Mills & Reeve receives shot in the arm as NHS agencies defect from Pinsents

The Pasa and Logistics Authority tendered the work in May after Pinsents' three-year contract came to an end. Fifteen firms pitched for the work, of which four - including Pinsents and Mills & Reeve - were shortlisted.
The two authorities provide strategic advice and services to the NHS, and will be among Mills & Reeve's largest clients. The Lawyer understands that annual revenue is likely to be above the £500,000 mark.
The firm will provide advice on Government, NHS and public law issues; clinical negligence and personal injury cases; property, commercial and employment issues; and PFI and public-private partnership projects.
"This is a great coup for Mills & Reeve's public law team," said public law partner Sheila Waddington. "This significant appointment bolsters further our reputation as a leading law firm in the healthcare sector."
Last year the firm also won tenders for the National Blood Authority and the NHS Information Authority.
While Mills & Reeve will be the primary contractor to the authorities, Pinsents will still continue to do some run-off work and will advise on some IT issues.
A Pinsents spokesperson said: "We enjoy working with the people at the NHS Purchasing and Supply Authority and are delighted to have been retained to continue to advise them in relation to complex, high-value IT projects."
The Mills & Reeve tender was led by Waddington, with involvement from technology partner Gill Thomas, litigation partner Fiona Hawker and senior property solicitor Dennis Macharaga.