Leveraging extensive pure public law expertise, from both a UK perspective and in the context of Welsh devolved powers, and also drawing upon more broad-based public sector prowess across the firm's full-service offering, Blake Morgan LLP offers 'sound legal advice' to a myriad public sector bodies (including at local and central government level), ensuring it can provide a tailored service addressing issues unique to entities in the space. 'Calm and incredibly friendly' team head Eve Piffaretti  is a reassuring presence to Welsh public sector and UK regulators in the context of health and social care law matters, including when responding to safeguarding issues and advice relating to adults at risk (areas which have an added layer of complexity due to their adherence to secondary legislation which is Welsh specific). The vastly experienced Graham Miles  is also very active in the health and social care sectors, both as it relates to his work for regulatory bodies investigating fitness to practice, as well as his niche expertise in the area of human fertilisation (where Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is a cornerstone client). Public procurement-related work also continues to generate a substantial amount of work, with Penri Desscan  and Simon McCann  noted for their expertise on behalf of contracting authorities, including in the context of long term, complex, high-value services and supplies contracts. Litigator Joanne Thompson takes the lead in the event of procurement challenges and is also at the forefront of the firm's public inquiries offering, which includes continued representation of NHS England in the Covid-19 inquiry. Sarah Whittle is also very active in the healthcare sector and as well as being involved in the aforementioned inquiry, is regularly engaged in procurement challenges in the sector. Trish D'Souza excels at work at the intersection of public and education law, regularly advising, inter alia, on disciplinary matters and judicial review challenges. 'Approachable and highly communicative' associate Daniel Taylor  is also gaining market recognition, particularly among local authorities, for his aptitude at handling complex Court of Protection-related litigation matters.

Able to provide 'a one-stop-shop across all disciplines', and with an overarching knowledge of the nuances and intricacies of the Welsh public law framework, Geldards LLP remains a popular choice among local and central government bodies. Under the guidance of the 'exceptionally strong' Charles Felgate, the firm has been very visible in the planning sphere, regularly advising public sector clients on major Welsh transport/infrastructure projects, both from a contentious and non-contentious perspective. Notably, he recently secured an important victory for a Welsh national park, in what was one of the most consequential planning decisions to reach the higher courts over the last two decades. 'Outstanding' construction lawyer Tony Norris is 'brilliant to work with', regularly advising central government and local authorities on the contractual aspects of key infrastructure projects, as well as in any subsequent arbitrations. Commercial litigator Jonathan Griffiths excels at public procurement ligation, while employment lawyer Helen Snow, who oversees the multi-disciplinary public sector offering, is particularly skilled in relation to agricultural workers' terms and conditions in Wales.

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Able to more effectively service existing large public sector clients, including the Welsh government, as well as better placed to develop connections at local and central government level, Browne Jacobson's Cardiff office, which opened in July 2023, has hit the ground running. Indeed, public/administrative law is central to the majority of work handled by the team, from both a contentious and non-contentious perspective, with practitioners in the office having an excellent grounding in UK-wide issues, as well as on specific areas of Welsh devolution. Tim Edds 'understands the Welsh public sector, ensuring that the advice is informed by the wider context in Wales', and heads up the fledgling team that also includes a number of key associates, including Bill Cordingley, who has a focus on planning and environmental matters for public bodies.

Deploying a multi-disciplinary service that leans into the firm’s impressive full service credentials, including a number of lawyers who have former in-house expertise, the team at Hugh James is well-positioned to provide ‘responsive and reliable advice’ to central and local government, health boards, and education bodies across the full scope of their social and commercial requirements. Regulatory work remains a strong driver to the firm’s offering, with department head Martin Jones  continuing to advise Social Care Wales across a myriad matters. Along with Justin Davies, who himself specialises in fire safety work, Jones is also pivotal to the firm’s work for a myriad non-police prosecutors throughout Wales and England. ‘Industrious, uncompromising and hugely intelligent’ newly promoted partner Sara Tomaszewski continues to excel in the social care sector, regularly representing South Wales-based local authorities in safeguarding cases, often undertaking her own advocacy. The firm also handles a significant amount of property-related public sector mandates, including Caroline O’Flaherty‘s work for Welsh and English registered social landlords, and construction partner Ioan Prydderch‘s frequent engagements on contentious and non-contentious matters for core firmwide clients including Natural Resources Wales.

Cutting across numerous practice areas, including litigation, employment and commercial, as well as handling some pure public law-related work, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP remains a popular choice among local and central government stakeholders in Wales and the UK. The firm maintains a very strong public inquiries/investigations team which, although now chiefly driven out of the Midlands, also regularly receives very effective support from Cardiff-based practitioners, including vastly experienced consultant Peter Jones and Angharad Haf Hurle. Public procurement-related work is also a core strength, with Richard Pitt and Helen Rowland noted for their ability to provide 'commercially focused legal advice' to procuring authorities defending challenges to the outcome of public procurement competitions and, for those claimants challenging the decisions of contracting entities. Employment practitioner Huw Jones, who has a 'good understanding of the local government and public sector', co-heads the team alongside Pitt.

Noted for its ability to 'think innovatively' and with the 'clients' interests firmly in mind', Watkins & Gunn Limited continues to excel at representing claimants in public law challenges, where it draws upon 'a deep knowledge of how the practice and procedure of judicial reviews work'. Much of this work is for vulnerable persons as well as public interest groups, with recent highlights including its ongoing representation of Haemophilia Wales in the infected blood inquiry, as well as a considerable number of recent matters for traveller families challenging the decisions of both Welsh and English authorities for their evictions. The vastly experienced Michael Imperato and Lucy O’Brien co-head the team that has over the years gained a very strong success rate in a raft of high-profile cases.

 

Despite its relatively small stature, Newport-based firm Harding Evans LLP has gained an elevated status in the country as a result of its claimant public law offering. Here, under the leadership of the 'sensitive and super professional' Craig Court, the team has gained particular skill at handling matters linked to civil liberties and human rights. Despite his relatively junior partner status, Court, who also has higher rights of audience, has been at the forefront of some very high-profile inquests and inquiries, including his work for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice – Cymru at the UK Covid-19 Statutory Inquiry.