By Anthony Young-
The Crown Commercial Service(CCS) is about to announce a full list of firms that have secured spots on its £320m public sector panel. The brilliant initiative was set up in a bid to cut the costs of external legal advice.
The CCS provides a range of duties and services to the public, although not much is known about them. They also provide policy, advice, and commercial services to the public sector and saving money for the taxpayer.policy, advice and direct buying; providing commercial services to the public sector and saving money for the taxpayer.
London firm Sharpe Pritchard and commercial firm Howes Percival announced their appointment to a £130m ‘full service’ lot, after a joint bid, ‘supported by’ accountancy giant PwC and Cardiff-based Capital Law. Sharpe Pritchard Law firm operates mainly in the public sector with a particularly strong specialism in waste management infrastructure.
The prestigious Law firm are known for their judicial reviews, statutory appeals, and is particularly reputable for its success in obtaining injunctions for public bodies, especially in High Court matters concerning planning issues. The Solicitor firm and Parliamentary Agents act for local authorities, central government bodies, contracting authorities, other public sector organisations and registered social landlords. They advise commercial clients and other organisations on a wide range of public law matters.
Sharp Pritchard recently acted on behalf of Camden Council as petitioners against the HS2 Bill, recently assisting with the client’s petition in the House of Lords. The law firm is also highly ranked for its parliamentary infrastructure and recently advised Camden Council as petitioners against the HS2 Bill, recently assisting with the client’s petition in the House of Lords.
Howes Perival are a leading commercial law firm with a world wide client base that include individuals and families, and extends to global businesses and government departments. Their range of legal expertise and specialist knowledge stand them apart form many other law firms.
CONSORTIUM
The two stand out firms are part of a consortium with PwC and international firm HFW, and secured a top spot on Crown Commercial Service’s general legal advice services panel. The panel is used by all UK central government and non-ministerial departments, and their executive agencies.
Julia Rudin Photo Credits: Sharpe Pritchard
Tessa Haskey, Howes Percival chair, said: ‘This appointment will lead to more public sector opportunities for us across the country and enable us to build on our excellent working relationship with our consortium members,’ she added.
The full service panel in the public sector framework are poised to cover commercial, corporate, property and construction, IT, data protection, litigation and public procurement services. The other lots are: regional service provision (80 suppliers); property and construction (six suppliers); transport rail (five suppliers); and cost lawyer services (four suppliers).
Crown Commercial Service called for bids in May after slashing £330m off the estimated total value, changing its name from ‘legal services marketplace’ to wider public legal services.
The new initiative will also extend to Ministerial and non-ministerial central government departments, who will also be able to access regional services if the anticipated fee is £20,000 or less per matter in transactional property work, employment or other litigation.
Photo Credits: Sharp Pritchards.Co.Uk