• I am an experienced public sector lawyer and manager. I provide strategic advice and consultancy support for local authorities and other public sector bodies. I also give expert legal advice and assistance, usually directed at the highest levels of organisations.  My work often requires political awareness and sensitivity.

    I am a team player and worked in-house for over 15 years before joining the private sector.  My last role in local government was as Borough Secretary and Solicitor for Greenwich Council managing a team of 150 staff across a dozen functions, including; contracts standards and monitoring, equalities, community safety and emergency planning, democratic services, elections and legal. Before that I was Head of Legal Services for Lewisham Council and prior to that was Assistant Head of Legal and Principal Economic Development Solicitor for Kirklees Council where I was involved in many new and innovative projects, including; Kirklees Stadium, Kirklees Henry Boot Partnership, Kirklees Community Association and Kirklees Theatre.

    I regularly advise on public sector vires and governance including advice on decision-making and constitutional issues; conduct and ethics; option appraisals and structuring (both public-public/shared services and public-private sector partnerships); major projects and regeneration schemes, including asset vehicles; PPPs; setting up and managing companies, charities and social enterprises; income generation; judicial review and minimising challenge.

    My team and I strive to provide seamless additional support to in-house legal departments.

     

    Publications

    I have contributed articles to Health & Social Care for Local Government Lawyer, EM LawShare, SOLACE and the Municipal Journal

    Recent articles include:
    The importance of Place and Revenue Growth for Local Government

    Safeguarding Partners: Are you ready for 29 June 2019?

    Councils must be prepared for Statutory Officer disciplinary investigations

     

    Seminars and Training

    I recently held seminars with SOLACE, the Westminster Forum, and LLG.  

     

     

Judith Barnes is a highly experienced and well-regarded practitioner who acts for local governments across a range of matters including governance issues and income generation.

Chambers 2019

Judith's areas of expertise