Legal review: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appointed to general advisory panel

Barclays Bank has re-established its human resources panel following a six-month review of the group's legal panels, which also saw magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appointed to the bank's general advisory panel for the first time.


The human resources panel, comprising law firms that advise the bank specifically on employment and pension matters, was disbanded following the last panel review in 2003.


Those firms appointed to the new human resources panel unveiled last week are: Addleshaw Goddard, Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, Lovells, Simmons & Simmons and Wragge & Co.


Barclays now has 12 different panels: the general advisory panel and 11 specialist panels, eight of which were reviewed.


Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, DLA, Linklaters, Lovells and Simmons & Simmons retained their places on the general advisory panel.


Among the changes are Newcastle-based Dickinson Dees joining Addleshaw Goddard, Allen & Overy, Halliwells and Withers on the wealth structuring and fiduciary panel (formerly the private client panel) and Lovells securing a place on the capital securitisation panel for the first time.


Meanwhile, Addleshaw Goddard, Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer joined Ashurst on the infrastructure section of the private equity panel, while Travers Smith won a panel place for the first time on the management buy-out section.


The lending and finance panel (previously business banking lending and finance) has expanded and now lists 31 firms. Ashurst, Cobbetts, Norton Rose, and US firms Shearman & Sterling and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood joined the panel.


Simon Hall, head of finance at Freshfields, said: 'This is the one we have wanted to get on to for a long time and we are thrilled. It is an opportunity to build our existing relationships within Barclays into a broader remit.'


Mark Harding, general counsel at Barclays Bank, said: 'The panel process has ensured we continue to receive strong and value-adding support for the diverse needs of our business.'