United London councils unveil first legal panel
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Sixteen firms have won places on the first London Boroughs Legal Alliance (LBLA) panel ahead of its official launch on Thursday (15 October).
Ashfords, Browne Jacobson, Sharpe Pritchard, TLT and Weightmans have been selected for the main panel, and are listed as “key providers”.
A larger second panel of supporting firms includes Bevan Brittan, Dickinson Dees, Eversheds, Kennedys and Pinsent Masons.
The LBLA was set up by a group of London borough councils to reduce legal costs by sharing expertise and using a single panel.
Its current members include Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Highbury and Islington, and Kensington and Chelsea.
The initiative is expected to save its members a combined total of around £1.5m a year.
Harrow head of legal Hugh Peart said: “I think it’ll prove an innovation that other town halls across the country will want to copy.”
The panel places will last for three years, and member councils will be free to use other external providers.
The LBLA panel in full:
Key providers
Ashfords, Browne Jacobson, Sharpe Pritchard, TLT, Weightmans
Support panel
Bevan Brittan - personal injury.
Creighton & Partners - child protection and community care
Devonshires - housing and housing litigation.
Dickinson Dees - pensions, PPP/PFI
Eversheds - election law
EMW Picton Howell - property, planning and regeneration.
Geldards - insurance
Kennedys - child protection and personal injury
Michelmores - contracts, procurement, outsourcing, employment and information law
Moon Beever - debt recovery and insolvency
Pinsent Masons - commercial & construction litigation, pensions, PPP/PFI, trusts & charity
