News - News - Transport for London Seeks New Joint Panel of Law Firms

Transport for London (TfL) and its group company London Underground Ltd (LUL); seeking to appoint a new joint panel of law firms to support its major projects work. Invitations to tender have been sent to the 18 firms that have been selected to take part in the process.  The new arrangements are intended to be in place by the summer of 2007 and will also replace LUL’s existing panel arrangements which expire in July 2007. TfL’s existing arrangements with Eversheds, regarding mainstream operational work, is not affected by this process.

TfL Legal plays an essential role in supporting the delivery of major projects in TfL’s Investment Programme for London. Such projects range from the extension of the East London Line, the transfer and consolidation of the North London Railway, and the creation of the new Thames Gateway Bridge, through to the extension of the Congestion Charging scheme, the raising of finance in the corporate markets and the commercial development of real estate for transport integration. Helping to deliver the various transport projects for the 2012 London Olympics is a major and very topical area for the Department.

LUL Legal’s portfolio of PPP/PFI contracts includes managing the legal aspects of the PPP contracts with Tube Lines and Metronet.  The PPP contracts are part of delivering the biggest investment programme in the organisation’s history.  The work is diverse, technically complex and innovative, demanding a range of corresponding skills and attributes from LUL in-house and external lawyers.

LUL is therefore looking for law firms with an innovative approach to addressing the contractual issues that arise in the run up to the first contractual “periodic review” of these contracts in 2010 by the PPP Arbiter.

 “We are at defining moments in many of our key contractual relationships in situations with no obvious precedents,” says Sarah Atkins, Director of Legal for LUL.  “We therefore need advisers who can think laterally but who also have the pragmatism needed to support the successful delivery of construction projects.”

TfL and LUL are committed to the Mayor’s economic, social and environmental strategies for London through achieving best value, equality and inclusion and sustainable procurement. TfL and LUL are looking for legal advisers who can tangibly demonstrate their commitment to these values.

"Our priority is to help TfL deliver its Investment Programme and other initiatives for London,” says Gareth John, TfL Director of Legal & Compliance. “This is an opportunity to clarify our expectations, ensure that we have the right mix of expertise and resource, and to drive best value and efficiencies for TfL. We are also keen to ensure that the firms we work with reflect our own values regarding equality, inclusion and sustainable procurement."