Senior Management Team

What we do:

Legal Services

• Advice to Cabinet/Mayoral Proceedings
• Constitutional issues
• Monitoring Officer and Deputy
• Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs ) & Building Schools for the Future (BSF)
• Industrial Relations Advice
• Advice on executive Council and Committee reports
• Attendance at all executive/Cabinet meetings
• Advisor to Standards Committee
• Attendance at all Council meetings
• Preparation of relevant protocols in respect of corporate and ethical governance
• Major issues
• Corporate issues

Electoral Services and Registration

• Proper Officer for Registration
• Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• Registration of electors
• Election management

Key objectives:

• Lead on Governance issues and preparation of Corporate Governance Guidance
• Proactive advice on and use of the Councils Charging and Trading Powers
• Review of externalised work and procurement for Counsel on all matters
• "Whole Council lawyer" approach
• Ensure service has effective in-house training programme
• Develop precedent bank for opinions/advice with effective search engine
• Develop opportunities for shared services

Who we are:

Helen Sidwell: Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer

As the Principal Legal Advisor, Helen attends full Council meetings, Cabinet, Standards Committee and Audit Board to advise Members whenever necessary. As Head of the Legal Services, Helen also manages the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Service, Electoral Registration Service and the Information Governance Team.

Helen joined Newham in July 2002 from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets where she had worked for 18 years. Helen is a solicitor and qualified in 1991. Helen specialises in local government administrative, constitutional and probity issues. She also advises on Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Industrial Relations and other corporate matters affecting the Council.

Jeremy Appleson: Deputy Head of Legal Services

As the Deputy Head, Jeremy is responsible for all legal matters relating to major projects, planning, and property law. He also deputises for the Head of Legal Services. Jeremy is the Deputy Monitoring Officer and takes responsibility for training, Investors in People (IiP) and service continuity planning.

Jeremy joined Newham in May 2002 from the Greater London Authority where he had worked for 2 years. Jeremy is a solicitor and qualified in 1981 and has a lot of experience in the public sector. Jeremy specialises in regeneration, projects (including PFI work), property and planning work. He also advises on Local Government administrative and constitutional issues affecting the Council.

Maria Uhlmann: Principal Lawyer Corporate

Maria specialises in community services, employment law, contracts, civil litigation and giving advice on a wide range of matters relating to local authorities. Maria has overall responsibility for corporate litigation and contract matters. She also has overall responsibility for legal work arising from the Council's Children and Young People and Adults' services. Maria also has overall responsibility for Legal Services' Lexcel accreditation.

Maria returned from secondments to two Authorities where she undertook the role of Deputy Head of Law.

Janet Fasan: Principal Lawyer Housing Enforcement

Janet has overall responsibility for all matters relating to Housing and Enforcement including provision of legal services to Newham Homes. Janet also takes responsibility for Performance Indicators for the service.

Janet joined Newham in November 2003 from the London Borough of Southwark where she had worked for 13 years. Janet is a solicitor and qualified in 1998. Janet is a Housing law specialist. Whilst at Southwark she advised on a range of housing projects, commercial property matters, human rights, local government and constitutional matters.


Paul Libreri: Head of Registration and Electoral Services

The Registration Service deals with registration of births, deaths and marriages and civil partnerships. They also conduct the Council's Citizenship ceremonies and provide a nationality checking service as well as other voluntary celebratory services such as baby naming and renewal of vows. Electoral Services are responsible for maintaining the electoral register and running Local Government Parliamentary and European and Greater London Authority (GLA) election.