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Councils boost shared service with hire of head of local government at Pinsents

Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council have strengthened their shared legal service with the appointment of a former head of local government at Pinsent Masons.

Celia Cullen joins the team to advise primarily on procurement and contracts work, but she will also help develop the authorities’ income generation ambitions. She is one of three lawyers recently hired by the shared service.

Victoria Simpson, Lawyer to the Council and Monitoring Officer at Eastbourne Borough Council, explained: “We are extremely pleased that Celia has agreed to join us and I am confident that she will help us deliver our ambitious growth plans for the future.

“Celia has a wealth of experience which she can bring to her new role from both private practice and from her time working for local authorities. Celia is an acknowledged expert in public procurement and local government law, but in addition she is able to bring with her practical skills for business development. “

Catherine Knight, Assistant Director - Corporate Services at Lewes District Council, added: “We are really excited at the prospect of working with Celia – she is a trusted advisor to local authorities and other public sector clients and has real strengths in the development of the strategic approach to projects and the procurement process.”

Cullen said: “I’m delighted to be joining the shared service arrangements of these two progressive and dynamic local authorities. This is a time of considerable change in local government legal services and I am looking forward to working with Victoria and Catherine to create a really strong offering.”

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