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Successful partnerships can enable accelerated public sector delivery. Through collaboration between the public and private sectors, on everything from products and services to landmark construction projects, delivery through partnership makes a positive difference across the UK.

Successful outcomes are determined by a range of factors. Projects are often complex, involving multiple stakeholders, so having the right processes and procedures in place from the outset, ensuring clarity and covering all the finer details, are vital to short- and long-term success.

Getting the right legal advice will ensure all parties are clear on roles, responsibilities and outcomes enabling transparency and protection for all parties.  And if things are not as expected, our advice is more essential than ever.

When it comes to PPP/PFI and LIFT schemes, our team of experts is amongst the most experienced in the UK. We have been entrusted with many ‘pathfinders’ and ‘firsts’ – leading the way on some high profile public/private sector projects across the country, and being uniquely experienced when things need to be resolved too. At the forefront of the very latest guidance, we provide bespoke, pragmatic and up-to-date advice, providing you with robust and clear support.

Our multi-award winning team has strength and depth in numbers, led by experienced individuals in this specialist area of law. Whatever your needs, we’re here for you, from the inception of your project through to completion, and beyond. With our end-to-end solutions, you’re safe in the knowledge that your legal requirements are covered, so you can concentrate on delivering partnership projects with game-changing results.

Our services
  • Addressing poor performance
  • Bespoke and tailored contracting
  • Business cases
  • Compensation on termination
  • Compliance, governance and vires
  • Contract interpretation and application
  • Default termination
  • Defects
  • Dispute resolution ( including mediation, adjudication, arbitration, court processes and settlements)
  • Due diligence and information gathering and analysis
  • Efficiencies in operational schemes
  • Frameworks
  • Funding arrangements
  • Handback
  • Insolvencies
  • Management and monitoring
  • Payment mechanism issues
  • PFI reviews and refreshed thinking
  • Procurement processes and compliance
  • Voluntary termination

Contact a specialist

Melanie Pears

Partner | Head of Public Sector

+44 (0) 330 137 3451

+44 (0)789 987 8424

Email Melanie Pears

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Laura Rostron

Director | Public Sector

+44 (0) 330 137 3454

+44 (0)752 522 4546

Email Laura

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Kerry Adcock

Partner | Public Sector

+44 (0) 330 137 3453

+44 (0)779 337 0778

Email Kerry Adcock

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Sara Acheson

Director | Public Sector

+44 (0) 330 137 3452

+44 (0) 783 457 3311

Email Sara

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What people say

  • Melanie Pears is, par excellence, the doyenne of PFI and related public health legal disputes.

    Legal 500
  • Very personable and knowledgeable, with a mixed skill set that compliments the team make-up. Thoroughness in every aspect of the work, including the construction element when that was required in dealing with a very complicated project around PFI and a termination of the agreement.

    Legal 500, Client quote
  • Melanie Pears is the éminence grise of PFI. There is nothing she does not know about these fiendishly complex contracts.

    Legal 500, Client quote
  • A very committed and skilled team, who are excellent at communicating and providing appropriate advice and risk mitigation. Extremely thorough approach, with detailed knowledge of the sector, especially within the PFI sector.

    Legal 500, Client quote

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