Edinburgh firm Robson McLean has won a competitive tender worth millions of pounds to provide legal services to the Ministry of Defence in Scotland.
Under a five-year contract estimated to be worth £3-£4 million, the firm will advise all the armed forces and the procurement executive in Scotland.
The eight-partner practice, which has advised the navy for over 50 years, was the smallest of four firms shortlisted in the tender. The other three were Morton Fraser Milligan, Steedman Rammage and the Scottish Office solicitors.
Duncan Murray, head of the litigation team for the contract, said Robson McLean was absolutely delighted: “We see our success as an endorsement of the quality service we provide and are looking forward to working closely with the MoD.”
The decision to appoint a single firm to provide legal services to all the armed forces in Scotland was taken last year. Previously, each branch has appointed its own solicitor, with Henderson Boyd Jackson advising the army and a Scottish Office solicitor advising the RAF and the Procurement Executive. An MoD spokes-man said the tender in no way indicated dissatisfaction with these two advisers.
Henderson Boyd Jackson, which advised the army for 15 years, also put in a bid for tender. Derek Pyle, head of litigation at the firm, said: “It is always a disappointment to lose a long-standing connection.”
