Manchester firm Vaudreys is playing an important role in the drive to rebuild the city centre after winning a government contract to advise on the construction of an Inland Revenue office complex there.

The practice has completed the first stage of its role as adviser for the Private Finance Initiative-managed development after handling the bidding for the contract to build the multi-million pound complex.

The project, the first of its kind for Vaudreys, follows its successful bid for the Revenue contract for the provision of its estate management legal services.

The contract was awarded jointly earlier this year to Vaudreys and the Birmingham practice Pinsent Curtis.

It will cover all property matters within the Revenue estate including acquisition and disposals as well as related property litigation advice.

The two firms were chosen from 105 bidders.

Vaudreys is currently advising on a similar project in Liverpool and is expected to advise on an Inland Revenue relocation scheme in Yorkshire.

Mark Pattison, partner in Vaudreys' commercial property department, said: “This should mark the beginning of a whole new range of government project work.”