Young gun to take helm at Lambeth's legal dept

A 'HIGH FLYER' in his thirties has landed the newly-created, £74,000 a year, borough solicitor's job at Lambeth Council.

Gerard Curran, 36, will leave Waltham Forest District Council to join Lambeth's new team of executive directors.

Curran's role will be to steer the council's legal affairs as well as inject strategic management skills into the drive for efficiency and improved services.

Lambeth chief executive, Heather Rabbatts, said: "We have attracted an impressive high flier with the energy and drive needed for the job. Mr Curran has met most of the challenges local government can offer, at the age of 36."

Curran has an MSc in public administration from the London School of Economics and received his law degree from Bristol University. His career began in 1983 at Greater Manchester Council and he moved to the London Borough of Newnham in 1985. It took Curran three years to become solicitor to the council and he joined Waltham Forest as director of legal services in 1993.

Curran fell under the spotlight during one of the most prominent local authority cases, Credit Suisse v LB Waltham Forest, which saw him at the centre of legal representation for local government powers, said Lambeth Council.