nwl legal focus - north west leicestershire district ... · nwl legal focus the legal services team...

NWL Legal Focus

Your legal services partner

NWL Legal Focus

The Legal Services team at North West Leicestershire District Council provides highly efficient and effective legal services both to its in-house clients and to public sector clients, across the East Midlands.

Lexcel accredited since 2009, the team can provide legal advice, practice management and investigation services across a comprehensive range of local government specialties including regulatory, standards, housing, property, licensing, anti-social behaviour, commercial and written agreements.

Energetic and enthusiastic, the team members pride themselves on their professional and supportive approach to the provision of legal services, as well as their straightforward and easy to understand advice.

The North West Leicestershire District Council Legal Services team offers a comprehensive, cost-effective and efficient way to manage your legal needs.

Please contact us to discuss you requirements by telephone on 01530 454517 or by email: [email protected].

“The service we received as a Parish was first class, a great example of a parish and district working together”

Effective legal solutions built on practical local government experience


Elizabeth Warhurst is a highly experienced local government solicitor, committed to public service. Her specialist areas include all matters relating to standards and the code of conduct, both for district and parish councils and the management and delivery of highly effective support services to members and officers.

Elizabeth has established a highly efficient and cost effective Legal Services team, including professional development, accreditation and quality standards leading to the award of the Lexcel accreditation from 2009 onwards. Elizabeth has established a modern and flexible approach to the delivery of legal services within the public sector, including establishing partnerships with leading private firms.

Elizabeth believes in providing clear, consistent and timely advice which offers clients realistic and achievable solutions. She enjoys the challenges of complex and difficult cases, providing a comprehensive plan of action including legal advice, risk mitigation and general management advice.

As well as her impressive track record in leading and developing legal services, Elizabeth is also a senior Head of Service, directing a range of corporate teams and departments including Environmental Health (Food Safety, Health & Safety and Licensing, Communications, Customer Services and Democratic Services ( Elections and Member Services ). This enables her to provide a holistic and strategic overview to every issue, taking into account their impact on reputation and public perceptions.

Elizabeth is available to undertake a range of assignments from regulatory and governance, to inquiry and investigation consultancy, as well as service development and team building.

Solicitor Head of Legal and Support Services and Monitoring Officer

Elizabeth Warhurst


“Having worked with David on a number of high profile cases taken by the Authority against tenants causing serious anti-social behaviour, I have found him to be a very capable lawyer, thorough and incisive in his approach to preparing cases, with the ability to focus on issues to achieve the right results. A professional yet approachable style means he gets what is needed when working with partnership agencies.” Martin Lee, Principal of Martin Lee & Co (Mansfield)

David is a confident advocate and has handled many successful prosecutions on behalf of the District Council. His wealth of practical experience within the public sector enables him to tailor his advice to ensure that his clients achieve the best possible outcome. David has over 25 years experience in the public sector working as a police officer, for the Magistrates Court and as a local authority officer both in the Revenues and Housing departments, before joining Legal Services. David has experience of delivering advice to short timescales and providing legal support to corporate projects. This background enables him to provide pragmatic legal advice and solutions. Currently David practices in a number of areas, with an emphasis on advocacy, regularly appearing in both the Magistrates and County Courts. His expertise covers:• Housing Possession claims (including rent, introductory tenancies and nuisance) • Actions for Possession of land (Trespass, gypsies and travellers) • Anti-social behaviour (injunctions, ASBO’s, etc.) • Injunctions (i.e. Gas Servicing)) • Prosecutions (Health and Safety, Food Safety, Environmental offences, Hackney Carriages

and Private Hire Vehicles, Town and Country Planning Act, Building Act, etc. • Appeals - Taxi Licences (Refusal/Revocation/ Suspension), Town and Country Planning Act

(Section 215 Notices)• Planning EnforcementDavid has also appeared before the Adjudication Panel for England and Wales on behalf of the District Council on standards/conduct matters, as well as the First Tier Tribunal. In addition David provides advice on: • Freedom of Information • Data Protection • Corporate Governance issues • Debt recovery • Revenues and Benefits • Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers and evidence gathering.

Solicitor Legal Services Team Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer

David Gill


Rachel is an experienced solicitor with a detailed working knowledge of administrative and public law, gained from working in local authorities for a number of years. During her career she has gained specialist experience in land and property, corporate governance and regulatory issues. Rachel is a successful prosecutor in both the Magistrates and County Courts. Her expertise covers:• Criminal prosecutions• Appeals• Licensing• Environmental • Conducting Standards Investigations, from initial investigation to determination at committee• Corporate Governance• Debt RecoveryShe has led the work required to implement the significant changes brought about under the Localism Act 2011 which has included providing advice to clients on the drafting of policies and processes together with the complete re-drafting of the code of conduct and new Standards Regime. Rachel is skilled at drafting reports and advice to a high standard and is able to tailor her approach to each client’s needs, so that they feel confident in the advice presented. She is professional in her approach to work, an attribute which enables her to work with clients by listening to their instructions and interpreting their needs and desired outcomes in a way which achieves the best outcome for all concerned. Rachel is the editor of “Legal Bites”, the newsletter which keeps North West Leicestershire District Council client departments up to date with all developments in the law relating to their area of work, together with details of the Authority’s successes at court. This is an innovative idea suggested and developed by Rachel and typifies her commitment to maintaining good working relationships with clients.Rachel is currently studying the Law Society’s Diploma in Local Government and Practice.

“Thank you for your time, efforts and skill in bringing [the matter] to a successful conclusion.” Head of Community Services, North West Leicestershire District Council

Principal Solicitor

Rachel Howe


Sam is an experienced commercial Solicitor who was recently named as the Leicestershire Law Society’s Young Solicitor of the Year 2013. Sam is also a director of Lawyers in Local Government as the Junior Professionals’ representative. Sam can advise on and prepare a variety of contracts and agreements, as well as offering guidance and support through all stages of commercial transactions and the procurement process. Sam trained in private practice, where he gained experience in both transactional and contentious commercial matters, covering landlord and tenant, intellectual property, corporate and company law, trusts and contract law. His expertise covers:• Full OJEU procurements – from identifying the need to signing the contract • Establishing and utilising frameworks• Service level agreements • Shared services arrangements • Partnership arrangements – with the public, private and third sectors • Intellectual Property and Information Technology advice (both transactional and contentious)• Consultancy agreements • Advice on specialist terms and conditions (Leisure services, refuse services)• General transactional advice• Commercial negotiations• Corporate governanceSam offers detailed and clear advice in a friendly and professional manner. He will provide agreements drafted with clarity and to a high standard and offers innovative solutions to help achieve his client’s goals. Sam maintains strong communications with his clients, ensuring he really understands their needs, and keeps them informed of progress throughout the life of a matter. Sam works closely with the local academic and professional legal communities, ensuring that he is always up to date with new developments in his area and enabling him to provide the most current and relevant advice to all of his clients. Sam recently gained a distinction in the Law Society’s Diploma in Local Government and Practice examination. “Just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help and hard work on this agreement and helping us achieve our commitments in terms of timeframe” Street Action Team Manager, North West Leicestershire District Council

Solicitor

Samuel McGinty


Helen has over 22 year’s practical Local Government experience and is well accustomed to dealing with the changing requirements of a busy local authority. Her approach is adaptable and flexible with a focus on detail to ensure that clients’ outcomes are achieved. Helen is an experienced property law specialist, whose expertise include:• Preparing and negotiating commercial leases • Conveyancing and land transactions• Landlord and Tenant law• Right to Buy law• Housing lawHelen is also able to offer practical advice in relation to:• Corporate Governance• Public procurement• Contracts• Debt Recovery • Training in Housing related matters including the Right to Buy, Notices, Possessions and Anti-

social behaviour of tenants. In 2008 Helen project managed and successfully completed the first registration of all of North West Leicestershire District Council’s real estate. Helen has recently successfully completed the Land Registry Certificate in Law and Practice and is currently studying to qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer. “Helen delivered a training session for my team. The content of the training had been agreed in advance and was exactly the right level needed. The quality of the training delivery and course material was excellent and compares well with external trainers.” Housing Management Team Manager, North West Leicestershire District Council

Legal Assistant

Helen Lisney


Practice Management and Support

The North West Leicestershire District Council Legal Practice Management and Support Team provides a comprehensive, proactive support service to the fee earners and the Head of Legal and Support Services. The team is led by Sabrina Doherty, Practice Manager, who is skilled in Project Management and is a qualified PRINCE2 Practitioner. She is experienced in business analysis and the implementation of IT projects including case management systems and Sharepoint. Sabrina oversees and reports on performance across the Legal Services team and ensures and monitors compliance with the Lexcel standard. Julie and Tracy offer first class support to the Legal Services team, in a personable and professional manner. They each have many years experience in providing secretarial and administrative support within a legal environment both in the public and private sectors. Reliable, with an incredible attention to detail, they are hugely valued by the legal team for their efficient approach and are used to dealing with confidential/ sensitive issues.


Julie Finucane Legal Clerk and Typist

Sabrina Doherty Practice Manager

Tracy Smith Typist and Administrative Assistant

North West Leicestershire District CouncilCouncil Offices Coalville, LeicestershireLE67 3FJDX 23662 Coalville

[email protected]

01530 45 45 17


nwl legal focus - north west leicestershire district ... · nwl legal focus the legal services team...

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