Bird & Bird appointed to the NEPO Legal Services Framework

We are pleased to announce that we have been successfully appointed to the NEPO Legal Services Framework. Established in 1976, NEPO undertakes high-value procurement in major strategic areas of spend in conjunction with the 12 North East local authorities and a range of associate members. 

Public sector organisations (including local authorities, educational establishments, emergency services, and NHS bodies) will be able to utilise the NEPO Legal Services Framework as a quick and compliant route to market to procure our award-winning expertise and pragmatic legal advice with the ability to appoint via direct award. Therefore, removing the need to undertake a lengthy procurement process. Local authorities recognise the high-quality service and value we provide above your typical law firm, demonstrated by feedback provided by a local authority Project Lead about our award-winning public procurement team:

“…the Bird & Bird team have been utterly invaluable to our procurements. Their advice, which has always been exceptional, has enabled us to run procurements that are as robust as they are creative, and have helped us build a superb relationship with the bidding market. Their particular strength is in the level of pragmatism in their advice. In our experience, that pragmatism means their advice goes beyond that of a stereotypical law firm, always being tailored to the realities of the world we work in, and fundamentally focused on getting the job done.”

We are able to provide legal services within the NEPO Legal Services Framework for the following areas:

1. Public Procurement
   
2. Data Protection
   
3. Public Law
   
4. Contract
   
5. Employment & HR
   
6. Property, Development, and Planning
   
7. Competition Law
8. Banking and Finance
   
9. Partnerships & Projects
   
10. Litigation and Disputes 

Our appointment commenced in June 2024 and will span for a period of four years, ending in June 2028.

Stuart Cairns, Head of Bird & Bird’s UK Public Sector Group, commented: "We are delighted to be appointed to this framework which will provide a fantastic platform to further build on the great work we are doing for the UK Public Sector and, in particular, local Government. In the last 4 years we have supported numerous clients in the sector, in successfully delivering their most important projects and, in doing so, have procured and negotiated over £4bn of contracts". 

If you are interested in learning more about how we can support you, please contact Stuart at [email protected].