to council companies.
In the Autumn Statement delivered on 17 November, rises to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates were announced, to take effect from 1 April 2023.
Announced in September but scrapped on 17 November the investment zone proposals were very short lived. The proposal has now morphed into the proposal for a smaller number of clustered zones earmarked for investment.
Settlement agreements are commonplace in an employment context and are ordinarily used to provide the parties to the agreement with certainty following the conclusion of an employment relationship.
On 2 November 2022, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the much awaiting case of Hillside Parks Ltd v Snowdonia National Park Authority [2022] UKSC 30. The Court’s judgment suggests that the long established practice of using drop-in applications is in fact much more restricted than previously thought. This judgment therefore has significant implications for both the developers and local planning authorities.
