EM Lawshare framework sees legal services spend soar as a result of pandemic

Spend under the EM Lawshare framework contract for legal services is expected to be 50% higher than originally estimated when the contract notice was issued in 2017, it has emerged.

In an addendum notice Nottinghamshire County Council, which ran the procurement on the consortium’s behalf, said the estimated value was now £45m, rather £30m.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, primarily the Pandemic, the participating authorities have had to use the services far more than anticipated,” the notice said.

In 2018 the consortium expanded its panel of law firms to seven, with the addition of Anthony Collins Solicitors, to cover 2018-2022. The other successful firms were: Bevan Brittan, Browne Jacobson, Freeths, Geldards, Sharpe Pritchard and Weightmans.

EM Lawshare is in the process of procuring the next iteration of its framework, which will run from 1 April 2022 to 30 March 2026. A contract notice issued on 30 July estimated the spend at £50m over the period.

At 1 May 2021 there were 220 members of the consortium, up more than 80 since the commencement of the current framework.