Freeth Cartwright hires Holden to lead local government practice

Freeth Cartwright has set its sights on growing its local government practice across the country after recruiting Nathan Holden to lead its team.

The firm has already secured spots on a number of the largest local authority panels, including EM Lawshare, the ‘Outer London Boroughs’ consortium and the North West Legal Consortium.

It was recently appointed by Birmingham City Council to a legal services framework for the authority’s adults and children’s services division, and by Coventry City Council to its general commercial and public law panel.

Freeth Cartwright, which has more than 500 staff, said it now acts for more than 100 local authorities nationally. The turnover for the firm as a whole is just under £40m.

Holden, who moves from Mills & Reeve and will be based at the firm’s Birmingham office, said: “I have been appointed to lead the firm's local government practice as Head of Local Authorities. I am tasked with the responsibility of growing the firm's local government practice on a national basis.”

Philippa Dempster, partner and Head of Commercial and Public Sector at Freeth Cartwright, said: “Nathan’s appointment is a major investment by the firm and demonstrates its existing and long-term commitment to providing high quality legal services to the local government sector.” 

Holden’s arrival at Freeth Cartwright is the latest in a string of high-profile moves in the local government legal market.

In May DAC Beachcroft hired Judith Barnes, head of Eversheds’ local government practice for the last three years, to lead its practice.