Pinsents beats City giants to gain places on Tesco panels

Pinsent Curtis has triumphed over a host of firms to win a place on Tesco's corporate policy panel alongside City giant Freshfields.

The national firm has also been appointed as primary adviser for regulatory issues following the retail giant's wide-ranging panel review.

The victories are a coup for Pinsents which was competing against big-hitters such as Clifford Chance.

Leeds managing partner and national head of litigation Nigel Kissack says: "Freshfields has always previously done Tesco's policy work."

Pinsents had been invited to bid for both panel places. It won the regulatory work after a trial run that started several months ago.

Kissack says: "We did 10 per cent, then 25 per cent and then they had their review and it was made up to 90 per cent.

"The key issue for Tesco was service delivery. We are particular and helpful and these were the things that swayed it our way."

Tesco's director in trading law John Longworth says: "Pinsent Curtis was not one of our previous advisers - it is the new firm on the block.

"We were impressed by the firm's client care, business-like approach and competency in the area."

Also working on the regulatory panel is London firm Titmuss Sainer Dechert and existing adviser Paisner & Co, while McGrigor Donald has been appointed to the policy panel for Scotland.

Herbert Smith, Ashurst Morris Crisp and Clifford Chance all bid for the work along with national firm Dibb Lupton Alsop.

Kissack says that Pinsents now views City firms as direct competitors for clients.