
Public private partnerships (PPP) and PFI
Delivering a PPP project (being a long-term, high-value and strategically important arrangement between public and private sector partners) requires experienced and dedicated support. Our PPP lawyers have a wealth of experience advising both public and private sector partners (and funders) on the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and other PPP arrangements.
Our PPP lawyers provide a complete service by bringing together a deep understanding of PPP projects, and the documents which underpin them, with specialist advice across areas such as environmental law, banking, employment and pensions, planning and construction, procurement, intellectual property (IP), information technology, taxation and insurance.
What we do
- Our clients – local and central government, health trusts, suppliers to government and funders.
- Dedicated PPP lawyers - including six partners based in Nottingham, London and Birmingham, plus a team of specialists supporting our core projects expertise.
- Specialist PPP services - PFI (including refinancings, variations and advice on PFI expiry), PPP, and other long-term partnering arrangements between the public and private sectors.
- Full service - specialists in procurement, property, construction, IP, funding, tax and employment issues arising from projects.
Featured experience
Cheshire East Council
Advising Cheshire East Council on innovative proposals to procure a development partner to work with them to exploit geo-thermal resources. This would be the first deep geo-thermal project of its type in the UK.
Crown Commercial Service
Advising the Crown Commercial Service on the multi-billion GBP procurement of energy frameworks to supply gas and power to all government bodies in England and Wales.
EOS
Advising EOS on its bid to run a number of the new Community Rehabilitation Centres established by MOJ following the winding down of local probation trusts.
A local authority
Advising a local authority on the outsourcing of its learning and achievement services and HR and finance services - strategically important for the Council as it forms part of the overall revision of its future service delivery model.
Key contacts

Craig Elder
Partner

Michael Mousdale
Partner

Peter Ware
Partner

Richard Barlow
Partner

Anja Beriro
Partner

Tim Claremont
Partner

Dominic Swift
Partner

Tim Claremont
Partner

Stephen Matthew
Consultant

Alex Kynoch
Legal Director
Testimonials
"They consider the position from a client perspective and make strong recommendations."
"It has a strong team, not just a lead individual, and can provide a full service."
"I have always found the approach from Browne Jacobson, unique and consistently customer focussed. Whoever I have dealt with has made me feel like their only, or most important client. They are extremely knowledgeable and strike the right balance between advice, giving the client the confidence to understand potential risks, and make their own decisions."
"Excellent capacity over a wide range of legal services and specialist in local authority law. Strength in the ability to offer outcome focused advice."
You may be interested in...
Legal Update
What are we to do about self reporting in PFI contracts?
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advise London borough councils on key social infrastructure PFI deal for streetlighting in Croydon and Lewisham
Legal Update
Higher education projects – the end is nigh?
Published Article
How the Environment Act affects existing contracts’
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Bromley Council on the first social housing initiative of its kind to tackle homelessness
Published Article
The role of Legal Project Management in public sector projects
The concept of Legal Project Management (“LPM”) is increasingly relevant to the delivery of legal services, both in-house functions and private practice law. This is unsurprising, LPM is crucial if lawyers are to add value by controlling budgets, communicate pro-actively on risk mitigation and costs, and manage time by resourcing to deal with pinch points in the project.
Legal Update
Regeneration funding: Securing Compulsory Purchase Orders in the face of escalating building costs
The focus on the Levelling Up agenda and the availability of grant funding, means there are numerous important regeneration schemes actively being pursued across the country. With ever-escalating project and building costs, in many cases, applications that were made for grant funding were based on costs contingencies that have already been exceeded.
Legal Update
The impending termination of PFI contracts and what should be done now
By the time PFI really got into its stride in the early 2000s, standard form contracts had pretty much nailed down the terms and anticipated anything that might happen, good or bad, during the course of the 25 years it covered.
Legal Update
Preparing for PFI contract expiry: February 2022 guidance - what contracting authorities need to know
In this article, we summarise the key headlines of the IPA’s guidance released on 28 February 2022 & pick out what contracting authorities need to know.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson’s government & infrastructure lawyers advise on first South West based green hydrogen production project
Browne Jacobson’s specialist government and infrastructure team have advised Canford Renewable Energy Ltd on the delivery of its Dorset Green H2 facility.
Guide
2022: Horizon scanning in construction
Published Article
Construction needs to do more to reduce carbon emissions
More needs to be made of these procurement routes, with clients honouring the original concept rather than watering down concepts.
Legal Update
Waste is only waste if we waste it*
This article looks at the impact of Part 3 of the Environment Act 2021 on waste collection authorities, including measures to reduce packaging waste, to encourage re-use and recycling and changes to the way waste will be collected.
Legal Update
Is this a support plan you can work with on PFI contract expiry? Handover assistance from the IPA
Key areas of support offered by the IPA under the ‘Managing the Risks of PFI Contract Expiry’ plan to aid public bodies.
Legal Update
The countdown to private finance initiative (PFI) handover – what’s your seven-year plan?
We consider key actions for public authorities in managing the PFI handover process.
Training
Managing PFI assets and services as contracts end
Browne Jacobson and Agilia are delighted to invite you to our on-demand webinar in which we will be looking at the key issues and best practice, which every affected authority needs to know, to assist them in the management of this challenge and the development of a strategy for preservation or replacement of assets and the re-procurement of key services.
Legal Update
Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) guidance note on private finance initiative (PFI) and private finance 2 (PF2) projects
Major parts of the infrastructure in the UK are currently managed under PFI contracts and their contribution to public service delivery is substantial. In the context of the Covid 19 crisis, therefore, their continuing role is of critical importance to essential services.