DAC Beachcroft targets no. 1 position after Barnes hire

DAC Beachcroft has set itself the target of becoming the market-leading local government practice after hiring Judith Barnes as a partner and head of its team.

Barnes has been head of Eversheds’ local government practice for the last three years and a partner at the firm for 13.

She will officially start at DAC Beachcroft on 1 September 2012, working alongside the firm’s head of public sector Stephen Hocking.

Before Eversheds, she worked at five different local authorities. She was head of legal services at two London boroughs, Greenwich and Lewisham.

DAC Beachcroft Senior Partner Simon Hodson said: “Judith’s expertise and reputation in this complex area of law is unrivalled in the UK. In addition, she has substantial experience of working at the interface between the public and private sectors, which is a perfect fit for our strategic approach. Her arrival at DAC Beachcroft is a significant move towards our goal of being the market-leading local government practice."

Barnes said: " This is an exciting opportunity for me to join a leading public sector law firm to build upon and strengthen the existing local government team. DAC Beachcroft shares my commitment to serving the public sector and I am thrilled to be joining them."