Allison Cook, VWV

Andrew Spicer, Bevan Brittan

Andrew is a partner in the corporate team with over 15 years’ experience, advising clients in both public and private sectors covering a range of transactional and structuring matters (corporate models, joint ventures, funding arrangements and governance).

In respect of local government matters Andrew possesses particular expertise in respect of local authority companies in the context of LGR and devolution.

Camilla de Bernhardt Lane, Grant Thornton

Chris Plumley, Trowers & Hamlins

Chris specialises in large scale public sector driven regeneration, town centre and mixed use development projects. He has over 25 years real estate experience and became an equity partner in 2026. He now is a leader in public sector real estate. Chris is also Deputy Head of Social Impact.

He works alongside commercial, surveying, financial and property teams to plan and prepare the structures and governance for large scale projects. He will then lead a legal team to deliver complex projects from inception to completion. Chris has many years of experience working collaboratively alongside developers, senior officers, in-house lawyers, politicians and other professional advisers within the public, private and emergency sectors. With many large scale and politically sensitive projects to his name Chris has established a national reputation within the regeneration market. He has helped clients on major property development projects to devise commercial and risk mitigated structures and ongoing project management.

Chris has published many articles contributing to The Terrier, Lexis Nexis, The Encyclopedia of Local Authority Companies and Partnerships, The MJ and localgovernmentlawyer.com.

Claire Ward, Anthony Collins

David Meecham, Trowers & Hamlins

David is a Partner in the Real Estate, with extensive experience of advising on public sector promoted regeneration and development schemes across the UK. He leads the real estate team in our Birmingham office.

He has supported a number of central government departments (including Ministry of Defence), local authorities (including Birmingham City Council, Wolverhampton City Council, Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils, Central Bedfordshire Council) and London Boroughs (including Brent, Waltham Forest, Lewisham, Southwark, Barking and Dagenham, Westminster City) and others operating within the sector (including, for many years, Homes England).

He is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Deborah Evans, LLG CEO

Deborah Evans was appointed in 2018 as the first Chief Executive of LLG. Having started her career in local government at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, she has since gone on to work in senior roles across the legal sector, including the in-house legal team of a major retailer; as a Practice Director of a law firm; in management at the Legal Aid Board; Chief Executive of the Legal Complaints Service, and most recently as Chief Executive of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Deborah has also been involved with digital claims resolution platforms such as Claims Portal and MedCo.

Ed Hammond, Grant Thorton

Emma Walker, Venn Group

Emma has over 20 years’ experience at Venn Group, where she established and leads the Legal Division, one of the most respected and trusted legal recruitment teams in the local government sector.

She partners with councils nationwide, delivering both interim and permanent legal talent, and leads multiple specialist teams that navigate complex, high-demand legal requirements. Known for her collaborative style and deep sector expertise, Emma is dedicated to driving Venn Group’s reputation as a market-leading provider of legal recruitment solutions.

Graeme McDonald, Managing Director, SOLACE

Cllr Hannah Dalton

James Arrowsmith, Browne Jacobson

James heads the Browne Jacobson social care practice group, and is leading a project in collaboration with LGiU and NHS Transformation Unit that is exploring how the vision of neighbourhood working in health and care can be put into practice. He and his team deliver a comprehensive legal service in support of local authority children and adult social care including in connection with transformation projects, provider relationships, safeguarding and related enquiries, mental health and capacity, and training to in house teams.

Jayne Middleton–Albooye – Interim Head of Legal, Swindon Borough Council

Jayne is a highly experienced Lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in Local Government, including more than a decade operating at senior leadership level as Head of Legal and Deputy/Monitoring Officer. She brings extensive expertise across governance, complex litigation, housing, public law, and information law, with a strong track record of advising on high-risk and high-profile matters.

Throughout her career, Jayne has been recognised for her ability to lead and stabilise legal teams, strengthen governance frameworks, and provide clear, pragmatic advice to senior officers and elected members in complex and challenging environments.

Jess Lishman, WBD

Jess is an Associate in the Planning Team, former Leeds City Council lawyer and former national junior lawyer lead for Lawyers in Local Government. With 10 years’ local government experience advising on planning and regeneration, Jess knows her way around both a planning problem and the inner workings of a local authority.

Outside work, Jess swaps planning applications for hill walking and CrossFit. She brings much the same philosophy to work and life: plan your route, expect the occasional obstacle, keep going when it gets difficult, and never underestimate the value of strong core strength.

Jonathan Goolden, VWV

Julie Odams, Chief Executive, Local Government Social Care Ombudsman

Julie Odams was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2025, having joined LGSCO in 2023 as Head of Policy and Communications. She was previously Assistant Director of Communications & Customers at Derbyshire County Council, where she led specialist public service teams, service transformation and communications crisis response for the county.

Julie has held a number of roles in local government in the Midlands over a 20 year period specialising in communication, stakeholder engagement and customer service. She also led communications and engagement in universities in the North West and Midlands.

Kieran Stockley – Interim Chief Legal and Governance Officer & Monitoring Officer, West Midlands Combined Authority

Kieran is the Chief Legal & Governance Officer and Monitoring Officer at the West Midlands Combined Authority. She’s spent more than two decades in local government law and most recently has led the transformation of the WMCA Legal Team into a nationally recognised, award‑nominated service.

 Kieran is deeply committed to developing the next generation of public sector legal professionals and is passionate about home‑grown talent. 

Kieran also supports wider initiatives to widen access and create opportunities for the next generation of public sector lawyers as vice chair of EM Lawshare.

Kirtpal Kaur Aujla, Bevan Brittan

Kirtpal has extensive experience of advising on high value outsourcing and partnering arrangements within the public and private sectors. This includes the establishment of alternative delivery models for services, infrastructure projects (including PFIs and PPPs), outsourcing and strategic partnering arrangements, and structures for joint delivery of public services including multi agency collaboration. 

She has a special interest in local government and health, advising commissioners, providers, funders and the third sector in a range of markets including children’s services, education, health and social care, leisure and culture.

Lisa Kirkman, VWV

Louise Baxter MBE, CEO of Consumer Friend

Louise is a passionate advocate for social justice and safeguarding, with over 20 years’ experience supporting vulnerable communities and driving change across regulatory and public service sectors.  Nationally recognised consumer protection leader in, regulation, fraud, scams, and consumer vulnerability.  Louises work spans across sectors including finance, telecoms, housing, and energy.

Louise serves as Chair of two national Consumer Protection Panels and as a Non-Executive Director at TrustMark and The Property Ombudsman. Organisations committed to building safer, more inclusive services. A confident and trusted media contributor, she uses her platform to champion consumer rights, highlighting the challenges many face and the things we can do to make a change.

As CEO of a Consumer Friend an education organisation, she delivers training and outreach programmes that empower individuals and communities with the knowledge and confidence to shape brighter futures.  Aiming to build a national movement to make consumer rights engaging and accessible, delivering expert accessible information to ensure individuals and organisations know how to protect the most at risk.

Louise was awarded an MBE for Protecting Vulnerable Consumers from Financial Abuse in 2017.

Lucy Thomas, Bevan Brittan

Lucy has over 20 years of experience of advising on complex regeneration, development and infrastructure schemes throughout the UK. She advises both public and private sector clients in relation to a wide range of planning, highways, compulsory purchase and compensation matters, including in relation to retail centres, town and city centre regeneration projects, garden villages, estate regenerations, sustainable urban extensions and major infrastructure projects.

She regularly acts for mayoral and development corporations, local and unitary authorities, retail and residential developers and housing associations. Along with advising on major planning applications, listed building and scheduled monument consents, highways orders (including side roads orders, footpath and bridleway stopping up applications) and compulsory purchase matters, she advises on planning appeals, judicial reviews and compensation disputes in the Upper Tribunal.

Manisha Patel, Executive Coach, Facilitator and Organisational Culture Consultant

Manisha Patel is an executive coach, facilitator and organisational culture consultant with over 20 years’ experience of leadership and organisational change across public services and other sectors.

She works with senior leaders, executive teams and boards across local government, the NHS and global organisations, helping them explore the realities of leadership, organisational culture, power , decision-making, and governance and scrutiny.

Drawing on systems thinking, organisational psychology and her own leadership experience, Manisha creates space for honest reflection, constructive challenge and practical action. Her work is particularly concerned with how people exercise influence, navigate difficult organisational dynamics and lead effectively when certainty and control are limited.

Manisha is an EMCC Practitioner, a Hintsa High Performance Coach and a former Non-Executive Director of Lawyers in Local Government.

Mark Hynes, Director of Governance & Law, London Borough of Waltham Forest

Mark has extensive local government experience since 1990, working at all tiers of councils in England and Wales. He has been a Monitoring Officer for 25 years having spent the last 10 years as Corporate Director with the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Mark was instrumental in the formation of LLG and was awarded public sector lawyer of the year by Legal 500 in 2013.

Michael Graham, Independent Investigator Ltd

Dr Nathan Tamblyn, Head, Codes of Ethical Conduct, Ethics & Integrity Commisson

Dr Nathan Tamblyn is Head, Codes of Ethical Conduct at the Ethics & Integrity Commission. Previously he led projects of law reform at the Law Commission. Before that, he was a law professor, and a barrister.

Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators

The Association of Electoral Administrators represents, advocates for and supports the professionals delivering electoral services across the UK. Peter has been Chief Executive since 2018. Prior to joining the AEA in 2016, he worked for two London Boroughs and two district councils, delivering Democratic Services, Overview and Scrutiny, Mayoralty, Political Group Offices and Births, Deaths and Marriages alongside Electoral Services. He was also seconded to the Electoral Commission on two separate occasions to advise on guidance and law.

Rachel McKoy, LLG Executive Director - AMO

Rachel McKoy is a Solicitor of the Senior Court of England and Wales and currently the Executive Director of the Association of Monitoring Officers. She qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and has worked in local and central government for over 20 + years in various roles including Monitoring Officer, Director of Law & Governance, Assistant Director of Law & Governance, and Head of Legal Services.

During the course of her career, she has held, and currently holds, several representative roles on behalf of the local government sector including: the Past President of Lawyers in Local Government (LLG); Law Society Council Member (Local Government Seat); Local Government Association (LGA) Governance Peer; and Non-Executive Director (Group Solicitor) to the Board of the Society of Chief Executives and Senior Leaders (SOLACE).

Rachel Price, Thomson Reuters

Rachel Price is Sales Manager for the Academic, Bar and Public Sector team at Thomson Reuters, where she has worked for over nine years. For many of those years she worked directly with Local Authorities supporting their needs and challenges and she now leads a team serving public sector organisations as well as being a member of the Legal Pro Bono Steering Group. More recently Rachel's team have focused on helping customers to harness the unique way AI tools allow teams to work more efficiently with constrained resources whilst retaining full control and accountability of their work and verified outputs.

Rebecca Gilbert, Capsticks

Rebecca Gilbert is a Legal Director at Capsticks where she is an experienced public sector projects solicitor advising local authorities and other public sector clients on a variety of complex and multi-disciplinary projects ranging from regeneration and development, infrastructure, alternative delivery models, joint ventures, collaborations and service arrangements. 

Samantha Lawton, Kirklees Council

Samantha Lawton is a qualified solicitor with 17 years’ local government experience and is Service Director – Legal, Governance and Commissioning at a major metropolitan council. As Monitoring Officer and Senior Information Risk Owner, she combines strategic leadership with extensive expertise in corporate governance, constitutional matters and complex litigation, including successful major regulatory prosecutions.

Samantha has successfully led governance and constitutional reviews, supporting the executive through political change and minority administration, and driving service change. She brings significant experience of working in no overall control authority and effective governance.

Sanjit Sull, Director of Legal, Governance and Compliance & Monitoring Officer , East Midlands Combined County Authority

Sanjit Sull is Director of Legal, Governance and Compliance, Monitoring Officer and Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) at the East Midlands County Combined Authority.

She provides statutory leadership and strategic oversight across legal services, corporate governance, information governance, complaints, and regulatory compliance, ensuring that the organisation operates lawfully, transparently and with robust assurance across all its functions.

In his role, Sanjit advises the Mayor, Combined Authority members and senior leadership on complex governance, risk and decision‑making issues, bringing clarity, independence and authoritative judgement to organisational, constitutional and programme‑level matters. She leads the Authority’s legal and governance directorate, supporting major programmes, devolved functions and corporate systems through periods of rapid organisational growth and deepening devolution.

Prior to joining the Authority, Sanjit was the Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring officer at North Northamptonshire Council, one of England’s largest unitary authorities, where she developed the governance function across the unitary authority. She is a recognised specialist in governance, compliance and public‑law systems, with extensive experience advising on constitutional design, probity, information governance, statutory decision‑making, complaints and assurance.

Sanjit is valued for her ability to bring people together around complex governance issues, providing steady, thoughtful leadership that builds trust across political, managerial and partnership boundaries. She has a distinctive talent for simplifying difficult issues, guiding colleagues through uncertainty and creating governance cultures where sound judgement, transparency and ethical practice thrive. Her integrity, composure and focus on organisational maturity make her a go‑to source of assurance and a stabilising force within the authority.

Sian Ballingall, WBD

Siân is a Partner in the Public Law & Projects Team, regeneration enthusiast and recovering local government lawyer. After 10 years on the inside, including as Head of Legal Services, Deputy Monitoring Officer and a brief interlude as Interim Director of Law and Governance at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, she knows how local authorities really work. She now advises local authorities, combined authorities and other public bodies on powers, governance and decision-making, particularly on major regeneration projects, with the considerable advantage of having once been on the receiving end of external legal advice herself.

Outside work, Siân can usually be found running in the dark or tracking down excellent coffee. Whether the former exists mainly to justify the latter remains unresolved.

Simon Goacher, Weightmans

Tiffany Cloynes, Capsticks

Tiffany Cloynes is a Partner and Head of Local Government at Capsticks. Tiffany has an excellent reputation and substantial experience acting on large scale, complex regeneration and infrastructure projects and is recognised as a leader in her field. Tiffany also has extensive knowledge and practical experience of public and administrative law.