Addleshaw Goddard, Ashurst, DLA Piper and Eversheds Sutherland have all been appointed to tier one of the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) first £50m rail panel.
The appointment, which lasts until 2020, will see the four firm’s undertake work which includes rail franchise competitions, major rolling stock procurements and infrastructure projects.
Addleshaws head of transport Paul Hirst said the appointment was a huge accolade for the firm’s rail and wider transport team.
‘We’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Department on a fascinating pipeline of rail infrastructure and rolling stock projects and the ongoing programme of franchise competitions.’
The review, which was run by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) also resulted in Osborne Clarke, Linklaters, Norton Rose Fulbright and Stephenson Harwood’s appointment to tier two of the roster.
In March, the CCS unveiled its panel for general legal advice services, with 18 firms making it onto a two-tier panel.
In addition, the CCS has also renewed its panels for finance and regulation, and major or complex projects, extending the terms of those contracts until 31 January 2018.
The general panel saw Linklaters appointed alongside Bond Dickinson, Burges Salmon, DAC Beachcroft, Dentons, DLA Piper, Gowling WLG, Mills & Reeve, Pinsent Masons, Eversheds Sutherland, PwC and TLT.
PwC’s bid was part of a consortium of which included Howes Percival, Holman Fenwick Willan and Sharpe Pritchard.
The roster will provide advice on a range of legal services. Among the ‘mandatory’ services the firms must provide are public law, competition law, dispute resolution, EU law, pensions law and tax law.
The panel has a second tier which also includes Bevan Brittan, Fieldfisher, Browne Jacobson, Hogan Lovells, Simmons & Simmons and Slaughter and May. This group is to be used in the event that a tier one firm cannot accept a contract.
The roster will last for two years, running from 28 February 2017 to 28 February 2019. The CCS has indicated that ‘there is no upper or lower limit on the value of contracts’ but it is estimated the general services roster will be worth £320m.
Kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk