Local Government

Benefits we bring to your business

We have a deep understanding of the political, social and commercial challenges Local Authorities face. We act for a number of Local Authorities and our pricing is consistently sustainable and realistic, representing best value.

Rory Alexander, who leads our team, is recognised as a "public sector expert" by the Legal 500. Our team is Ranked in Legal 500. We’re one of the very few firms which has significant experience in advising Local Authorities right across their service areas, from corporate structures to delivering shared services, all the way through to highly sensitive child care matters.

This depth and range of experience means we’ve attracted significant clients along with high profile instructions. We’re seen as a trusted partner and have specialists across a wide spectrum of legal areas with solid experience of handling high value and highly sensitive matters.

How we can help you

We understand the needs of the sector
We serve over a hundred public sector clients
We have over eighty specialists in our public sector team
We work to protect the public purse
We know how unique our clients are
We are constantly improving and innovating

We thoroughly enjoy working with our clients in the public sector and appreciate the extremely valuable service they provide whilst ensuring that public money is apportioned appropriately against a backdrop of intense scrutiny and accountability. We give excellent value for money by adhering to competitive and transparent fee proposals whilst also looking for more efficient ways in which to provide legal services, spreading cost risk and offering greater certainty and transparency.

Our role in the community

We are committed to socially responsible business practices and to giving back to the local community. Our objectives are well aligned with our public sector clients. You can learn more here.

Wider public sector services

Brexit

What our clients and peers say:

A thoroughly professional firm, with a wide range of expertise and experience of most local authority functions. They have provided an excellent support service where in-house resources were not available, and managed court business in the Higher Courts.

Aberdeen City Council

Morton Fraser has a long standing role as a trusted adviser of Falkirk Council. We have appreciated their ability to understand the political and policy contexts in providing effective solutions for the Council and to present those clearly for the benefit of Council Members.

Rose Mary Glackin

Falkirk Council

Broad range of experience acting for local authorities and has excellent legal knowledge in relation to the issues that arise, and is very efficient and a delight to work with.

Legal 500 2021/22

Morton Fraser has an excellent all-round team providing legal support to many local authorities, in particular in relation to contentious planning and property matters.

Legal 500 2021/22

Good experience of issues which affect local authorities with regard to commercial projects such as wind farm developments.

Legal 500 2020/21

Morton Fraser handles the full spectrum of local authority work and possesses expertise in public law, planning, licensing, judicial review, procurement and local government law. The group has particular experience in local government litigation, where it has acted in public local inquiries and statutory appeals.

Legal 500 2019/20

Alongside Douglas Milne, practice head Rory Alexander, who is a thought leader in the field, successfully acted for the Strategic Development Planning Authority (SDPA) for Aberdeen City and Shire Council in a Supreme Court appeal.

Legal 500 2019/20