Lend Lease rethinks UK legal line-up

Lend Lease has launched a review of its entire UK legal panel in a bid to streamline its legal functions.

The Australian property developer has revealed that it is conducting a routine reappraisal of the law firms used by each of its business streams. However, it is understood the group is also using the review to develop a more streamlined panel of legal advisers.

The move follows a complete restructuring of the developer’s European in-house legal function late last year, which included moving global general counsel Phil Crewes from Australia to London, where a number of the group’s headquarters are now based.

Lend Lease’s current preferred UK firms are Eversheds for asset management and Linklaters for corporate. The company also uses Blackadders and Masons in Scotland, Rouse & Co for IP and Clifford Chance.

A Lend Lease spokesperson said the review had been underway for several weeks, and there was no timeline on the process. Bovis Lend Lease, the construction and project management division of Lend Lease, has a separate legal panel that is not included in the review.