North-east councils target barristers after unveiling law firm panel

A Tyne and Wear-based consortium of local authorities is looking to collaborate on the instruction of barristers’ chambers after last month appointing five law firms to a joint legal panel.

The consortium members – Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland – set up the joint panel to cover advice in areas such as projects, commercial and regeneration. The successful practices were Dickinson Dees, Eversheds, Pinsent Masons, Walker Morris and Ward Hadaway.

John Softly, head of commercial law at Newcastle City Council, said: “Whilst it is difficult to be precise about the savings, we believe that we have secured significant discounts on the rates we would otherwise have paid.”

He added that it would be up to each authority how it commissions work from the panel, although it is expected that there will be mini-competitions for larger projects. The consortium is actively considering opening up the panel to other local authorities in the region.

The law firm panel appointments will last for three years, with the option to extend for a further year. The five firms have all agreed to provide training and other forms of “added value”. Softly said: “Given the costs of CPD training, this was always recognised as one of the major benefits of setting up the panel.”

The prospective arrangement with chambers is expected to look particularly closely at the councils’ options in relation to childcare advocacy.