Eversheds, DWF, Trowers & Hamlins and Manchester law firm Pannone Corporate have been appointed as advisers on the newly-formed West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) legal panel.
The WMCA was formed this summer from 17 local authorities and three local enterprise partnerships to create jobs and drive economic growth in the West Midlands.
The authority’s first legal roster includes four law firms across three legal frameworks. The authority tendered for three lots, in full service provision, regulatory advice and parliamentary agency. Eversheds has been appointed across all three frameworks, while DWF were appointed to the full service lot. According to tender documents, the panel is worth about £5m over four years.
Firms will provide advice for the initial four year period while the WMCA has been granted an £8bn investment programme over a 30 year period for the region.
Eversheds Birmingham senior partner David Beswick said: ‘We are pleased to support the range of services that WMCA provide. We are committed to the rejuvenation of the local area and look forward to supporting and enhancing the work that is already underway to rebalance the UK economy through the Midlands Engine.’
DWF head of real estate Toby Askin said: ‘We have a Birmingham-led team of legal experts whose knowledge and experience combined will offer the authority the best possible legal support allowing them to meet their vision, values and objectives.’
The combined authority is responsible delivering on an improved transport network, including in the areas around the planned HS2 rail service.
The WMCA will also have access to a number of other local authority panels in its regional remit, such as Wolverhampton City Council’s legal panel of ten law firms.
Another recent panel review saw Transport for London (TfL) confirm it would renew its four-year legal panel. The transport authority’s current legal panel includes 11 firms, with Dentons, Trowers & Hamlins, Lewis Silkin, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, K&L Gates and Gowling WLG all on the roster.
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk