Andrew Levy
Legal director
Stagecoach UK Bus & Rail Group
Andrew Levy’s small legal team advises Stagecoach across its three main divisions, which account for 12% of the UK rail market, 20% of the UK bus market and a coach business across both sides of the Atlantic.
He joined as sole counsel in 2004 but has since grown his legal team, appointing one London-based lawyer in 2010 and another in Dallas six months ago. The hire of a US lawyer follows the expansion of Stagecoach across the Atlantic in 2008 where it operates 2,800 coaches under the brand of Coach USA.
He uses a select number of firms, including Herbert Smith Freehills and Maclay Murray & Spens for UK corporate work, while some rail leasing work goes to Shoosmiths. Stagecoach also refers its regional work to Lancashire transport law firm, Backhouse Jones.
Stagecoach was awarded the UK’s South West Trains franchise in 2006. Earlier this year, in a landmark move for the industry, South West Trains formed an alliance with Network Rail, which will run until February 2017. Herbert Smith advised Stagecoach on the deal.
Law firms used: Herbert Smith Freehills, Maclay Murray & Spens
2004–present: Head of legal, Stagecoach UK Bus & Rail Group
1999–2004: Legal director, Alstom
1995-99: Solicitor, Linklaters