Pinsents picked as main Willmott Dixon adviser

UK construction company Willmott Dixon has appointed Pinsent Masons as its principal adviser in what is the firm's second major construction win of 2008.

Collyer Bristow will remain as corporate advisers, but there was no room for longstanding advisers Bevan Brittan or Hammonds, which represented the company on its takeover of service provider InSpace last year.

Willmott Dixon director John Frankiewicz said: "We wanted to limit the amount of people giving us advice. Primarily we wanted one firm across all the issues."

The privately owned builder held a competitive tender at the end of last year before settling on Pinsents as its main provider.

Last week the firm secured a place on the legal panel of Costain, one of the country's largest construction companies.

Pinsents head of construction Richard Laudy is the relationship partner for both clients.

He said the firm's expertise across a range of construction issues was key, adding: "Clients are now seeing the broad offering that the firm has. People are looking to us to help them in other areas in the sector."

Pinsents has links with Willmott Dixon going back nearly a decade, taking instructions on dispute resolution and procurement.

Pinsents stood out because of its knowledge of industry trends and future regulatory changes, said Frankiewicz.

The placing of its regional offices in key northern cities was also a factor.

Willmott Dixon is one of the UK's largest privately owned construction companies, with an annual turnover of around £360m.