Society's News

Corporate Members 2022

3PB Albion Chambers Ashfords Barcan + Kirby Beale & Co Bevan Brittan BLM Burges Salmon Clarke Willmott CMS CMNO DAC Beachcroft The Family Law Practice Foot Anstey (including Enable Law) Freeths Fussell Wright GL Law Guildhall Chambers Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Lyons Davidson Marc White & Co Meade King Osborne Clarke Paragon Costs Solutions Queen Square Chambers Royds Withy King Simmons … more

BLS features in Bristol Post oldest thriving companies in Bristol

Excerpt from the article: How Bristol’s oldest companies are still thriving after more than 100 years in business They include the city’s last-surviving chocolate maker a wine merchant and a tannery. Why do some companies struggle to survive beyond a year while others flourish for hundreds? Although more than 90 per cent of small companies in Britain will survive one … more

BLS Annual Awards Dinner 3rd November 2022

Check out our digital Awards Brochure with a welcome from our C0-Presidents, full details of the award categories and links to our wonderful supporters who make this event possible. We look forward to celebrating the best of the local profession with you on 3rd November! BLS Awards 2022 Digital Brochure Nomination Brochure 2022 Nomination Online Submissions Booking Form 2022

Local authorities benefiting from the ‘inside track’


Former head of legal services at Bristol City Council is giving clients at Veale Wasbrough Vizards  (VWV) the benefit of his 15 years in house experience

Stephen McNamara joined VWV on 7 January 2013 as a consultant.  He is one of the UK’s highest profile local authority lawyers and led the legal services function at Bristol City Council since 1998.  Latterly, Stephen oversaw the elections of the city’s first elected mayor and Police Commissioner. His experience covers all aspects of law and practice as it affects the public sector and, in particular, local authorities.

Stephen commented on his appointment;

“I have seen first hand how any change affects local government.  I also understand the sector and can talk the language.

Currently, many local authorities are in a state of flux and change with pressures to reduce budgets, staffing levels, and levels of outsourcing.

My experience and that of VWV as a firm, makes for cutting edge legal advice for authorities faced with increasingly  difficult decisions.”.

David Hansom, head of public sector, commented;

“With Stephen’s help, VWV is going from strength to strength in our services to local government. Our innovative new products include an ’emergency service’ telephone triage to deal with urgent queries. 

We are already known nationally for our work in the sector and are on track to achieve our ambition as one of the leading firms in the sectors.”

In the last 6 months, the team has been joined by Ed Reynolds, an associate specialising in EU procurement and also from Bristol City Council.