Continuing our journey with the UK Department for Transport

Eversheds Sutherland has been reappointed to Crown Commercial Service's Rail Legal Services Panel

Eversheds Sutherland has been reappointed to Crown Commercial Service's Rail Legal Services Panel. Crown Commercial Service (CCS) supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

The firm’s successful reappointment means it will continue to advise primarily the UK Department for Transport for a period of three years, which may be extended by CCS for an additional year.

Having advised the Department for Transport (and its predecessors) for over 25 years,  Eversheds Sutherland will continue to be at the forefront of advising on rail matters in the UK, including the delivery of planned rail reforms resulting from the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail project. This will ultimately see the delivery of a new Great British Railways entity, with a consolidated responsibility for delivering the infrastructure and services that underpin rail services across the country.

Mukhtiar Tanda, Partner and Head of Governments & Infrastructure, commented:

“The rail network and associated infrastructure is going through a massive transformation in the UK. The delivery of new projects, and the implementation of a suite of reforms to the rail network make it a very interesting time to be involved with the Department for Transport. I am very pleased our Governments & Infrastructure, and Rail teams will continue to be in a position to work alongside the Government through this exciting period of transformation.”

This reappointment, together with Eversheds Sutherland’s appointment to the CCS Legal Services Panel on Lot 2 (Finance and Complex Legal Services), demonstrates the success of the firm’s sector strategy through the creation of its dedicated Governments & Infrastructure sector group in 2020, to focus on high value, high profile and complex Government projects.

The team involved in preparing our tender submission and interview was comprised of: Simon Oats, Partner and Head of Construction and Engineering and Client Partner for the Department for Transport; Agnes Koko, Partner, Governments & Infrastructure; Mark Brunton, Partner, Governments & Infrastructure; Anne Harris, Consultant, Governments & Infrastructure; Lucy Griffiths, Consultant, Competition; Tom Bray, Partner, Employment; Stephen Collings, Partner, Planning; Annabelle Smith, Pricing Director; Will Spickett, Principal Associate, Commercial; Mike Turner, Principal Associate, Commercial; and Andrew Bell, Principal Associate, Commercial.

Alongside Eversheds Sutherland, the new panel includes Addleshaw Goddard; Ashurst LLP; Burges Salmon LLP; Dentons UK and Middle East LLP; Herbert Smith Freehills; Linklaters LLP; and Osborne Clarke LLP.