Public law

Whether in relation to building infrastructure for a major global sporting event – with involved public contract tender procedures and ensuing urban redevelopment projects – or financing district heating systems and their integration into existing infrastructure, cross-sectoral public law expertise is vital for complex and high-profile projects and their success.

With big budgets and government resources available for next-generation public sector facilities such as digital infrastructure and utilities, infrastructure projects on an international and national level involve a broad range of agencies and programmes. Administrative law issues may arise around public tender procedures; for example, the construction and management of social housing, metro railways, ports, sport facilities or hospitals, and government contracts may include special provisions that need to be navigated, such as those relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Specialist guidance is crucial when navigating often labyrinthine local, regional, national and cross-border public and administrative law issues

Cross-industry and border navigation

Specialist guidance is crucial when navigating often labyrinthine local, regional, national and cross-border public and administrative law issues that arise from activity that crosses industrial sectors, whether these are in areas such as energy, public utilities, infrastructure, real estate, transport, life sciences, or technology, media and communications. Competition issues might also arise around administrative proceedings and compliance with specific Europe-wide contract rules may be required.

Our clients include suppliers who come to us for strategic support in bidding for contracts, drawing from our extensive tender process experience across a broad range of sectors. Our specialist disputes lawyers provide support and representation in contentious proceedings before national and European courts, the European Commission and national regulators. Authorities and entities awarding public works, services and supplies also often require support for their tender strategies and documents, whilst national and international operators involved in public tenders might seek day-to-day assistance. And with public-private partnerships (PPP) being widely used – including in projects related to energy efficiency, decarbonisation and urban regeneration – and becoming increasingly innovative in areas such as concessions and project financing, expert guidance through the PPP tender procedures is vital. 

Public contracts focus

Osborne Clarke's public law team has developed a reputation as an established point of advice and performance of public contracts: we assist both awarding authorities and entities and economic operators on all issues related to their performance, as well as those awarded through PPP schemes.

Our specialist team of public procurement lawyers advises on all aspects of UK, European Union and international regulated public and utilities procurement law. We advise public bodies and regulated utilities on structuring and delivering high-value procurements for contracts across all of our sectors.

We support public utilities, including gas, water, waste, lighting and district heating, and public and private entities to develop high-profile projects connected with public utilities, and we help with documentation to be submitted to public entities in project financing or other PPP procedures. We also provide compliance advice to public entities operating in the public utilities sector and the specific rules applicable to companies owned by public entities.