Local Government

We have significant experience of supporting local government, having advised numerous councils in Wales and England.

We understand the financial, political, and regulatory pressures that councils face, and the mechanisms by which they collaborate with central government and the private sector. Some of our lawyers even worked at, and were seconded to, a local authority.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted and accentuated the role of local government, both in the short term—in providing public services directly in response to the crisis—and in the medium to long term—in leading community-based initiatives and infrastructure projects essential to economic recovery.

Our public sector team is made up of lawyers from across our firm who can support and advise you on the full range of legal services at this crucial time. Whether you need help with commercial contracts, procurement law, state aid, property development and construction projects, education law, employment/HR issues, judicial reviews, or public/private partnerships, we can help. Many of our lawyers are also Welsh speakers, so we can advise you in Welsh, if you prefer.

Through our sister consultancy business, Capital People, we can also we offer all the consultancy services and training in organisational development, HR, strategy, leadership, governance, and health, safety, and environment, that you may need.

We can help with:
Procurement and Contract Management

We provide strategic procurement advice on complex and innovative projects. We can advise on your procurement strategy, and each stage of the procurement lifecycle, from inception to contract award and post-contract completion issues. We can also support you with challenges to procurement processes.

Recent work:

  • Acting as leading legal adviser on an innovative pan-Wales waste procurement project funded by the Welsh Government, involving the majority of Welsh local authorities.
  • Providing strategic procurement advice to the Welsh Government on the procurement of a pan-Wales Apprenticeship Programme.
  • Leading on multiple procurement processes for a variety of contracts being procured by a single contracting authority in the West of England, utilising the open and restricted procedures.

Property Law

We are specialists in commercial acquisitions, disposal and development, planning, and landlord and tenant work. This includes advising on landholding and third-party landownership rights and acquisitions of property portfolios, as well as providing strategic property advice and advice on commercial lettings.

Recent work:

  • Advising Ceredigion County Council on the innovative Clych Caron development in Tregaron, Mid Wales.

Construction, Energy and Projects

We can advise on constructions, engineering, and energy projects – from inception to conclusion. This includes advising on PPP/PFI contracts, helping you with mixed-use developments, or negotiating security documents. We can help you manage and resolve disputes by means such as alternative dispute resolution and mediation.

Recent work:

  • Advising a Welsh Council and Welsh Government on the appointment of a Delivery Partner for an ambitious Extra Care Facility project in collaboration with the local NHS health board.
  • Advising Caerphilly Council on litigation strategy in a high-value construction dispute.

Employment and HR

We can work with you at all stages of the employment life-cycle, from recruitment to termination. This may be advising you on your day to day HR issues, like pay and conditions or outsourcing and public sector pensions, or on more sensitive situations like managing disciplinaries or equal pay issues.

We can also help with Employment Tribunals and appeals, defending claims for wrongful, constructive and unfair dismissal, discrimination and claims for dismissal due to trade union activity, interim relief applications and litigation over the application of TUPE.

Recent work:

  • Acting for a South Wales local authority to defend multiple claims brought by a former senior manager, including unfair dismissal, automatic unfair dismissal and detriments linked to whistleblowing, various disability discrimination claims, and harassment.

Capital People

Our consultants deliver bespoke, high quality services focused on client needs and outcomes across all sectors: Human Resources & Organisation Development, Governance, Leadership, Behavioural Dynamics, Strategy, Health & Safety and Coaching services.

Recent work:

  • Following a poor cabinet report at a local council, we were called in to mentor and coach the leader of the council and create a top team development programme for his cabinet. We built a picture of the cabinet’s values and vision, assessed the team’s skills and psychological profiles, as well its financial resources and other assets. We looked at governance and the relationships between the councillor and the executive team, to make sure role and responsibilities were appropriate, with skills and perspectives well balanced. This led to a revision of the council’s strategic framework, to ensure aligned direction of travel and help the team deliver its ambitions.