Nathan East is Head of Public Bodies at Weightmans. He was previously Head of Emergency Services, a position he held for seven years before becoming Head of Public Bodies in 2024.
Nathan advises Police and Crime Commissioners, Chief Constables, police forces, national policing bodies, fire and rescue authorities and ambulance trusts on major projects, governance, collaboration arrangements and strategic estates matters.
He is recognised for advising on complex and high-profile matters where legal, operational, commercial and reputational considerations intersect. His practice spans nationally significant programmes, emergency services collaboration, governance reform, commercial projects, organisational change and major capital developments. Nathan regularly advises PCCs, Chief Constables, chief executives, estates directors and project boards on matters critical to the future delivery of policing and emergency services.
Nathan is particularly known for helping clients deliver complex projects and navigate challenging governance issues. He has extensive experience advising on innovative collaboration structures, operationally sensitive matters and strategically important estate programmes across England and Wales. His work frequently brings together major projects, governance and commercial considerations to support long-term transformation and service delivery across the policing and emergency services sectors.
Nathan's areas of expertise:
Major projects and programme delivery
Strategic governance and organisational reform
Police and emergency services collaboration
Section 22A Police Act arrangements
Commercial contracts and procurement
Joint ventures and LLP structures
Strategic estates and asset transformation
Headquarters, training and operational facilities
Covert property and security-sensitive projects
Public sector transformation and organisational change
-
Rose Moss and Nathan East have provided excellent advice and guidance. Their ability to focus on the important issues and provide robust yet clear and understandable advice has been invaluable.
Legal 500 2025
Experience and notable cases:
Advising police, fire and rescue and ambulance service organisations on innovative LLP and joint ownership structures supporting major capital projects, shared operational facilities and long-term collaboration arrangements, including the establishment of the first LLP structure between a Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority for the ownership and operation of a major headquarters and training facility.
Advising on the £100 million refurbishment and expansion of Surrey Police Headquarters, including a new Force Contact Centre, Force Control Room, Forensic Hub, Police Dog School facilities and enhanced operational accommodation and training facilities.
Advising BlueLight Commercial on the collaboration aspects of Police Aviation Services Fleet Replacement Programme, a nationally significant procurement involving the replacement of the National Police Air Service fleet.
Advising the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and PCCs nationally on governance, collaboration, constitutional matters and strategic projects.
Advising police forces on the acquisition, redevelopment and transformation of operational estate, including headquarters developments, specialist operational facilities, firearms training facilities, forensic accommodation and estate transformation programmes
Advising policing and law enforcement clients on covert property arrangements and operationally sensitive projects requiring the highest levels of confidentiality, operational security and resilience.
Advising on section 22A collaboration agreements and governance structures supporting shared services, regional collaborations and long-term partnership arrangements between policing organisations• Advising police forces and national policing bodies on major commercial projects, procurement exercises, technology programmes and strategic service transformation initiatives.
Advising on the implications of local government reorganisation for policing governance structures, collaboration arrangements and strategic estate assets.
Advising on the development and governance of specialist operational facilities, including training centres, firearms facilities, forensic environments, operational hubs and emergency services accommodation.
