020 7405 4600

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Catherine Newman

Catherine Newman

Partner

020 7405 4600

Contact by email

The majority of Catherine’s work is in the field of procurement and commercial contracts where she is well used to working on complex projects with tight timescales.

Catherine has advised on public procurement issues at all stages and regularly drafts tender and commercial contracts. She has particular expertise in relation to education and social care services.

Catherine has extensive experience of the various types of governance and approvals approaches and is well used to providing legal advice for these.

In addition to project teams, Catherine works closely with legal colleagues in local and central government to enable seamless legal services for clients and valuable knowledge transfer.

Catherine has also advised on the commercial aspects of a large number of academy conversions. These have included complex sponsored academy projects and issues related to on-going school works, PFI contracts, onsite children’s centres, loans, grants and the provision of on-going council services to academies.

Skills and strengths:

I believe a practical and positive approach is best for clients. I work to find ways through challenging situations to help clients achieve their objectives. My experience working in and for the public sector means that I am sensitive to the financial and operational parameters within which projects often need to be delivered.

  • Central Government
  • Education Providers
  • Leisure
  • Local Government
  • Commercial
  • Procurement
  • Advising the DfE on the procurement of training services for early career teachers.
  • Advising Hertfordshire County Council on the outsourcing of its Library Services.
  • Advising the Education and Skills Funding Agency on the procurement of over 700 training providers, to deliver apprenticeship training services.
  • Working on site and in collaboration with Kent and Essex Police in collating contractual records.
  • Six month part-time secondment to Hertfordshire County Council to in-house role of Acting Head of Commercial and Property Law.
  • Working in collaboration with partner firms on the DfE Commercial Law framework to design and deliver an innovative commercial law training programme, via skype.

Sharpe Pritchard’s thoughts on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report

5 March 2025

The Government has announced its response to the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report. The Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report made 58 recommendations, of which 37 were directed at the Government and 21 were directed at other bodies and institutions. As part of its response the Government has confirmed that all of the recommendations are being... Read more
Catherine's Publications
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