Brodies LLP’s local government team is situated within the firm's wider government and business practice, acting for government bodies on governance, social housing and infrastructure mandates, with additional experience advising councils on acquisitions and housing regeneration projects. Niall McLean spearheads the team, continuing to lead on judicial reviews, while accredited local governance specialist Stuart Murray handles PPP-related matters. Employment expert Lynne Marr advises local government bodies on workforce planning, exits and redundancies, while ‘exceptional senior associate’ Jamie Dunne handles mandates concerning public procurement law and planning applications. Former co-head Jackie McGuire retired in December 2023.

Anderson Strathern handles a large volume of advisory work for local councils and government bodies, as well as acting for clients in the education sector on collaborations with other public bodies, drafting complex contractual arrangements and representing clients in construction litigation. Showcasing ‘vast experience’, Audrey Cameron leads the team, and handles procurement mandates and regeneration projects. Other key contacts in the group include Fiona Stephen and Gillian Harkness-McKinlay.

Burness Paull LLP maintains a solid local government offering, particularly catered to advising Scottish local councils and trusts on legal structures, public procurement, and subsidy control matters. The team is also well equipped to handle financing and delivery of renewable energy infrastructure, restructuring of charitable offshoot vehicles, social housing disputes and employment tribunal hearings related to disability discrimination. Graeme Palmer spearheads the team, while Richard Lockhart handles commercial contracts. Emma Maxwell is another key contact, with experience in handling matters concerning legal structures and corporate governance.

The Glasgow-based practice at CMS is well-regarded for its experience in advising local council and trust clients on various project development and infrastructure matters. Under the joint leadership of Ailsa Ritchie and Mark McMurray, the team handles major regeneration developments, renewable energy projects, and compulsory purchase and compensation matters. Amy Norton focuses on land acquisitions for infrastructure projects, and advises a range of public sector clients on commercial transactions. Pension specialist Jae Fassam assists with regulatory and governmental engagements.

Praised for its ‘excellent knowledge and experience of public sector issues’, Harper Macleod LLP handles a wide range of project, employment, and governance matters for local authority clients. Commercial contracts and regulatory specialist James McMorrow jointly spearheads the team alongside Jennifer Jack, who leads on judicial reviews and disputes against regulatory bodies, in addition to representing local councils in major public inquiries. Partner Fiona Killen joined from Burness Paull LLP in June 2023, focusing on governance and constitutional advice and statutory appeals before the UK courts. Euan Pirie advises on high-profile procurements and engineering matters.

Under the leadership of Rory Alexander, the team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts is instructed by local authorities, trusts, management committees, and review bodies to advise on the gamut of related matters, including judicial reviews and related governance issues, as well as planning mandates and litigation. Alexander leads on major residential and commercial developments, and is assisted by Duncan Osler and Cameron Greig. Other key members of the team include Robin Fallas, Gwen Murphy, Ewan McGillivray, and Suzanne Hardie.

The team at Shepherd and Wedderburn regularly assists its roster of local authority clients with drafting and negotiating design build agreements in the educational sector, redevelopments and refurbishments of public infrastructure, and renewable energy projects. Stephen Colliston leads the practice, handling PPPs and other operational projects, while Euan McLeod assists with major housing developments. Neil Maclean is another key contact in the group.