Kevin Williams  ·  Solicitor

Advising councils through reorganisation, governance change, and the constitutional questions that come with them.

Focus
Local government reorganisation, constitutional and public law
The moment
English local government is facing the most significant structural change in a generation. Councils are weighing unitarisation, mergers, new combined authorities and the constitutional rewrites each one demands.

Scott Williams Legal advises officers, members and interim teams through that work. From the first governance review to the drafting of a new constitution, the aim is the same: decisions that hold up, processes that are lawful, and a structure that actually functions on the Monday morning after reorganisation.

Recent experience

As a local government lawyer, end to end experience across proposal, implementation and post vesting phases of local government reform.

My latest work with three authorities.

I.
Devon County Council
Jan-Dec 2025

The LGR submission proposal phase.

  • Key actions and advice for a lawyer on an emerging unitary proposal up to submission include.
  • Legal reviews and amendments to the draft submission
  • Ensuring submission compliance with the structural change order and transitional regulation arangements.
  • Guidance on electorial matters and governance structures to ensure compliance with the statutory schemes
II.
The LGR Implementation phase
Somerset Council
July 21 - April 2023

Key actions and advice for a lawyer through joint committee, shadow council to vesting and beyond include :

  • Constitution drafting and governance procedure drafting
  • Ensuing legal procedures for asset and staff transfers are lawful and fit for purpose
  • Structural change order electoral arrangements are sufficient for ministerial approval
  • Member training and standards frameworks arangements are made
III.
Key actions and advice on post-vesting improvements to legal arrangements
Cumberland Council

Key actions and advice on post-vesting improvements to legal arrangements

  • Constitution and governance procedures are updated where required
  • Necessary refinement of strategies, plans and policies under the transitional regulations are undertaken
  • Joint arrangements between the new Cumbria authorities clarified where neccesary
  • Reviewing arrangements with outside bodies
Practice areas

Six areas of constitutional and local governance law.

01
Reorganisation and constitutional change
Advising on unitarisation, mergers, combined authorities, boundary change and the governance architecture that sits behind structural reform. Drafting and reviewing the constitutions that new authorities inherit or build from scratch.
02
Constitutions and governance frameworks
Drafting, reviewing and updating constitutions, schemes of delegation, committee structures, terms of reference and officer delegations so they are lawful, clear and workable in practice.
03
Member conduct and standards
Advising on codes of conduct, declarations of interest, standards regimes, member training, and managing complaints and investigations involving councillors or co-opted members.
04
Decision making and powers
Supporting officers and members on lawful decision making, vires, ultra vires risk, reasons and record keeping, and the use of urgency powers and delegated authority.
05
Council procedures and meetings
Standing orders, council and committee procedures, access to meetings, confidential and exempt items, and support for complex or contentious meetings.
06
Elections and democratic services
Legal support around local elections, referendums, boundary issues, and the interface between electoral law and council governance.
Background

A career spent inside the machinery of local government.

Over three decades advising councils at every tier, from district and borough through to county, unitary and combined authority. Work that spans quiet constitutional drafting and the high-pressure moments when a decision has to be made and defended.

30+
Years advising local government on constitutional and public law matters.
Sectors served
  • District and borough councils
  • County and unitary authorities
  • Combined authorities
  • Parish and town councils
  • Public sector bodies
Typical instructions
  • Constitutional drafting and review
  • Standards and conduct matters
  • Governance reviews
  • Reorganisation and structural change
  • Interim monitoring officer cover
How the work is done

Direct, senior, accountable.

i.
One solicitor, not a team tier
Work is handled by Kevin directly. No delegation down a hierarchy, no associate drafting on unfamiliar territory. The person you brief is the person writing the advice.
ii.
Council-side experience
Years inside local authorities, not just advising them from outside. Advice is shaped by how committees actually run, how monitoring officers think, and how decisions get contested.
iii.
Plain written advice
Clear memos and reports that members and officers can act on. Legal precision where it matters, without the padding that makes council legal advice hard to use.
Get in touch
If your council is weighing reorganisation, reviewing its constitution, or dealing with a standards matter, start a conversation.