Jonathan Watmough – RPC

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Jonathan Watmough, Managing Partner, RPC

Increasingly I realise just how easy some of us in private practice have it compared to general counsel (GC) and in-house lawyers.

Law firms and their lawyers are inclined to be change resistant. Professional experience has conditioned them to be sensitised to the potential downsides arising from a course of action in preference to embracing the likely upsides. And even when they do accept that change is inevitable, often it’s a painfully slow process to effect – it’s hard enough to halt the progress of a supertanker, let alone change its course.

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Paul Jenkins QC – The Treasury Solicitor’s Department

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Paul Jenkins QC

Her Majesty’s Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor

The Treasury Solicitor’s Department

 

Much of The Treasury Solicitor’s Department’s work consists of highly specialised public law, legislative work and providing advice to ministers. Most of this is done within its huge in-house team of 1,000 individuals, including 800 lawyers. However Paul Jenkins QC, one of the most high-profile lawyers in the country, does use a wide range of external law firms for other work, from claims handling of personal injury through to major commercial projects. TSol is currently in the process of reviewing its 48-strong panel of law firms, which has been ongoing since the end of 2011.

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Mark Hynes – London Borough of Lambeth

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Mark Hynes

Director of governance and democracy

London Borough of Lambeth

 

Mark Hynes is proud of his 40 lawyer-team; particularly the way he says it has embraced new technologies and cultural change, which has reduced costs, increased output and improved staff morale. He loves the political environment the public sector offers and enjoys working alongside politicians and council officers on a wide range of issues.

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Simon Mallinson – Worcestershire County Council

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Simon Mallinson

Head of legal and democratic services and monitoring officer

Worcestershire County Council

 

Praised by one private practice partner for his ‘deep-rooted desire’ to help his organisation deliver for the residents and businesses of Worcestershire, Simon Mallinson has always worked in the public sector and says he enjoys the large variety of work the Council offers, which takes him back to the days when he was a trainee solicitor doing different seats. ‘The difference is the buck now stops with me,’ he says.

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Hugh Peart – London Boroughs of Barnet and Harrow

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Hugh Peart

Director of legal and governance services

London Boroughs of Barnet and Harrow

 

Hugh Peart joined the London Borough of Harrow almost 20 years ago as a principal solicitor in the borough’s childcare law team. In October 2012, Barnet and Harrow officially merged their legal teams under Hugh’s leadership to form ‘HB Public Law’ with an aim to slash the councils’ legal spend by over £3m.

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Jayne Hammond – Bury Metropolitan Council, North West Legal Consortium (NWLC)

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Jayne Hammond

Director of legal and democratic services

 

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, North West Legal Consortium (NWLC)

 

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council is part of the North West Legal Consortium, set up in 2006 as the first combined consortium of barristers and solicitors. Jayne Hammond has served the council for over a decade and currently heads a team of 22 lawyers.

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Sheldon Mills – Office of Fair Trading

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Sheldon Mills

Director of mergers

 

Office of Fair Trading

 

Sheldon Mills’ responsibilities include the day-to-day delivery of the Office of Fair Trading’s merger caseload, management of the mergers group and representing the OFT externally. Mills heads a team of 35, including eight competition/litigation lawyers. The OFT does not have a legal panel as it doesn’t instruct law firms, but it does deal with a range of firms that require M&A transaction clearance.

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Sanjay Prashar – London Borough of Sutton

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Sanjay Prashar

Executive head of legal and democratic services

London Borough of Sutton

 

Sutton’s legal panel is part of a wider consortium led by the London Borough of Bromley and set up in 2010. Around 26 firms provide counsel for various outer London boroughs, the Corporation of London and five district councils in Kent.

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