On 1 July 2025, Manchester’s iconic Town Hall in Albert Square hosted a compelling forum titled “Cooperative Law: Meeting Today’s Challenges in Public Services and the UK Economy”. The event, co-presented by Manchester Law Society and Manchester City Council in partnership with the ICA Legislation Office at the invitation of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, drew a diverse audience of legal professionals, from public service sectors, private practices, and the co-operative domain. Supported by prominent organisations including the members and friends of the ICA Cooperative Law Committee, Co-operatives UK, The Co-operative Group, Co-operative Councils Innovation Network and Kings Chambers, the event offered a collaborative platform to explore how cooperative legal principles can drive inclusive, resilient, and sustainable public services.
The ICA facilitated the participation of Mr. Osamu Nakano, Vice President of CICOPA and Board Member of the Japan Workers Cooperative Union, Ms. Dulce Bustamante, Lawyer and Chairperson of the ICA Asia and Pacific Youth Committee, Prof. Hagen Henry, Chairperson of the ICA Cooperative Law Committee and Prof. Dante Cracogna, Chairperson of the ICA Americas Cooperative Law Commission, along with online participation of Dr. Morshed Mannan of the University of Edinburgh and Ms. Melina Morrison who heads the BCCM Australia and a lawyer by education who highlighted the advocacy role of the BCCM in bringing members of the Australian parliament and the government to become champions of the cooperative economy.
The event was kickstarted by statements by Ms. Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, lawyers Mr. Mark Cook and Mr. Cliff Mills of Anthony Collins, and Mr. P. Santosh Kumar, ICA Legislation Director who presented the historical and the contemporary status, relevance and the essential role of cooperative law in advancing cooperative entrepreneurship.
The success of this forum underscores growing interest in cooperative legal frameworks as tools for social and economic reform. Organisers hope the discussions will inform future policy initiatives, drive legal innovation, and nurture the development of inclusive public services rooted in cooperative values.
