Legal Business

National firms lead pack as Capita completes legal panel review

Professional services company Capita has finalised its commercial legal panel, with a raft of firms making it onto a 21-strong roster.

Commercial manager Brendan Quinn led the review, which completed last month. Among the firms being appointed are Addleshaw Goddard, Pinsent Masons, Eversheds Sutherland, DWF, Acuity, Walker Morris and Taylor Walton.

The majority of work will be delegated to a core group, which includes Eversheds, Acuity and DWF among others, while Leeds-based firm Walker Morris will undertake pensions work and Luton-based outfit Taylor Walton will offer property advice.

Capita last reviewed its panel in November 2015, when a similar batch of firms were selected in a process which saw over 20 firms appointed in total.

In January 2013, Capita expanded to provide legal process outsourcing services to law firms, with Pinsents becoming one of the first organisations to utilise Capita’s document review services for a large dispute.

As part of the deal, Pinsents called upon Capita’s 550-seat operation in Poland to complete a full manual review of documents. Later that year, Capita acquired alternative business structure Optima Legal to offer UK legal services. Through the buyout, which saw Optima become part of Capita Legal Services, Capita became able to offer conveyancing, debt recovery and litigation services.

In other recent panel reviews, BT concluded its heavily delayed process earlier this month, with the Magic Circle all winning a place on the 37-strong roster.

The review, which officially began in July last year, also saw Addleshaw Goddard, Baker McKenzie, Berwin Leighton Paisner, CMS Cameron McKenna and Eversheds Sutherland make the cut. The panel, which will run for three years until April 2020, was overseen by BT’s director, equality of access office & COO legal governance and compliance, Jon Furmston and central operations head of suppliers and systems Keith Thomson.

tom.baker@legalease.co.uk