One of the public sector’s more valuable panel appointments is coming up for retender.
City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority is seeking bids to join external advice roster the Legal Services Network under a four-year deal valued at up to £20m. The new framework, which could be worth more than double the estimated spend of £8.6m between 2020 and 2024, will run for four years from 2025.
An FCA spokesperson said: ‘Our remit is complex and touches on diverse areas of the law. As a result, there are occasions when we need external support to bolster the expertise we have in-house. We’re inviting legal firms to apply to join our panel of advisers so that, together, we can continue to uphold high standards in financial services.’
The framework will be split into two lots: public law; and corporate and commercial law. Each lot will have about 10 places.
The current FCA framework has 15 firms across both lots. They are: Ashurst, BDB Pitmans, Bevan Brittan, Burges Salmon, Clarke Wilmott, Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co, Dentons, DLA Piper, Eversheds, Gowling WLG, Kingsley Napley, Mills & Reeves, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Pinsent Masons.
The closing date to submit a tender response is 3 September, with a deadline of 14 August for questions. Approved suppliers will cover a range of specialisms, providing stakeholders with flexibility and a ‘quick, efficient’ call-off mechanism, the FCA said.
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