Who we help
We do things a bit differently at Anthony Collins Solicitors. We have a proud tradition of supporting the public sector and unlike purely commercially driven law firms we are able to mix our technical excellence with a genuine social conscience. The ethos and ethics of our practice and desire to help transform our communities into thriving places means that we are ideally placed to support and understand our local authority clients.
Local government is facing the biggest set of challenges for many years. With much reduced budgets and staffing levels, pressures to generate income, the need to work more efficiently and collaboratively with neighbouring authorities and the private sector, the lawyer’s lot is becoming even more difficult.
That’s why the Anthony Collins Solicitors approach to providing true partnering-based legal support works so well for our local authority clients. Our work with local authorities is wide and covers a lot of areas, from employment matters to acquisitions and mergers. Whether you need support with a judicial review, commercial litigation, or the tendering of a process (or of documentation) we have experts on hand to help.Our flexibility means that we can provide tailored and cost-effective support. Some clients prefer us to take total control of a project and liaise directly with client teams for instructions. Others, especially when there is a larger in-house resource, want us to be a second pair of eyes to support the in-house legal team. That means that the in-house team retain political credit but still have the benefit of external legal support.
This method of working helps clients to maximise the support given to the council whilst minimising the external legal spend. We have a range of pricing options depending on how much involvement we have and how much work is carried out collaboratively with the in-house legal team - whether we are working on a fixed-, capped-, value-based or hourly rated fee.
We can support you with resolving procurement challenges, integrating health or social care, or acquisition of land, you can rest assured we can add value. We have also helped authorities with bulk conveyancing, social-value projects, community benefits, alternative delivery models and procurement policies. These are all areas where we have designed processes to make them simpler. We are here to ensure that you have peace of mind, knowing that your matter is being dealt with correctly, efficiently, and in the strictest confidence.
Administration is a core and vital part of local authority management. We offer advice and guidance over the freedom of information act, councillor’s conduct, constitutions and decision-making, internal procedures and employment. Our expertise also covers energy projects, front-line services, social enterprise, state aid, asset management, anti-social behaviour, property litigation and joint ventures. We can help you with any and all issues involving local government.
Our dedicated team is focused on finding a swift and satisfactory conclusion to your query and is devoted to doing what is best for the community. This, combined with over 40 years’ experience, makes us the ideal candidates to solve your legal needs.
Find out more about the services we provide to local authorities...
Local authority powers
Vast experience of navigating local authority powers and duties.
Commercial contracts
Advising and negotiating commercial and inter-authority arrangements.
Judicial review
Advice and support for councils in bringing judicial review claims.
State aid
Helping navigate state-aid protocols.
TUPE and pensions
Specialists in both TUPE and pension advice.
Procurement
Support and advice on all aspects of procurement and its challenges.
Companies, partnerships and corporate structures
Experts in regulations, changing and setting up corporate structures within local government.
Dispute resolution
Experienced commercial litigation solicitors providing clear and practical advice regarding all dispute resolution issues.
Data protection and information sharing
Supporting local government to comply with the complex data protection and freedom of information legislation.
Local Government Pension Scheme: LGPS Funds
Help funds to navigate a wide range of challenging scenarios effectively and efficiently, taking the burden of doing so from officers so that they can focus on the business of running the fund
Local Government Pension Scheme: Employers
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) provides benefits to a much wider constituency than just local government employees.
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We have been recognised for the work we do
Retrospective amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme exit credits
The High Court has ruled that retrospective changes to the LGPS exit credits regime were lawful – and gave some helpful guidance around the new discretion to pay an exit credit.
Phased withdrawal from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme
The Government has brought forward draft laws to allow independent schools to close the Teacher’s Pension Scheme to new joiners but to allow existing members to continue.
Draft collective money purchase scheme regulations
The Government has started consultation on the regulations providing the detailed framework for collective money purchase pension schemes.
Possession proceedings and evictions – recent changes!
In 2020 the court rules were changed to require that all residential tenants must be given 14 days’ notice of an eviction. What happens though if the eviction is cancelled on the day?
PODCAST: Local government pension scheme exit credits
Doug Mullen and Michelle Knight discuss the recent judicial review of regulations changing the regime governing exit credits in the local government pension scheme.
National procurement policy statement – the cart before the horse?
In the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper, the Government signalled its desire to increase its control over procurements by all contracting authorities.
Health and safety considerations after ‘freedom day’: Resuming business operations safely
Legal updates as the UK enters into stage 4 of the roadmap and legal restrictions on face coverings and social distancing are lifted.
Ofsted review highlights widespread sexual abuse in schools and colleges
Ofsted recently published the findings from its rapid review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges. The review highlighted keys areas of concern and presents clear actions, which are discussed here.
Anthony Collins Solicitors awards staff bonus of 5%
Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) is today (23 June, 2021) releasing its annual results for 2020/2021.
Regulatory round-up: care and housing prosecutions update
In this ebriefing, we identify what we see as the key messages arising from recent prosecutions in the care and housing sectors.
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