London Boroughs Legal Alliance expands number of firms on £6.3m solicitors panels

The London Boroughs Legal Alliance (LBLA) has increased the number of law firms on its framework agreement for the provision of solicitors’ services from seven to 12.

The agreement, worth an estimated £6.3m, was divided into two lots:

  1. Regeneration.
  2. Full range of services.

The successful firms were:

Lot 1

  • Sharpe Pritchard
  • Bevan Brittan
  • Capsticks
  • Ashfords
  • Pinsent Masons
  • DWF
  • TLT
  • Blake Morgan

Lot 2

  • Capsticks
  • Sharpe Pritchard
  • Bevan Brittan
  • Invicta Law
  • Anthony Collins Solicitors
  • Shakespeare Martineau
  • Weightmans
  • TLT

In November 2013, the LBLA named seven firms to its solicitors panel.

Capsticks, DWF, Blake Morgan, recently launched-alternative business structure Invicta Law, Anthony Collins Solicitors, Shakespeares and Weightmans are all new to the framework.

The new agreement - which lasts for three years, with an option for a further year - came into effect on 6 November.

The London Borough of Hackney was the central purchasing body, with procurement consultancy Kennedy Cater acting as advisers on behalf of the LBLA authorities.

The LBLA comprises the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, the City of London Corporation, Westminster City Council and the London Fire and Planning Authority.

The LBLA framework will, for the first time, be open for use by local authorities in Greater London and South-East England.

The award criteria for both lots were: service delivery (weighting: 45%), value added benefits and social value benefits (weighting: 5%) and price (weighting: 50%).

Helen Edwards, Client Services Director at Kennedy Cater, said. "We are delighted by the response to this rigorous procurement process which has delivered firms with recognised expertise and experience in local government and which are well placed to provide the LBLA authorities with the legal support that fulfils their significant cost and quality criteria requirements."

She added that also integral to each firms’ selection was their commitment to providing an extensive range of value added benefits including extensive training and other knowledge transfer initiatives.

Stephen Rix, Head of Litigation & Interim Head of Commercial at the London Borough of Hackney said: "This has been a long and thorough process made simpler by the experienced support of Kennedy Cater. I believe that I speak for all members of the LBLA when I say that we believe the procurement has delivered a positive framework that collectively meets all of our varied needs. The panel of firms we have achieved, support our vision of exceptional service, at rates which deliver outstanding value to our residents. We look forward to the LBLA going from strength to strength."