Ramsey takes helm at Merton

Helen Sage

Former Lewisham Council lawyer Jane Ramsey has been appointed head of legal services at the London Borough of Merton.

Ramsey has been a lawyer at Lewisham Council for six years since she started there in a junior legal post. Before her move she had risen to principal legal officer.

While at Lewisham she set up the education legal service following the abolition of the Inner London Education Authority, and specialised in commercial and environmental legal matters.

She also completed an MSc in public services management at the South Bank University.

"I am excited that the post focuses heavily on corporate work as well as legal and I was attracted by the commitment to excellent services by the council," she said of her new job.

"My first priority will be to get to know staff and find out exactly how Merton works. I am also keen to ensure that the contracting side of legal services is working well in terms of compulsory competitive tendering."

The legal services contract was recently won by the in-house Merton team under CCT.