Spending watchdog kicks off tender for £1.885m in legal advice

The NAO said the tender has been divided into two lots:

1. Constitutional and Public Law (worth £1.51m);
2. Local Public Audit Law (£375,000).

The contract is due to last an initial period of 48 months with the option to extend for a further period of 24 months.

In 2017 the watchdog appointed four law firms to a five-lot legal services panel. They were:

1. British constitutional law: Bircham Dyson Bell (now BDB Pitmans).
2. Public law: Bircham Dyson Bell.
3. General commercial law: Browne Jacobson.
4. Human Resources law: Capsticks.
5. Local public audit law: Bates Wells Braithwaite.