In-house lawyers at 18 local authorities in the East Midlands have formed a ground-breaking partnership with four regional law firms in what has been billed as the UK’s largest ever public/private legal partnership.

The local authorities, operating under the brand name EM Law Share, have appointed Ashfords, Browne Jacobson, Freeth Cartwright and Weightmans on three-year contracts to handle work including civil litigation, planning, conveyancing and commercial work.