Public Bodies

Ashfords supports public bodies through every stage of major projects - from early planning and governance through to delivery and long-term operation - across sectors including energy, regeneration, infrastructure and public services.

Our role is to guide you through the range of legal issues that arise - whether that’s day to day operations, strategic projects or unexpected challenges. Whatever the situation, we give clear, proactive advice that helps you achieve your goals and protects your interests.  

We work with public bodies of all sizes and across a range of sub-sectors, from charities such as The Royal Parks to major organisations including the Met Office, Environment Agency, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and multiple NHS trusts. Our team supports with every aspect of your legal needs.

Your sector is complex, which is why our multidisciplinary team includes lawyers who have worked within public bodies themselves. Their insight gives us practical understanding of how decisions are made and helps us anticipate your challenges before they arise.  

A regional team with national scope

Headquartered in the South West, we work with public bodies across England and Wales. We’re a multidisciplinary team of lawyers with wide-ranging specialisms. And we’re advisers through and through: we don’t just set out your options, we help you decide the best course of action based on our experience. Over time, we develop the kind of knowledge usually held by insiders. We understand your goals, the history behind key decisions, and the value of continuity that one-off support can’t provide. As Legal 500 2026 notes, our “knowledge and attention to detail is outstanding”. 

We aspire to be long term partners for Public Bodies, working to build longstanding and established relationships allowing Ashfords to become your trusted adviser. For example, when an established client explored whether a clause in a long running contract could be amended, we were able to advise beyond the immediate commercial position. Drawing on our historic involvement, we highlighted that the same change had been deliberately avoided several years earlier due to procurement risk. That continuity of advice enabled them to make a well informed decision, grounded in regulatory compliance as well as commercial considerations.

We handle all types of projects for public bodies nationwide, covering real estate and planning matters, housing developments, property disputes, as well as energy and regeneration. 

Framework approved and straightforward to instruct

We are appointed to a number of frameworks, including the NHS Shared Business Services and Government Commercial Agency (GCA) formerly Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Public Sector Legal Services framework, the largest of its kind. Being on these frameworks means you do not need to re-assess our suitability, we have already been market assessed for price and quality. Our terms and pricing are set under each framework - you can either run a mini-competition between panel firms or make a direct award under the framework. This saves you time and lets you access advice more quickly, and we can walk you through the process.