LBLA names successful barristers chambers for £63m legal services framework

The London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance has appointed 31 sets of chambers to a legal services framework worth an estimated £63m.

The London Borough of Islington acted as central purchasing body on the procurement exercise. The other contracting authorities were: Brent; Camden; Ealing; Hackney; Hammersmith & Fulham; Harrow; Hillingdon; Hounslow; Kensington & Chelsea; and the West London Waste Authority.

The framework will be made available for use by other local authorities in Greater London and South-East England should they wish to access it.

The agreement covers a range of specialist advocacy and legal services: adult social services; childcare; corporate governance; criminal litigation & prosecutions; education; employment & pensions; housing & property; and planning.

The consortium received 42 offers. The successful barristers’ chambers were:

  • Cornerstone Barristers
(previously 2-3 Gray's Inn Square)
  • 3 Pump Court
  • 4 Brick Court
  • 4 Paper Buildings
  • 4-5 Gray's Inn Square
  • 5 St Andrew's Hill Chambers
  • 6 Pump Court
  • 7 Bedford Row
  • 9-12 Bell Yard
  • 9 Gough Square
  • 11 King’s Bench Walk
  • 12 King's Bench Walk
  • 14 Gray's Inn Square
  • 42 Bedford Row
  • Arden Chambers
  • Atlas Chambers
  • Coram Chambers
  • Doughty Street
  • Dyers Chambers
  • Ely Place Chambers
  • Field Court Chambers
  • Five Paper
Buildings
  • Francis Taylor Building
  • Hardwicke Chambers
  • Lamb Chambers
  • Landmark Chambers
  • Matrix Chambers
  • New Court Chambers
  • Outer Temple Chambers
  • QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers
  • Renaissance Chambers

It is understood that the agreement will last three years with an option for the councils to renew for a further year.

The result of the LBLA procurement exercise comes two months after Local Government Lawyer revealed that Southwark and Lambeth Councils had appointed 31 sets of chambers to a £10.4m, four-year framework agreement for barristers’ services.

Debra Norman, Director of Legal & HR Services at Islington Council, said: “We are delighted with the quality of the panel and the rates secured, which are projected to deliver a minimum saving of £1.8m to the ten London boroughs over three years. These savings will be over and above the significant savings the LBLA was already achieving under the previous panel.”

Consultancy Kennedy Cater advised the LBLA throughout the procurement.

Senior consultant James McLeod said: “We are thrilled to have been involved in such a challenging project, accommodating the needs of ten authorities and delivering the project within seven months. We are very happy with the high calibre of the chambers on the panel and the cost savings achieved for the LBLA members.”

Philip Hoult