Recommended experts: lawyers to advise on new builds, property law and contracts

Twelve law firms have been appointed to the Partnerships for Schools (PfS) national legal services framework, launched last week to support the government's building schools for the future (BSF) strategy.


The firms have been recommended as local authority partners to provide legal advice on all aspects of new builds, property law and contracting issues that may arise during the projects.


Around 30 firms tendered for the work. The successful ones were: Addleshaw Goddard, Beachcroft Wansbroughs, Bevan Brittan, Dickinson Dees, Eversheds, Hammonds, Nabarro Nathanson, Norton Rose, Pinsent Masons, Trowers & Hamlins, Ward Hadaway and US firm Kilpatrick Stockton.


They were selected using criteria that considered their understanding of BSF, PfS and local education authority (LEA) partnership requirements, general approach to product delivery, resourcing and quality of staff, approach to terms and conditions, and fee proposals.


The framework, or panel of recommended experts, was established to help local authorities choose the right private sector partners with which to work.


BSF is a national programme of investment to improve secondary school facilities in England over the next ten to 15 years. In the first of three phases, £2.2 billion will be invested in more than 150 schools in 19 local education authorities.


A PfS spokesman said the budget earmarked for legal services is not known and will differ for each build. Similar frameworks are in place for other services.


The PfS is a new non-departmental public body, jointly managed by the Department of Education and Skills and Partnerships UK, to help local authorities ensure that secondary schools are well designed, built on time at a reasonable cost, and properly maintained.


Trowers & Hamlins partner Helen Randall said: 'This is an exciting and well thought-out initiative. It is innovative but builds on experience gained in private finance initiatives in the NHS.'