About Simon:
Formerly head of legal and democratic services at Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, Simon Goacher has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in local government law spanning almost two decades.Full legal support and defendant litigation services for all local authorities from one of the largest public sector legal teams in the UK.
With hands-on experience of working in your sector, our lawyers understand the issues and pressures you deal with every day. We provide a full support service covering every legal issue encountered, including:
- Health and social care
- Complex commercial projects and PFI Projects.
- Regeneration schemes
- Outsourcing and procurement
- Local authority governance
- Member standards
- Employment and equal pay
- Information lawÂ
- Adult social care
- Children's social servicesÂ
- Education including special education needs work
- All litigation services
- Public law including judicial reviewÂ
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Our approach? Put simply, it's solving your legal problems as quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. We're LEXCEL accredited, committed to electronic case management, and our people know their subject inside-out. We'll help you drive improvement through our research facilities, professional training, secondments and staff development support.
We are members of numerous large local authority framework agreements, including EM LawShare, the North West Legal Consortium, North East Procurement Organisation and Procurement Services (formerly Kent Commercial Services Group).
We are committed to delivering innovative solutions to the most difficult issues which you face and we work in partnership with our clients and in-house product and innovation specialists to develop cutting-edge ideas.
We are also corporate partners of LLG (Lawyers in Local Government) and work with it to provide a defence line for local authority monitoring officers.
We're brand leaders in defendant litigation services for local and public authorities, with in-depth expertise in all types of claims including motor, public liability and employers' liability. We have considerable experience in handling sensitive and/or high profile claims, such as bullying, failure to educate and abuse, and are equally skilled in handling the media attention that these cases sometimes attract.
Risk management strategies, both general and claim-related, are a specialism.
We advise on policy and attend committee and risk management meetings on issues affecting local authorities; we've also developed a special fraud detection package for public bodies. As well as working direct with local authorities, we're on the panel of all major public sector insurers. Our training adds value, too, from our own seminars and national conferences to work with local, regional and national groups.
Accolades
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Very knowledgeable and responsive.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Weightmans constantly have their finger on the pulse around any commercial developments and recent matters which may impact their advice. Knowing the market and any issues which may crop up (including best ways to deal with them) puts Weightmans ahead of the pack. Weightmans have been excellent when faced with complex and sophisticated matters, which under Procurement law happens frequently.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Excellent approach to understanding the needs of a local government client which leads to pragmatic but technically sound advice. This is important to us as not all practices have that understanding.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Weightmans has been excellent when faced with complex matters. Weightmans was very helpful in ensuring that it understood everything before making a decision on how to proceed. It's got good knowledge and experience at a very reasonable rates. Weightmans has strong knowledge and experience across the local government sector supported by a common sense practical approach
Chambers and Partners, 2026 -
Weightmans are a fantastic excellent team/practice who are always able accommodate your requirements/needs no matter what the issues or timescales may be. Their ability to be able to turn matters around quickly and efficiently whilst always ensuring the client's position/interests is protected at all times is outstanding.
Legal 500 2025 -
What makes the individuals stand out for me is their ability to be able to translate/explain and communicate issues in a way that is easily understandable to the service area clients whilst at the same time being able to come to an appropriate resolution that protects the position of the authority. I truly value the commitment and relationship that we have with the organisation and the individuals that we have worked alongside so far
Legal 500 2025 -
Weightmans has a dedicated team for local government.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Weightmans' lawyers had an exceptional ability to understand and interpret complex technical matters and strongly rebuke counterclaims.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Weightmans has an excellent commercial team who can pick up a wide range of matters and has always delivered any advice required to the highest standard.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Weightmans constantly have their finger on the pulse around any commercial developments and recent matters that may impact their advice.
Chambers and Partners 2025
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About Helen:
Helen is a public sector litigator with over 30 years' experience in dealing with the full spectrum of public sector claims. She has acted for numerous public sector clients and insurers over the years and the depth of her practice provides her with a unique insight into the ever changing world of public sector claims and the challenges the sector faces in defeating and containing these.
