Rhiannon Holtham

Senior Associate
Construction, Energy & Projects
Overview Recent work Expertise Credentials

Rhiannon is a Senior Associate in our Construction, Energy and Projects team. She predominantly advises on procurement, commercial, subsidy control and public funding matters.

Rhiannon undertakes significant and complex legal work, having spent 18 months (ending October 2019) in the prestigious role of Specialist Legal Adviser to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister of the Welsh Government. She is recognised by Legal 500 for being a Next Generation Lawyer for public sector work.

Rhiannon’s procurement expertise ranges from large scale and complex projects to the provision of ad hoc procurement advice. She supports clients bidding for public contracts and those seeking to award such contracts, ensuring procurement processes are legally compliant, enhance interest and competition in the contract opportunity, and are delivered within the relevant timescales and budget. Rhiannon also advises on subsidy control and funding matters.

Rhiannon delivers external training on a variety of topics, including framework agreements, procuring community benefits and procurement case law updates. Organisations Rhiannon has delivered seminars for includes the Welsh Government (in-house training delivered to Value Wales and to the Economic Development and Treasury Team within the Legal Services team), Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council and Natural Resources Wales.

Rhiannon is a trustee of toogoodtowaste, a charity that aims to reduce waste and alleviate poverty, and is the vice-chair of the charity’s finance sub-committee.

Rhiannon has not simply been an advisor but became an integral part of our project team and was at the heart of the decision-making process. I found Rhiannon to be not only an extremely skilled and knowledgeable lawyer but also a very likeable person who fitted seamlessly into our team. Rhiannon has the ability to provide advice that is sensible and practical in a confident and sensitive manner. She has a gift for explaining a complex legal position.

Ian Berry, Project Manager – Rhondda Cynon Taf County Bounty Council

  • Providing procurement and commercial advice to a local authority when undertaking a procurement process using the competitive procedure with negotiation to procure an organic waste treatment services contract. Included strategic advice on utilising the competitive procedure, reviewing and amending all tender and contract documentation and supporting the Council throughout the procurement process.
  • Providing complex and strategic procurement advice in relation to a University’s proposals on disposal matters associated with a campus, advising on proposals for the structure of the legal agreements and the application of the procurement regime.
  • Leading on multiple procurement processes for a variety of contracts being procured by a single contracting authority in the West of England, utilising the open and restricted procedures.
  • Leading legal advisor acting on complex procurement process, using the competitive dialogue procedure acting for four local authorities in Wales to award a long-term contract for the treatment of residual waste with a value of over £300 million.
  • Providing advice on compliance with funding conditions and strategic procurement advice to a community interest company receiving public funds from Welsh European Funding Office and BIG Lottery, to procure a design and build contract for a Maritime Centre.
  • Advising a local authority on a two-stage project to procure a prototype for a more environmentally safe treatment of mattresses, funded by Welsh Government and Innovate UK
  • Advising a local authority on establishing a social enterprise to undertake closed loop recycling in respect of wood waste.  This project was funded by the Welsh Government.
  • Early market engagement
  • Procurement and procurement strategy
  • Public funding
  • Complex and innovative procurement solutions
  • Bids, tenders and contractual documentation
  • Risk identification and mitigation
  • Dialogue and negotiation
  • Subsidy control
  • Public funding and all associated EU directives and guidance
  • Design, build, finance and operate agreements
  • Services agreements
  • Concession agreements
  • Software development agreements
  • Distribution agreements
  • Exclusivity agreements
  • Support and consultancy services contracts
  • Success fee arrangements
  • Non-disclosure agreements
  • Collaboration agreements
  • Novation agreements
  • Parent company guarantees and performance bonds
  • Partnership deed, declaration of trust and deeds of retirement for GP

Career

  • Senior Associate, Capital Law Limited (2016 – present)
  • Partner, Clarkslegal LLP (2005 – 2016)
  • Solicitor, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (2004 – 2005)
  • Trainee Solicitor, Coffin Mew Solicitors (2002 – 2004)

Education

  • Cardiff University: LPC (2000 – 2001)
  • Plymouth University: Bachelor of Law, LLB (1996 – 1999)

Memberships / Trustee Positions

  • The Law Society of England and Wales
  • Trustee of TooGoodToWaste
Practice Areas
Contact

Capital Law Limited is a company (number 05841213) registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is at Registered Office: Capital Building, Tyndall Street, Cardiff CF10 4AZ T: 0333 2400 489 | E: info@capitallaw.co.uk ¦ VAT no. 287 1463 77. Capital Law Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA ID: 644688.