We recognise that the public sector is one of the most challenging and demanding environments in which to operate: circumscribed by issues of powers, procedural propriety and driven by a mixture of changing policy, political, regulatory and financial considerations.

The drive to renew and invest in public services and infrastructure and to improve efficiency will be achieved through traditional and new forms of procurement. Encouragement is given to collaboration among the public sector and seeking new approaches to service delivery in partnership with the private sector including PFI, PPP, outsourcing, joint ventures and strategic partnering. This will be achieved within an ever changing regulatory framework driven from both within the UK and also from Europe, presenting new compliance challenges and requirements for change.

THE RESPONSE

We can combine the experience and skills of business lawyers, advising on, negotiating, delivering, managing and providing strategic support on complex projects for both commercial operators and public bodies together with expertise in public law, governance, probity and regulatory compliance across a range of sectors. Our dedicated Commercial Public Sector and Projects team is one of the largest outside London with 15 lawyers including four highly experienced partners all of whom are recommended in Legal 500.

The team has acted on transactions with a total value in excess of £3 billion in the last 18 months and advises both public and private sector clients on commercial, public law and regulatory issues within the public sector.

THE EXPERIENCE

Our unique combination of skills, experience and people combined with an impressive breadth and depth of expertise means we will help you succeed in the public sector. We have one of the largest dedicated public sector and project teams of any firms of our size, with a reputation for excellent project work. We regularly act for a wide range of clients including: public bodies and associations, private sector contractors and funders We are active in a number of areas in the local government and central government sectors, including health, education, leisure, waste and housing.

Our lawyers have worked in a range of commercial and technical roles as well as having substantial public sector in-house experience, which gives them a unique insight into the issues and challenges facing the public sector in delivering complex projects.