Noonu Atoll Council Signs Tripartite Legal Consultancy Agreement with Lawcraft LLP

Noonu Atoll Council has taken a significant step in strengthening its governance by entering into a tripartite legal consultancy agreement with Lawcraft Law Firm LLP. This partnership was formally established by a unanimous resolution during the Council's 42nd Sitting on 28th May 2025, appointing Lawcraft LLP as the official legal counsel for the Council and its constituent Island Councils. This decision represents a strategic investment in the future of decentralised governance, moving beyond a mere formality to ensure all legal matters are handled with professionalism, consistency, and strategic foresight.

This appointment is not just a formality; it is a strategic investment in the future of decentralised governance in Noonu Atoll. As a council, we are responsible for navigating a wide range of legal issues, from land use and environmental compliance to contract management and dispute resolution. We recognise that having dedicated legal counsel is essential to maintaining transparency, protecting public interest, and ensuring that our decisions are grounded in sound legal principles.

Lawcraft LLP has been entrusted with broad authority to represent the Council in all legal forums, including the courts of the Maldives. The firm is empowered to initiate or withdraw legal actions, manage appeals, negotiate settlements, and handle all legal documentation and official communications on our behalf. This includes receiving and consolidating judicial correspondence, submitting admissions, and requesting postponements when necessary. The scope of their mandate ensures that our legal interests are professionally advocated and that we are well-positioned to respond to any legal challenges that may arise.

To support the rollout of this partnership, we have adopted a comprehensive Legal Consultancy Services Toolkit, developed in collaboration with Noonu Atoll Company. This toolkit outlines a structured, phased approach to service delivery, beginning with strategic planning and needs assessment, followed by operational setup, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing optimisation. It ensures that legal services are delivered proactively, with clear workflows, measurable performance indicators, and regular reporting.

Under the retainer agreement, Lawcraft LLP will provide a wide range of services, including regulatory compliance, contract draughting and review, municipal law advisory, land use and zoning guidance, environmental law support, employment law consultation, and public procurement oversight. The firm will also offer legal training and capacity-building workshops for our staff, helping us build internal legal awareness and resilience. These services are provided under a transparent fee structure, with a fixed monthly retainer and clearly defined hourly rates for additional services such as litigation.

We believe this long-term arrangement will bring consistency, legal certainty, and strategic depth to our operations. It reflects our dedication to maintaining high standards of governance and accountability and to ensuring that our communities benefit from legally sound and ethically guided decision-making. By investing in professional legal support, we are reinforcing our commitment to the people of Noonu Atoll and laying the foundation for a more responsive and resilient local government.