Overview

We have an extensive, cross-departmental team of central government lawyers experienced in providing legal advice to central government departments, agencies and NDPBs as well as suppliers to central government. A number of our lawyers have worked within central government.

Our lawyers understand the unique pressures placed on central government from both a legal and policy perspective. They also benefit from in-depth knowledge of many of the key sectors for which central government is responsible. This allows our central government lawyers to provide practical and tailored legal advice that takes into account central government’s unique requirements and responsibilities.

Reflecting our expertise, Burges Salmon is one of 12 firms appointed to Tier 1 of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) General Legal Services Framework (RM3786) and is also appointed to the CCS Wider Public Sector Legal Services Panel (RM3788). We are one of the preferred suppliers for government.

Our market-leading public sector lawyers provide strategic, commercially-focused advice on public sector law. We deliver intelligent solutions to complex, innovative and high profile projects, based on an in-depth understanding of the public and private sector.

Our support to clients includes advice on the following:

  • Public/administrative law
  • Construction and facilities management
  • Employment and pensions
  • Property asset management
  • Judicial reviews and commercial contractual disputes
  • Major projects, including public/private collaborations and outsourcings
  • Public procurement and subsidiary control
  • Policy development
  • Planning
  • IT/IP
  • Privatisations/mutuals/social enterprises
  • Defence and security
  • Data Protection, Freedom of Information law
  • International trade law
Experience

Advising Ministry of Defence on its negotiations with BAE Systems for the construction of Astute Class Submarines and the Successor Class Submarines.

Advising BEIS on the multifaceted and high value transfer of assets from nine separate UK research organisations to the UK's new strategic research and innovation body, UKRI.

Advising the Department for Education on the creation of alternative delivery models that deliver children's social care services on behalf of failing councils, pursuant to Statutory Directions. These are first of their kind models in the UK for provision of children's social care and education support services and we have advised the DfE since the inception of this national intervention programme in Slough, Doncaster, Birmingham, Sandwell, Reading and Sunderland.

Advising Ministry of Defence on a range of projects, including day-to-day support to the MOD commercial/projects team on the outsourcing of search and rescue helicopter services in the Falkland Islands and the successful project financing of the military satellite communications service, Skynet 5. We were involved in shaping the procurement strategy under defence procurement law and in supporting the MOD legal/project team in negotiations and evaluation.

Advising Ministry of Defence on various contracts for the provision of simulators in relation A400M, Astute Class Training Services, Armoured Vehicle Training Services and Search and Rescue Helicopter Services.

Advising the Home Office on its disclosure and barring service BPO/IT procurement. It was run as a pilot to introduce the Cabinet Office's 'Lean Procurement' initiative and is regarded as a 'pathfinder' project for future Whitehall procurements.

Advising Highways England in connection with the ending of the concession for the Severn River Crossings.

Advising Ascent (a 50:50 venture between Babcock and Lockheed Martin) on its competition on behalf of the Ministry of Defence for the £1.1 billion Fixed Wing package of the United Kingdom Military Flying Training System. Also advising on its competitions for Rotary Wing and Rear Crew services.

Advising the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the procurement strategy for the management of NDA's purpose-built national archive facility at Wick in Scotland, to provide long-term storage for an estimated 30 million records and other archive material from all civil nuclear sites in the UK.

Day-to-day procurement law advice to support Crown Agents activities in the UK and across the globe. Crown Agents is an international development company that partners with governments, aid agencies, NGOs and companies in nearly 100 countries. It has extensive relations with the Department for International Development and plays a very significant part in helping to deliver UK government’s development policy worldwide.

Advising the Foreign and Commonwealth Office services on the establishment of a new framework agreement for the delivery of confidential translation and interpretation services to the FCO, other UK Government departments, EU institutions, international organisations and the private sector.

Advising Welsh Ministers (acting through Transport for Wales (TfW)) on the £5bn procurement of the Wales and Borders rail service and South Wales Metro.

Meet the team
John Houlden

John Houlden Partner

  • Head of Public Sector
  • Head of Procurement and Subsidy Control
  • Projects
Keith Beattie

Keith Beattie Partner

  • Projects
  • Aviation
  • Defence
Philip Beer

Philip Beer Partner

  • Real Estate
  • Transport
  • Energy and Utilities
Euan Bremner

Euan Bremner Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Scottish Real Estate
  • Head of Northern Irish Real Estate
Nick Churchward

Nick Churchward Partner

  • Head of Resource and Waste Management
  • Projects
  • Energy and Utilities
Simon Coppen

Simon Coppen Consultant

  • Rail
  • Transport
  • Projects
Mark Paterson

Mark Paterson Partner

  • Defence
  • Business Transformation
  • Central Government
Matthew Ramus

Matthew Ramus Partner

  • Head of Education
  • Defence
  • Transport
Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson Partner

  • Infrastructure
  • Procurement and State Aid
  • Transport
David Hall

David Hall Partner

  • Dispute Resolution
  • Banking Disputes
  • Business Crime and Regulatory Investigations
Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Renewable Energy
  • Environment
Ian Salter

Ian Salter Partner

  • Head of Nuclear
  • Head of Projects
  • Environment
James Phillips

James Phillips Partner

  • Head of Energy & Utilities
  • Head of Energy Transition
  • Energy Regulation
Michael Barlow

Michael Barlow Partner

  • Head of Environment
  • Head of Water
  • Head of ESG
Brioney Thomas

Brioney Thomas Partner

  • Head of Transport
  • Asset Finance and Asset Backed Lending
  • Commercial
Headshot of Adrian Martin

Adrian Martin Partner

  • Head of Employment
  • TUPE: Business Transfers and Outsourcing
  • Restructuring and Redundancy
Michael Hayles

Michael Hayles Partner

  • Pensions
  • Public Sector Pension Schemes
  • Financial Services
Nick Graves

Nick Graves Partner

  • Head of Corporate
  • Corporate Advice
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
Lloyd James

Lloyd James Partner

  • Construction and Engineering
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Infrastructure
Helen Scott-Lawler

Helen Scott-Lawler Partner

  • Head of Food and Drink
  • Commercial
  • Intellectual Property and Media

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