Ben Watts

General Counsel @Kent County Council

I am responsible for providing corporate and strategic legal advice to Kent County Council acting as General Counsel to one of the country\'s most significant public sector organisations. I am leading a small team of lawyers who will support the organisation in dealing with the biggest legal issues that it faces whilst also commissioning external legal advice including managing the contract with the council\'s new legal company, Invicta Law. I have also taken over leadership of the council\'s very well regarded Democratic Services and Information Resilience and Transparency functions and carry out the statutory functions of Monitoring Officer and Senior Information Risk Owner. I also act as the County Returning Officer with responsibility for the County Council Elections in May 2017.