Local government
Local authorities are facing increasing challenges. Re-organisations and structural reform, financial pressures, community engagement and the need to remain dynamic and fair through political, social and economic change; all are complex tasks heightened by intense public scrutiny and media attention.
With extensive experience working across all council service areas and in-house, Browne Jacobson’s legal experts act as an extension of your team. We’ll support you in a collaborative, impactful way to make the complex simple and to deliver your ever-evolving roles and objectives.
At Browne Jacobson, we’re thought leaders providing world-class advice on current and complex matters of government.
As a testament to our commitment to the public sector, we’re on all major public sector procurement frameworks – meaning that you can have instant access our services, at a fair price and without the need for any additional due diligence.
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Crown Commercial Service Public Sector Legal Services (ref. RM6240 - lots 1a and 2a)
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KCS (Kent County Council) Legal Services (ref. Y21012)
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London Borough’s Legal Alliance (lots 1 and 2)
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North West Legal Consortium (lot 5)
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Welsh Government Commercial Delivery, formerly the National Procurement Service (lots 1, 4 - 6, 8 - 11 and 13)
Why choose Browne Jacobson solicitors?
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We’re consistently trusted by a client base that includes 200+ local authorities, 50 NHS bodies, 10 central government departments and numerous fire, social care and social housing providers – but we don’t come with preconceived notions. We seek to understand and build relationships that are tailored to your individual needs.
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We have offices or strong connections in all major economic regions of the UK, as well as a network of thoroughly and securely vetted partner firms in jurisdictions where we’re not present. So, even if we don’t have an office nearby, we can still meet your needs.
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We’re recognised as ‘a true heavyweight’ in the public sector, with unparalleled experience. Many of our lawyers have previously worked in the public sector and so have an unrivalled understanding of the environment in which you operate.
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We look to add value where we can, supporting you and your team with your growth and development. We go the extra mile at no additional cost, providing training, seminars and networking opportunities, as well as issuing regular newsletters providing guidance on technical and sector issues so you’re always up to date on the law.
Our expertise
Key contacts
Peter Ware
Partner
Richard Barlow
Partner
Ros Foster
Partner
Laura Hughes
Partner
Barry Sully
Partner
Testimonials
"The team are always available and provide support on urgent matters."
Latest insights and events
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - March 2023
Legal Update
Section 106 Agreements: I’m not dead yet
Legal Update
Automatic suspension and procurement law
Legal Update
Supreme Court will hear Worcestershire case on local authority responsibility for Section 117 Aftercare in April 2023
Legal Update
HXA and YXA failure to remove cases: Key considerations in anticipation of the Supreme Court judgment
Published Article
Combined County Authorities - Key differences to Combined Authorities
Guide
Devolution: a catalyst for long-term, positive change in local communities
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - February 2023
Opinion
Can toilet facilities amount to sex discrimination?
Legal Update
Biodiversity Net Gain — Government publishes consultation response
Opinion
‘Awaab’s Law’- a significant amendment to the Social Housing Regulation Bill
Legal Update
Embargoed Judgments: A Professional Word of Caution
Legal Update
Procurement Bill debarment regime and ECHR issues
Published Article
Digital Twin Technologies: key legal contractual considerations
Guide
Public procurement: key facts and compliance considerations
Press Release
Browne Jacobson’s real estate specialists advise Chesterfield Borough Council on prestigious new development - One Waterside Place
Opinion
Will fixed recoverable costs in housing conditions claims see the light of day?
Online Event
Register to join our Academy: to Register your interest in our next Academy
Legal Update
Government introduces first Streamlined Subsidy Schemes under new regime
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advise High Peak Borough Council on future high street funded acquisition as part of Buxton regeneration vision
Opinion
Term-time school worker entitled to national minimum wage for unworked basic hours
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - January 2023
Published Article
What are freeports and what benefits could they offer?
Legal Update
Dangerous Dogs
Published Article
Reaching cloud nine? Public procurement for cloud-based services
Legal Update
Unlawful delegation of decision-making powers
On-Demand
The Subsidy Control Act 2022. Putting the new regime into practice
Published Article
How the Environment Act affects existing contracts’
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - December 2022
Opinion
Is over centralisation hindering economic growth?
Legal Update
Protecting children and their data in the online environment
Press Release
Browne Jacobson helps launch new innovative council company network with Wiltshire Council and Christ Church Business School
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.
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public Matters - November 2022
Legal Update
Dipping in and out of the Investment Zones
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.
Legal Update
Hillside – the end of drop in applications?
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.
Published Article
Local authority duties: Up in the air
In ‘failure to remove’ claims, the claimant alleges abuse in the family home and asserts that the local authority should have known about the abuse and/or that they should have removed the claimant from the family home and into care earlier.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Bromley Council on the first social housing initiative of its kind to tackle homelessness
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public Matters - October 2022
Updates include UK Shared Prosperity Fund, contracts, Subsidy Control Bill, data controller liability, Government Covid-19 procurement and Highway Code revisions.
Legal Update
Investment Zones - getting the country working, building and growing
Investment zones have been introduced by the Conservative party to get the United Kingdom (UK) ‘working, building and growing’. They are to be designated sites which provide time-limited tax incentives, streamlined planning rules and wider support for local growth to encourage investment and accelerate the development of housing and infrastructure that the UK needs to drive economic growth. Processes and requirements that slow down development will be stripped back with the intention of attracting new investment.
Legal Update
The Retained EU Law
Created at the end of the Brexit transition period, Retained EU Law is a category of domestic law that consists of EU-derived legislation retained in our domestic legal framework by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. This was never intended to be a permanent arrangement as parliament promised to deal with retained EU law through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (the “Bill”).