Cirell bolsters Walker Morris public sector team

Walker Morris has hired Stephen Cirell, a former head of the local government practice at Eversheds, as a consultant in its Renewables, Energy and Resources team.

Cirell has 30 years' experience of working with the public sector, in both in-house and private practice roles. He now specialises in low carbon economy work, through emission reduction schemes and renewable or clean energy projects.

His most recent post was lead Director of the Green Cornwall programme at Cornwall Council, which he joined after 17 years at Eversheds. Prior to working for the national firm, he spent 12 years in local government legal departments.

Cirell claimed the importance of the renewables agenda to the corporate management of every local authority was now being recognised across the country.

“At a time of severe austerity, local authorities have worked out that the delivery of a comprehensive renewables strategy can in fact help fund the medium term financial strategy of the authority and ameliorate the impact of the spending cuts,” he added. “I therefore anticipate that this will be an area of considerable growth over the next five years."

David Kilduff, Head of the Commercial Group at Walker Morris, said: “Stephen’s knowledge and experience will fit perfectly with the investment already made in our local authority practice and in our fast growing and nationally recognised Energy and Renewables business."

Cirell, who joined at the beginning of the month, will work exclusively to Walker Morris for legal work but will also continue with his own consultancy.