WBD strengthens public sector practice with new partner hire in Newcastle

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has strengthened its Projects and Procurement team, which advises a broad range of UK local and central government authorities, with the appointment of Deborah Ramshaw who joins as a partner in the firm’s Newcastle office.

Joining from law firm Hempsons, Deborah advises central and local government departments and agencies, NHS bodies, utilities in the postal, energy and transport sectors, education clients and registered housing providers on a wide range of procurement matters and legislation. This appointment represents Deborah’s return to WBD (then legacy firm Bond Dickinson) where she previously headed up the firm’s procurement team for a number of years.

Kevin Robertson, partner and head of WBD’s Projects & Procurement team, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Deborah back into the firm and to our well established Projects and Procurement practice. Deborah’s experience advising many public sector organisations on a wide range of matters as well as her deep understanding of the key issues facing public, government and third sector organisations, will enhance our offering and provide added value to our clients.”

Deborah added: “WBD has a great reputation across the UK with an impressive client portfolio, particularly in the public sector arena, bringing many opportunities to work on very exciting national and regional projects. I am delighted to be re-joining our growing Newcastle team and to be reuniting with many former colleagues.”

Deborah’s appointment is the latest in a series of senior hires at WBD with new partners Paul Mason (real estate, Edinburgh), Kathryn Wood (real estate, Leeds) and James Radcliffe (private client, Bristol) joining the firm in the past couple of months.

Ranking in the UK’s Top 20 law firms, WBD advises clients across eleven sectors of expertise and also works closely with UK local and central government bodies, as well as other organisations in the wider public and third sector. The firm is a Tier 1 member of the Crown Commercial Service government legal advisory panel, providing a full-service of legal expertise across a range of disciplines, including general commercial, litigation and employment advice to a number of Government Departments, Agencies and arms-length bodies. WBD is also a member of the equivalent panel for wider public sector bodies advising local and combined authorities, NHS Trusts and universities across the country. Some of the firm’s key public sector clients include the Department for Education, Newcastle City Council, Northumberland County Council, Durham University and NHS Property Services to name a few.

As the largest law firm in the North East, WBD has deep roots in the region and its largest UK office of over 200 qualified advisors is based in Newcastle. The firm is committed to playing its part in the future prosperity of the North East and Cumbria by using its local, national and international reach and expertise to benefit the region’s leading sectors, businesses, people and organisations.