City 'nonsense' over PFI claims

What a lot of self-interested nonsense from City PFI chieftains (The Lawyer, 3 November). Provincial firms and small practices are perfectly capable of handling PFI work competently.

Like all legal services it is "horses for courses". Large City firms are better equipped to deal with major DBFO transport projects - but it is not economical to use them for #10-20m accommodation projects.

Provincial and niche practices, such as my own, offer better value for money on such projects - largely because they do not bring four lawyers to every meeting, do not have to maintain swimming pools in their offices, and do not charge over #300 per hour for partner's time.



Mark Johnson, private finance associate, Devonshires