“They are tenacious in getting the best result for the client. Technically they are very good, and the overall impression is one of exceptional efficiency.”
Expert legal advice for the public sector
We have an integrated cross-departmental approach which acknowledges the range of challenges faced by public sector organisations and the fact that these rarely occur in isolation. Michelmores’ lawyers add value by sharing learning and experience, keeping our clients up-to-date with developments in the law as it affects national and local government, health, education and the emergency services. Our litigation and dispute resolution specialists are on hand to assist with more contentious issues, whilst our crisis and reputation management capability allows us to spot and pre-empt potential reputational risk promptly.
This expertise is complemented by a thorough understanding of the political and budgetary constraints facing the sector, and the specific regulatory restrictions on individual bodies.
Our experience in working for the private sector, including for financial institutions and banks, means that we are ideally placed to advise public sector clients entering into public/private transactions. We are also used to dealing with high profile and politically sensitive transactions, with critical timescales.
Michelmores’ public sector lawyers work as an extension of our public sector clients’ in-house legal teams, as well as with their other professional advisers.
Public Sector Frameworks
We are panel members of the following key public sector frameworks: LUPC (London Universities Purchasing Consortium), NHS Shared Business Services, National Legal Services Framework for Police and Public Bodies. Please contact us for more information.
Michelmores is appointed to Lot 2a of the Crown Commercial Service RM6240 Public Sector Legal Services Framework for: Property & Construction; Planning & Environment; Litigation / Dispute Resolution; and Employment advice. Please click here to view our Lot2a Prospectus.
Recent experience
Police Force: acting on the £multi-million disposal of a 19-hectare site to a residential developer
Police Force: legal, strategic and procurement advice on ICT contracts
Police Force: acting for the Metropolitan Police Service on the acquisition of the Empress State Building in Earls Court, London for £250m
NHS Trust: assisted with drafting all procurement documentation relating to £50m redevelopment programme, and with establishing appropriate selection criteria
Health Trusts (various): Tribunal hearings (whistleblowing), TUPE, organisational change management, major service outsourcing projects
Health body: advising in relation to an agreement to commercialise two IT-based workflow products
Local Authority: assisting with all aspects of the competitive dialogue procurement of a strategic materials recycling facility project
Local Authorities (Key London Authorities and South West): High-profile tribunal hearings (equal pay, whistleblowing, discrimination, victimisation, freedom of expression); contentious grievance issues and appeals; negotiating compromise agreements; union recognition issues; secondments; drafting contracts and policies; TUPE; outsourcing; Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act requests
Local Authorities: superfast broadband. Advising on £100m project and the £2.5bn roll out under the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) national programme. On-going support as member of BDUK’s core specialist advisory team, including FOIA requests
Local Authority: preparation of template contracts for purchasing goods and services and for framework arrangements
Government Department: private developer schemes, at sites across England and Wales, under which the department contracted with developers for the construction of significant buildings, then taking a lease on completion of the works
Universities UK member: procurement through the Competitive Dialogue procedure of a £100 million plus student residences project on a greenfield/farmyard site
Executive Agency: employment litigation. TUPE and procurement training. Advice on procurement of a supercomputer under competitive dialogue including negotiation with bidders on legal/commercial issues
Executive Agency: advising the Met Office on a major procurement of its multi-million pound supercomputer. Also providing secondment support
Ombudsman: advising on all the employment law aspects of statutory transfer of staff and assets to new body
