Award-winning advice for Scotland's public sector
Our Public Sector team is one of Scotland’s leading practices, acting for a wide range of Scottish and UK public authorities as well as those in the private sector who interact with the public sector.
We provide clients with a full range of legal, regulatory, strategic and commercial advice, helping them to deliver services in an increasingly challenging environment.
Our in-depth understanding of the public sector gives us an unrivalled perspective and understanding of the key priorities for public authorities and what they need from their external legal advisers.
Clients include central Government departments, Government agencies, NDPBs, local authorities, regulatory bodies, charities and community organisations, further and higher education institutions, regeneration agencies and registered social landlords.
Why choose us?
As part of one of Scotland’s largest independent law firms, we provide solution driven, commercially focused and risk aware advice which enables public authorities to achieve their statutory and policy objectives in a compliant manner while at the same time achieving best value.
We have worked on many of the most complex, high profile and high value projects in the sector and have been responsible for development of innovative models for delivery of public services which have subsequently been adopted by the sector as a whole.
We deliver our advice on time and on budget and have extensive experience of working collaboratively with in-house legal and other specialist teams. In a spirit of genuine partnership many of our lawyers have worked in-house or on secondment to our clients.
Harper Macleod LLP’s "good and reliable" team "has considerate experience and knowledge" of handling judicial reviews and statutory appeals for public sector clients while also handling contentious and non-contentious planning law, housing law and procurement matters. The Legal 500
Contact us
Thank you for your enquiry. Someone from our team will be in touch with you in due course.
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Derek Hogg
Partner
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James McMorrow
Partner
Key services
- Competition law
- Data protection and FOI
- Dispute resolution
- Establishment of arms’ length vehicles
- Governance issues
- Innovative use of statutory powers
- Judicial review
- Outsourcing
- Planning and environmental
- Policy
- Procurement
- Public sector project work
- State aid
- Strategic partnering and joint venture arrangements
- Vires issues
Work examples
Public procurement
We advised on procurement of a £140m next generation broadband solution for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, a project described by the Scottish Government as the most complex infrastructure project of its kind ever undertaken in the UK.
Judicial review
Members of our team have advised various local authorities in relation to the successful defence of judicial review challenges to Planning Committee decisions in respect of planning applications for retail, leisure, housing and renewable energy projects.
Joint venture shared services
We advised a non-departmental public body (NDPB) in relation to a multi-authority joint venture shared services and commercialisation project, which is the first project of its kind in the UK.
Harper Macleod has an experienced team acting for local authorities throughout Scotland. Noted for work across a range of areas, including defence of judicial review, contentious and non-contentious planning law and housing matters. Also handles public procurement work and state aid matters as part of a broad public sector focus.
Chambers UK
Clients say: "The firm has an excellent reputation for delivering a high level of service and for the in-depth knowledge and experience they have of the Scottish housing sector." Other sources say that "their expertise is very highly regarded in the housing sector."
CHAMBERS UK
Harper Macleod LLP’s "good and reliable" team "has considerate experience and knowledge" of handling judicial reviews and statutory appeals for public sector clients while also handling contentious and non-contentious planning law, housing law and procurement matters.
THE LEGAL 500
"They are among the best in Scotland. They are well known in the sector and are one of the few firms doing work on alternative finance relationships."
CHAMBERS UK
Harper Macleod LLP’s "experienced and knowledgeable" team is well versed in handling state aid and public procurement work, the latter often pertaining to major events while also demonstrating significant expertise in defending local government clients in judicial review challenges.
THE LEGAL 500
Jennifer Jack is "one of the best public lawyers in Scotland" and is highly sought after for all public and administrative matters. Sources say she is "very good, smart and personable - good with clients, pragmatic, and organised."
Chambers UK
Public procurement, State Aid and competition law expert James McMorrow and experienced public sector disputes lawyer Jennifer Jack co-lead the team which includes Sandy Hastie, who often advises on judicial review.
The Legal 500
Top-drawer social housing practice with significant experience acting for public sector entities, registered social landlords (RSLs) and private developers. Noted expertise in mergers and transactions throughout the sector and has particular knowledge of the Scottish Help to Buy scheme and stock transfers. Also regularly advises on regulatory and governance matters, and offers expertise in private placement finance deals.
Chambers UK
Clients say: "The firm has an excellent reputation for delivering a high level of service and for the in-depth knowledge and experience they have of the Scottish housing sector." Other sources say that "their expertise is very highly regarded in the housing sector."
CHAMBERS UK
Meet the team
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HM Insights
Visit the HM Insights page to keep up to date with changes to legislation, case law, and our views on other interesting developments in Scotland and the UK.