Twelve law firms have secured places on two new Treasury Solicitor's Department panels that will provide litigation services to government departments and agencies.

The first 'Lit-Cat' panel will handle debt recovery work after the decision was taken to run down the Treasury Solicitor's Department in-house team. The six successful firms are: international firm Salans, Bournemouth-based Lester Aldridge, Cardiff's Hugh James, national firm Irwin Mitchell, US/UK firm Reed Smith, and Ipswich practice Prettys.


A second Lit-Cat panel will provide prosecution and other regulatory advice for Ofsted, the government agency that monitors standards in education.


The six firms on this panel, which became operational from 1 April, are: Birmingham's Anthony Collins, regional firm Bevan Brittan, Bedford-based Borneo Linnells, City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, Leeds practice Jones Myers, and east London firm Sternberg Reed Taylor & Gill.


The Treasury Solicitor's Department has begun assessing applications for three other appointments as it expands the Lit-Cat scheme.


One law firm will be appointed to handle public interest winding-up and directors' disqualification proceedings in the Manchester High Court District Registry.


A panel will also be set up to provide specified regulatory and criminal litigation and advisory services to the department and its clients.


Finally, a panel of legal and paralegal agents, including law firms, will be appointed to provide litigation support services to the Treasury Solicitor's Department itself.


The application deadline passed last month, with the new arrangements expected to be in place from 1 June 2005.


Andrew Corke, partner and chairman of Lester Aldridge's debt recovery division LA Fast Track, said: 'Our appointment to high-profile panels such as this shows that public and private sector clients are increasingly looking outside big-name national players to find the quality of service they need.'