Hardwicke joins list of firms on revamped Veolia panel
Hardwicke Chambers has scored a spot on Veolia Environnement’s main panel of UK legal advisers joining firms including Herbert Smith and Simons & Simmons.
Michael Butcher
The appointment was part of a formal review of external advisers by Veolia Environnement UK, which is the holding company for the French multinational’s UK investments and provides water, environmental, energy and passenger transportation services.
Other firms appointed to the main advisory panel include Brodies, Hogan Lovells, McGrigors, Pinsent Masons and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain.
General counsel and company secretary Michael Butcher led the review process.
Veolia is among several large corporations and public authorities to directly appoint barristers, with councils such as Hackney and a West Yorkshire consortium (19 May 2011) operating separate barristers panels.
Veolia Environnement has also reappointed a selection of firms to its regional panel including Bevan Brittan, Bond Pearce, Cobbetts, Douglas-Jones Mercer and Stevens & Bolton.
Readers' comments (6)
Filemot | 10-Aug-2011 11:24 am
Does this mean we are going to see the end of solicitors freedom to instruct barristerson behalf of their clients and the courting of solicitors by barristers clerks that goes with it?
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BabyB | 10-Aug-2011 11:35 am
Unlikely. There will still be a large amount of courting by clerks - solicitors continue to provide the stalwart of work for the Bar
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Anonymous | 10-Aug-2011 5:19 pm
Many barristers are choosing NOT to take instructions directly from clients as they view this as they appreciate receiving full but concise instructions from solicitors - several chambers consider direct instructions involve too much of an admin burden.
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Anonymous | 11-Aug-2011 9:37 am
Some sets are choosing not to take direct instructions, but others are using direct access to flex their muscles. Solicitors are starting to approach them for referrals, there are more firms doing litigation but still the same number of barristers working on those cases. Is this the beginning of a major power shift?
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Anonymous | 11-Aug-2011 11:28 am
"full but concise instructions.." When was that then?
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Ian Dodd | 11-Aug-2011 1:30 pm
What about congratulating Hardwicke on their acheivement and showing most of the rest of the Bar where it's all going and how to do it?
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