Roster reduced from 48 to 18 firms following Crown Commercial Services review
Eighteen firms have been appointed to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS)’s general legal advice panel in a two-year, £400m contract. The process, which splits firms between two tiers, had a significant focus on both cost and quality.
The framework, which reduced the number of law firms down from 48, saw a reduced presence from the Magic Circle. Linklaters was the only firm to make it onto tier one of the panel, while Slaughter and May made the second tier. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy continue their spots on the government’s special finance and projects lots but do not hold positions on the top tiers.
Tier-one panel holders, which can advise all UK ministerial and non-ministerial departments, and their associated executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, include Bond Dickinson, Burges Salmon, DAC Beachcroft, Dentons, DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, Gowling WLG, Mills & Reeve, Pinsent Masons, TLT, PwC and Linklaters. Firms appointed to the second tier, which is only to be used if a firm in the top tier cannot take on a mandate, include Bevan Brittan, Browne Jacobson, Fieldfisher, Hogan Lovells and Simmons & Simmons.
PwC and Bevan Brittan were both parts of the consortia, with Sharpe Pritchard, Howes Percival and Holman Fenwick Willan operating beside PwC, and Shoosmiths working with Bevan Brittan.
Dentons partner Christopher McGee-Osborne said: ‘What’s happening particularly with global clients is that managing lots of law firms means they struggle to have a sufficiently deep relationship to secure real value.’
‘There is a clear requirement for experience and value. It’s the national firms like ourselves that are able to offer that.’
Jonathan Bower, Bond Dickinson
While pricing was important, it was less prominent than in the 2015 process. In that review, the government described the criteria as 60% quality, 40% affordability. This time, quality was 70% of the criteria.
The procurement was divided into three key stages, the first two of which assessed firms on traditional criteria of experience, customer satisfaction, innovation and collaboration. However, the final stage of the process included a new element that saw firms grilled Q&A-style on case studies they had previously submitted for appraisal.
Dentons partner Catherine Bingham said: ‘It was very much focused on what firms were like to work with, across all levels of seniority.’ McGee-Osborne added: ‘The government has a bigger focus on a firm’s character.’
Bond Dickinson partner Jonathan Bower added: ‘It reflects the eye for value that the CCS is looking for. There is a clear requirement for firstly experience, secondly value. It’s the national firms like ourselves that are able to offer that.’
A spokesperson from the CCS declined to comment.
tom.baker@legalease.co.uk