Emergency services
As a high-profile, frontline public service, demands placed on today’s fire and rescue authorities are diverse, unique and challenging. Fire authorities are facing a period of significant change, and our team understands your changing environment and needs. We offer pragmatic advice which enables your management team to adapt to these new legal developments with confidence. We can support you with all your legal needs such as regulatory advice, commercial projects or shared service delivery with other blue light services.
- Our experience - over 25 years’ experience acting for fire and rescue authorities on both contentious and non-contentious issues.
- Our clients - fire and rescue authorities across England and Wales.
- Dedicated lawyers – located across the country.
- Complete legal solution - commercial, environmental, health and safety, information technology, property, construction, corporate governance, employment; extensive expertise in prosecuting offenders under fire safety legislation.
- In-depth sector understanding - legal, social and political factors and acknowledged for our ‘hand in glove’ approach.
- Industry members - Association of Local Authority Risk Managers (ALARM), speakers to the Fire Lawyers Network and regular attendees of the LGA Fire Conference.
Key contacts
Peter Ware
Partner
Laura Hughes
Partner
Richard Barlow
Partner
Andrew Hopkin
Partner
Carl May-Smith
Partner
Latest insights and events
Opinion
The government’s anti-social behaviour action plan and the questions it poses practically
Legal Update
Automatic suspension and procurement law
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Focus on emergency medicine
In our latest Shared Insights session, Focus on Emergency Medicine, chaired by Jennifer Fagin and Amelia Newbold, we were pleased to be joined by: Dr Alex Crowe, Deputy Director Incentive Schemes & Academic Partnerships, NHS Resolution and Consultant Nephrologist and Miss Susie Hewitt MBE, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
Opinion
Responding to Grenfell – Slow progress is better than none
As the Grenfell Inquiry continues, how have the Phase 1 recommendations changed the fire safety and building safety landscape?
Opinion
80% hours for 100% pay? That’ll do nicely
As has been widely reported this week, some 3,000 UK workers are taking part in a six month trial to assess the viability of a four-day working week without any reduction in their normal pay.
Opinion
Building Safety Bill receives Royal Assent
The new regime introduced by the Act will take shape over the next 18 months, but those who design, build or manage high rise buildings are being urged to get ready for the changes to be introduced through the act.
Opinion
Right to Work Checks: Changes from 6 April 2022
From 6 April 2022, right to work checks on all migrant or settled prospective employees must be online and checks on British or Irish nationals will be manual (free) or digital (charged for).
Legal Update
Ceasing discretionary functions and powers – some key issues for public bodies to consider
The key legal questions for public bodies to consider before deciding to cease exercising a discretionary power due to limited resources or other reasons.
Legal Update
Robust decision-making - how to reduce the scope for an irrationality challenge
Public bodies must understand the scope of ‘irrational’ or ‘unreasonable’ challenges so that proactive steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of successful judicial intervention.