Sainsbury’s is to overhaul its legal panel and create a roster which will also cover its recent Home Retail Group acquisition.
The process, overseen by head of legal services Nick Grant, comes three years after the retailer last reviewed its panel. While the restructure will create a combined team for Sainsbury’s and Home Retail Group, the new roster will not cover Sainsbury’s banking activities.
When Sainsbury’s last reviewed its panel in 2014, 12 firms made the cut. King & Wood Mallesons and TLT were first-time appointments. While firms which were re-appointed included Addleshaw Goddard; Bond Dickinson; CMS Cameron McKenna; Croner; Dentons; DWF; Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co; Linklaters; Shepherd and Wedderburn; and Winckworth Sherwood.
During the last review, Linklaters extended its remit for the major retailer, adding commercial work alongside competition.
The retailer completed its acquisition of Argos owner Home Retail Group last year, a deal that saw Clifford Chance advise Sainsbury’s and Linklaters advise Home Retail Group.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: ‘We carry out a panel review every three years as part of our normal processes.’
In other recent reviews, Diageo has extended its UK roster with Slaughter and May, Pinsent Masons and Addleshaw Goddard reappointed while it is understood Bond Dickinson has made the panel for the first time.
Meanwhile, The UK legal arm of French Insurer AXA finalised its UK claims roster late last year with Clyde & Co, DAC Beachcroft, Horwich Farrelly, Kennedys, Keoghs and Taylor Rose all winning spots on the panel.
tom.baker@legalease.co.uk
Read more on recent panel reviews in: ‘A buyers’ market – The trends and traumas in adviser reviews’
