East Mids authorities shuffle advisers

The East Midlands Law Share (EMLS), which includes Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire County Councils, has reappointed Browne Jacobson, Freeth Cartwright and Weightmans for a ­further four years. The five panel firms will advise across 13 areas.

John McElvaney, deputy county secretary at Derbyshire County Council, said: “It was an open ­procurement process with criteria related to price and quality. It doesn’t reflect particularly badly on any firm that doesn’t make the final five - some we just decided to be better than others.”

This is the second EMLS incarnation: the previous arrangement involved 13 local authorities, which was understood to have saved £4m over four years.