Blake Lapthorn appoints head of Local Government

Blake Lapthorn is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Kendall as head of Local Government.  Mike's remit covers all of the firm's offices, which includes the south of England and London, and he will work as part of Blake Lapthorn's Public Sector group in developing and growing the practice to meet the needs of its expanding client base.  Mike's particular legal expertise includes the law relating to local authority governance and ethical conduct.

Mike was a board member of the Standards Board for England until his appointment to Blake Lapthorn.  He was also the President of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors in 2003, and recently retired from the position of County Secretary of West Sussex County Council, a post he held for ten years.  Previously he worked at Portsmouth City Council, which he left in 1998 as the Director of Corporate Services.  Prior to this, he held posts at Nottinghamshire County Council and Bradford City Council. Mike is also a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution accredited mediator, and an Assistant Deputy Coroner for West Sussex.

Mike said: "I am delighted to be appointed as Blake Lapthorn's head of Local Government.  I am looking forward to helping develop the firm's Public Sector group.  At the same time I'm looking forward to helping colleagues in local government meet current challenges, particularly arising from financial pressures on the public sector."

Blake Lapthorn's Public Sector group specialises in acting for local government and the firm's ongoing sector focus and investment has continued to reap dividends in the local Government and wider public sectors.  This ongoing development complements the team's long-established public sector property development and commercial property management teams.  The group currently acts for a wide range of local authority and public sector clients.

Comments Alastair Rhodes, head of Blake Lapthorn's Public Sector group: "Securing the right appointment to the position of head of Local Government at Blake Lapthorn has been a key objective for some time.  We feel we have found the right combination of experience and skills in Mike and very much look forward to seeing the value that he will add to both the role and the firm."