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Sharpe Pritchard appoints Rob Hann as Head of Local Government

Specialist public law firm Sharpe Pritchard has appointed Rob Hann as its Head of Local Government.

The firm said his appointment bolstered its existing capacity to advise local government organisations across the country on commercial trading and charging matters post-Brexit and post-Covid, noting that some local government companies had been badly affected by these twin challenges.

Hann brings more than 35 years’ experience advising local government organisations, including nearly 20 years as Head of Legal at Local Partnerships (previously 4ps) where he helped to develop and roll-out of the local government PFI programme across England and Wales.

He also played a significant role in the development of the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997, which resolved complications with local authority vires in the context of long-term contracts.

Rob Hann IMG E5248 002 146x219Hann is a recognised authority on commercial matters for local government organisations as author of both A Guide to Local Authority Charging and Trading Powers and A Guide to Local Authority Companies and Partnerships. Both publications have been updated regularly since their first editions in 1997 and 1996 respectively.

Sharpe Pritchard said Hann would use the deep insight he has gained over the course of his career to advise on matters including public law, procurement, vires and the laws relating to large scale and high value PFI and PPP projects.

Hann, who is based in Nottingham, said: “Sharpe Pritchard is synonymous with providing first-rate specialist advice across the public sector including local government.  I am looking forward to working with our clients on a range of challenges as they adapt to the post-Brexit and post-Covid world.

“I am delighted to have joined the firm.”

Justin Mendelle, Senior Partner at Sharpe Pritchard, added: “It is wonderful to welcome Rob as Head of Local Government.

“He is widely regarded as a leading lawyer in the field and brings a distinctive insight into the workings of local government that will be immensely valuable to our clients.”

In addition to his role at Sharpe Pritchard, Hann will continue to provide consultancy support to a council he has been working with for a number of years.

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