Pearson revisits adviser panel
Pearson has elected to consolidate its legal adviser panels into new ‘general’ and ‘preferred’ rosters, moving away from specialised panels in a bid to reduce costs. Fourteen firms have won places on the preferred panel, which Pearson says will address ‘day-to-day requirements’, in addition to newer areas not historically covered by external counsel, including US immigration and US employment work. Among firms winning spots on the preferred panel were Charles Russell Speechlys, DWF, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Littler Mendelson and Morgan Lewis. Those appointed to the general panel were Bird & Bird, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons and Sullivan & Cromwell. The review has been led by general counsel Bjarne Tellmann (below), who emphasised the need for chosen firms to have experience, as well as flexibility over billing.
