Local Government

The quality of the team in regard to local government law is recognised by its inclusion in Band 1 of Chambers UK directory. While it notes that “Kings Chambers dominates the Northern Circuit due to its strong cadre of local government experts”, its quality is recognised nationally and it receives instructions in relation to authorities across the whole of England and Wales. It provides strength at all levels from juniors to senior silks.

Our barristers specialist expertise in the various areas of local government work are served by:

• Our planning law barristers – in regard to all aspects of town and country planning law, environmental law, highways, and related issues
• Our regulatory law barristers – in regard to licensing, health and safety, environmental health, consumer protection and trading standards, food and medicines, health and social care, information and data protection, transport and road haulage, and building control
• Our employment law barristers – in regard to all aspects of employment and discrimination law, including TUPE and other disciplinary issues which apply in particular ways to local government
• Our common law barristers – who deal with all personal injury and other tort actions which affect local government
• Our chancery and commercial law barristers – who can assist in all matters relating to contracts, trusts, companies, litigation, and other contentious matters

An important part of the service offered by chambers is that where appropriate the specific expertise of our local government barristers can be supplemented by the expertise of the other sections where the barristers work together to provide clients with a truly integrated and comprehensive service combining the strengths in each relevant area of law.

What our Local Government Law Barristers offer

Much of the work of the local government law barristers involves local authorities, police and fire authorities, monitoring officers etc. We are on the panel of numerous councils who have preferred supplier arrangements and general ‘partnerships’, providing regular and formalised input to shared services, by regular ‘clinics’, servicing specific committees, or part-time secondment to assist with gaps in the authority’s own staffing and expertise.

Our barristers are also heavily involved in advising private sector companies, pressure groups, councillors, individuals, and other public sector bodies in relation to issues of local government law, whether as partners of local authorities or in challenging the actions of a local authority.

The team of course provides the usual advisory services and advocacy for all levels of court, tribunals, hearings and inquiries, disciplinary hearings, and audit or ombudsman challenges. However, they are also engaged in alternatives to litigation or formal action. Many of our barristers are CEDR trained mediators who are always happy to discuss possible mediation.

The strength of the team is also reflected in the requests to deliver conference and seminar papers, and also seminars and training tailored to the needs of the particular client. It is always happy to discuss providing assistance in this way.