Lorna brings planning skills to growing public sector team

Sep 24 2007 The Journal

FOLLOWING Alan Grisedale’s appointment at Muckle LLP as head of the firm’s public sector practice, the team continues to expand with another key appointment.

Lorna McShane has returned to the North-East to join Muckle LLP as a planning partner and will lend her considerable experience to the firm’s public sector team.

Lorna, who was born in South Shields, worked as an in-house lawyer for various North-East local authorities before going to work in the Midlands 10 years ago, taking up the position of head of legal and community services, and monitoring officer for the Borough Council of Wellingborough.

Prior to returning to the region, Lorna had moved into private practice as a planning lawyer with DLA, based in their Birmingham office.

Now Muckle LLP’s growing portfolio of public sector work has given her the opportunity to return to the region and concentrate further on her specialist planning expertise.

She said: “I really missed the region when I was away and I missed the people more than I ever thought I would. That, and the fact that there is so much happening in the North-East involving planning, development and regeneration means I have been considering a return for some time.

“So when I learned that Muckle LLP was seeking to further develop their public sector practice I saw it as a great opportunity. I was particularly attracted to Muckle because I saw them as refreshingly different to other firms and one with a clear commitment to the continued development of its public sector practice. It is also great to join them at a time when they are growing and looking to the future, ahead of the move to new offices early next year.”

Muckle LLP’s public sector team has had a number of successes recently. Public sector work has included advising long-standing client Gateshead College on the public procurement aspects of a facilities management agreement for its new sites. The firm has also worked for East Durham and Houghall Community College on its new £24m development at Howletch in Peterlee, providing construction, planning and commercial advice.

Other public sector work in education has included advising the Yorkshire Coast College, based in Scarborough, on the demolition of old college buildings and on the development of their new facility, and also Bishop Auckland College on the development of a new facility on their existing WoodHouse Lane campus in Bishop Auckland. The firm has also advised the University of Northumbria on a framework agreement and planning consents for a new sports centre facility on the city campus.

The firm’s employment services group has also provided extensive assistance in recent years to various public sector bodies, including the Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast.

Alan Grisedale said: “We are delighted that Lorna has joined us. In addition to her planning expertise, Lorna has extensive knowledge of local authority work and operational practices and provides us with an even stronger offering and depth of resource in the public sector arena. Lorna will be a key member of the team as we continue to develop our public sector practice over the coming months.”