An interview with Partner Ali Richards

Since opening our doors in Birmingham three years ago, we have continued to grow our team and presence across the Midlands region. Following our recent move into our new office at One Centenery Way, we reflect on our journey so far.

In this interview, we speak to Ali Richards, a Partner in our Public Sector team.

1. You joined TLT earlier this year. What attracted you to the firm, and what have your first impressions been since joining?

I had been watching TLT's growth and investment in its public sector work for a few years and how it disrupted traditional ways of delivering services and brought a fresh new approach to the delivery of legal services. The scale of that investment and importance of the sector to the firm made it a key target for me.

There was already a strong platform to build on, with a market-leading Public Sector team and real strength across transactional and regulatory work, but also a clear appetite to keep growing. Since joining, I’ve been struck by how collaborative the firm is and how easy it is to bring different areas of expertise together around what a client needs. It’s also exciting to be part of TLT at a time when it is investing significantly in Birmingham and the wider Midlands.

2. What are some of the biggest challenges facing public sector organisations at the moment, and how are these changing the support they need from their legal advisers?

Public sector organisations are operating in an increasingly complex environment, balancing financial and operational pressures with changing policy, regulation and high expectations around the delivery of public services. In procurement and major projects particularly, getting decisions and processes right first time is critical, both legally and in maintaining public confidence. That means clients increasingly need legal advisers who understand the wider context they are operating in and can provide practical, commercial advice that helps them move projects forward, rather than simply explaining the law.

3. Your work spans everything from central government and defence to health, social care and local government. What do you enjoy most about working with such a diverse range of public sector clients?

The variety is one of the things I enjoy most. Every organisation has different objectives and challenges, whether that is delivering a major government programme, procuring critical defence services or supporting the delivery of a new railway. Having worked across a broad range of organisations, I really enjoy getting under the skin of what each client is trying to achieve and helping them find a practical route through often complex procurement and commercial issues. There’s also a real sense of purpose in working on projects that ultimately have an impact on public services and communities.

4. What opportunities do you see for TLT to continue growing its public sector work from Birmingham and across the Midlands?

The Midlands is a hugely important market for public services, with a wide range of organisations delivering major programmes and projects across the region. The location means we are widely accessible for clients and for TLT, there is a real opportunity to build on the firm’s existing national public sector capability while developing even stronger relationships locally. Birmingham gives us a great base from which to do that, and TLT’s continued investment in the city demonstrates its long-term ambition here. I’m looking forward to helping connect our national experience with the needs and opportunities we’re seeing across Birmingham and the wider Midlands.”

5. Having now had several months to get to know TLT, what has stood out to you about the way the firm works, and what are you most looking forward to as you build your practice here?

The collaborative culture has probably stood out most. Public sector projects rarely sit neatly within one area of law, so being able to draw easily on expertise from across the firm is incredibly valuable. I’ve also enjoyed being part of a Birmingham team that has a real sense of momentum and ambition. Looking ahead, I’m excited about continuing to build my practice here, developing relationships with clients across the Midlands and nationally, and working with colleagues across TLT to help public sector organisations deliver some of their most important and complex projects.

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