Pictured above: Andrew Cooper
Weightmans LLP has broken through the ranks to be named the
third best legal provider to public bodies.
The 2011 UK Chambers guide published its first ever Public
Sector Commentary, surveying over 150 of the UK's largest public
bodies to provide a report based entirely on client feedback.
Weightmans received 14 mentions - only three mentions short of
first place which was shared between Eversheds and Pinsent Masons.
In addition, the firm secured a joint first place alongside Sharpe
Pritchard for local government work with nine mentions apiece.
Head of the Public Sector business line Andrew Cooper says that
the rankings celebrate the firm's position as one of the leading
providers of legal services to public bodies:
"2010 has been a hugely successful year for the firm's public
sector teams - securing a large number of new panel appointments,
high-profile case wins and overall positive client feedback. We now
compete on an equal playing field with international firms.
"But now is not the time to be complacent. 2011 will be a
challenging year for public sector bodies and our focus will on
assisting them by offering value for money legal advice and
support."
The guide's Public Sector Commentary states that shared local
government panels are the most valuable sources of work for law
firms and cites the EM LawShare panel, of which Weightmans is a
partner firm, as 'a coveted panel place'.
Graeme Creer, Head of the Local Government team at Weightmans
added:
"We take our responsibilities as a partner firm on legal panels
very seriously, dedicating both time and resources to provide
training and guidance to members. Working in partnership helps
create mutual understanding and ensures that we design and deliver
the right services at the right price."
Weightmans also scored top marks for its commercial, litigation
and employment work for public bodies. The result comes in tandem
with strong rankings across the board in the Chambers UK guide.
2010 has seen the firm secure a new local government place on
the ACSeS panel, plus its reappointment to the EM LawShare and
North West Legal Consortium panels. It was praised for its public
sector work in both the Legal 500 guide, where the healthcare team
retained a top ranking, and the Chambers UK guide that cited the
firm as 'up and coming in the local government field'.
Weightmans also received widespread attention for its success in
the case of A v Essex County Council earlier this year, which set a
precedent after the Supreme Court ruled that a child's absence from
school whilst the council sought to find him a suitable placement
did not constitute a breach of his human rights.