020 7405 4600

Accessibility Icon

Central government & non-departmental public bodies

We advise central government departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on major public sector projects and services.

Our team’s understanding of the economic and political challenges facing government bodies make us uniquely placed to advise on the legal implications of major projects, achieving practical solutions and minimising risk.

We work with organisations across the UK and are appointed on all the key panels, including (as part of a consortium of firms) the CCS legal services framework, under which we provide a wide range of legal services to government departments and agencies.

Whether our clients are embarking on a major restructuring or technology project, seeking economies via shared services, developing a major infrastructure project, or undertaking an outsourcing or procurement project, our team members are known for their innovative approach and ability to deliver.

As agencies become more innovative in designing new ways of working, it is vital to ensure that all activities are in line with employment law regulations, good corporate governance and human rights legislation. We have significant experience of advising on all these aspects.

We also participate in the Government Legal Service training programme.

Key Contacts

Work highlights

  • Advising a central government department on state aid – Very high profile scheme with a value of c. £150 million including advice on the extent to which the state aid rules were engaged, the exemptions available and how to use them.
  • Advising a central government department on the state aid compliance of a multi-million-pound grant to a number of Scottish local authorities for services of general economic interest (SGEIs).
  • Legal advisers to the Delivery Authority on the Palace of Westminster’s Restoration and Renewal programme.
  • Non-levy procurement for DfE – Provided advice about how best to reframe the new procurement, drafted the procurement documents and the contract and provided ongoing advice on the responses to clarifications and the standstill letters.
  • Contract Simplification Project – Instructed to advise on how best to update and harmonise terms across the ESFA’s contract suite. This involved considering operational issues which were not reflected appropriately in the contracts and current best practices in the market.
As the government consults on national section 106 templates for medium-sized housing sites, Emily Knowles, Rachel Lee and Katie Millar explain what this means for local planning authorities. Section 106 agreements are essential to the delivery of housing and infrastructure- they secure the planning obligations that make otherwise unacceptable development acceptable in planning terms. Yet... Read more
Announcements today show that government at both national and London level is moving beyond simply setting housing targets and is focusing on removing barriers to delivery. Emily Knowles, Gemma Duncan and Katie Millar explain what you need to know. The UK Government has announced close to £10bn in funding for 33 Strategic Partners: councils, housing... Read more
With the opportunity to adopt new supplementary planning documents now over and a new National Planning Policy Framework in force, local planning authorities face a fundamentally changed landscape. In this article, James Goldthorpe, Rachel Lee and Emily Knowles from our planning team consider the implications for local planning authorities seeking to secure developer contributions through... Read more

To find out how we can help you, please contact us today