Ruth Neave
- Experience
Ruth qualified as a Solicitor in 1996 and joined Birketts in February 2018. She is a Partner and Head of our Public Sector Team.
Ruth is a highly experienced Public Sector Solicitor, having spent many years in local government as a Principal Solicitor, Manager of a Commercial Law and Property Team and Deputy Monitoring Officer.
She specialises in procurement, EU Procurement Regulations, large multi-disciplinary projects, strategic partnerships and public sector governance. She advises on procurement strategies and procedures, drafting and reviewing procurement documentation and advising on public sector collaboration arrangements.
Ruth has extensive experience of drafting and negotiating a broad range of works, supplies, services, concession and IT contracts as well as managing large multi-disciplinary projects, and strategic partnerships. She advises on setting up framework agreements and calling-off from them, contract modifications and the procurement implications of public sector commercial arrangements.
She has a wide ranging knowledge of the Public Sector and the culture and political environment within which many of our public sector clients operate. She has significant experience of advising on corporate governance, vires and policy issues. Ruth advises chief officers, committees and project boards on decision making-processes and on how to navigate vires and governance issues. She advises local authorities on local government law and practice and the exercise of their statutory powers and duties.
Ruth also advises clients on their commercialisation activities, issues arising from public/private joint ventures and partnerships, commercial vehicles and shared service arrangements. She has a particular interest in advising on statutory powers, procurement and the commercial issues arising from re-generation and infrastructure projects.
She has a real understanding of the issues and challenges facing local government and the wider Public Sector, which enable her to better support her clients both in their day to day work and strategic ambitions. She is able to quickly identify potential pitfalls and provide pragmatic and client focused advice. Ruth and her team work alongside our public sector clients in delivering efficiencies and utilising entrepreneurial methods to generate income and sustainable growth.
She is passionate in her commitment to provide support and added value to our Public Sector clients beyond the provision of excellent legal services. As part of her strategic role, Ruth is committed to ensuring that our clients receive a proactive, seamless and comprehensive legal service underpinned by dedicated client relationship management and support.
