Eversheds appointed to legal panel

Jul 18 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

NEWCASTLE law firm Eversheds has been appointed to the Government’s “Catalist Legal” panel (formerly known as L-CAT).

David Weatherburn, Newcastle’s head of healthcare group, worked closely with Alun Cole, head of central government sector, to steer the firm through the rigorous tender process.

He said: “We’re delighted to be appointed to this highly prestigious roster.We’re even more thrilled that, along with being appointed to the full commercial’ category, we are the only firm from Newcastle to have also been appointed to major projects’.

“This means we will be considered for projects in excess of £100m, which will result in important revenue coming into the North-East region. This has immediately started to bring benefits as the health team have been appointed by a strategic health authority in the North to a major piece of real estate-based work.”

The appointment acts as a ‘kitemark’, attracting private sector clients who are keen to do business with the public sector and will value Eversheds’ experience, insight and connections.

The panel aims to provide central government departments and their agencies, NHS bodies, local authorities, police and emergency services, educational establishments, utilities and registered charities with access to a roster of approved law firms that have undergone rigorous assessment by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).

Potentially, this appointment could be worth many millions of pounds in profitable income to the firm in Newcastle every year. The OGC estimates that more than £250m of legal spending will be directed through the panel over the next three years.