Colt kicks off hunt for Euro advisers

Colt Telecom has begun the search for new legal advisers to work across its European network.

The telecommunications provider ;already ;has ­preferred firms in each European jurisdiction, but is planning to hire sole advisers for employment, regulatory and commercial work across the region.

Colt has also reduced the number of suppliers it uses in each country as part of a review of its legal structure. It now uses two or three firms in each jurisdiction, apart from the UK, where Bird & Bird, DLA Piper, Field Fisher Waterhouse and Olswang are the preferred advisers.

General counsel Robin Saphra said: “Phase one was to reduce the number of firms we use in each country. Phase two is going to be starting to look for strategic suppliers across Europe.

“There are very few firms with an office in every country we’re in. We’d look for firms that could cover all the main countries we’re in and either directly or through best friends cover the rest.”

Colt has an annual legal spend of around £2m and employs 44 lawyers across Europe, with 20 based in the UK. The legal team has trebled in size since 2007.

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