T-Mobile delays panel review as market awaits Vodafone bid
T-Mobile has put its panel review on ice as it weighs up a potential deal with Vodafone.
James Blendis
T-Mobile UK general counsel James Blendis put his panel on notice in December last year in an effort to drive down costs. But the process has been delayed amid reports that Vodafone is set to bid for the UK business of T-Mobile.
The company’s panel, which was cut from 15 firms to six two years ago, features Allen & Overy, Bird & Bird, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and technology firm Kemp Little.
It is understood that Blendis is keen to complete more work in-house following the merger of the international and UK legal teams last year.
The panel review is now likely to be concluded by the end of the summer.
Vodafone declined to comment on reports that it is considering buying T-Mobile UK. A tie-up would value T-Mobile at around £3bn and give the combined entity 40 per cent of the UK mobile market.
In May this year Vodafone appointed former Telefonica Europe general counsel Justine Campbell as its legal and government affairs director.
