Law firm supports combined county authority

Supported legally by Browne Jacobson Derbyshire, Derby, Nottinghamshire, and Nottingham have come together to form England’s first combined county authority.

Browne Jacobson, in collaboration with legal representatives from the four constituent councils, played a pivotal role in establishing the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), addressing various legal aspects.

The devolution deal, agreed upon with Government ministers in 2022, will allocate a £1.14bn investment fund to benefit Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

Additionally, the law firm led the proposal to the Secretary of State, conducted consultations, and formulated the East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024, ensuring smooth implementation of the new authority model

Laura Hughes said: “We are proud to have worked on such a ground-breaking project in England’s devolution programme, a central plank of the UK Government’s levelling up agenda and a major step-change for the organisation of local government. We worked closely with our colleagues within Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council to advise on all legal issues as they arose, and we wish to congratulate everyone who has been
involved within those local authorities to reach this critical milestone.

“This is a fantastic example of what can happen when dedicated public servants pull out all the stops to achieve something they really believe in, and it has been a pleasure to work with all those individuals and teams.”