Weightmans snaps up Goacher as next head of local government practice

National law firm Weightmans has hired the former top lawyer at a major local authority in the North West as its new head of local government.

Simon Goacher, ex-Head of Legal and Democratic Services at Cheshire West and Chester Council, will focus on all aspects of local authority legal work except for insurance litigation.

Weightmans’ current head of local government, Graeme Creer, will stay with the firm as a consultant.

The firm said it now acts for more than 150 local authorities and has been appointed to 11 local authority consortia across the country.
 
Andrew Cooper, Director of the national public sector group at Weightmans, said: “We are delighted to welcome Simon on board. He has a wealth of skill and experience in the local government sector and is ideally suited to the role.

“The pressures on local authorities mean they are striving to find new ways of tackling new issues; whether funding, regeneration, commissioning, or growing demand for services – and they need solid legal advisers behind them.”

Commenting on his appointment, Goacher said: “Weightmans’ client-focused service and commitment to local government has impressed me greatly.”