NHS LA names 14 firms to £400m Department of Health legal panels
The NHS Litigation Authority has selected 14 law firms to advise a range of Department of Health organisations under a four-year, £300-400m framework agreement.
The Department of Health bodies covered by the agreement are: Care Quality Commission; Health Education England; Health Research Authority; Health and Social Care Information Centre; Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; Human Tissue Authority; Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency; Monitor; NHS Blood and Transplant; NHS Commissioning Board; The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; NHS Litigation Authority; NHS Trust Development Authority; Professional Standards Authority; Public Health England.
The 15 organisations previously procured their own legal advice. The NHS LA meanwhile had ten firms on two panels.
The new framework, which went live on 28 May, involves three lots: clinical liability; non-clinical liability; and regulatory, health and disciplinary. The successful firms were:
Lot 1 – Clinical liability
- Berrymans Lace Mawer
- Bevan Brittan
- Browne Jacobson
- Capsticks
- Clyde & Co
- DAC Beachcroft
- Hempsons
- Hill Dickinson
- Kennedys
- Ward Hadaway
- Weightmans
Lot 2 – Non-clinical liability
- Berrymans Lace Mawer
- Browne Jacobson
- DAC Beachcroft
- Hill Dickinson
- Kennedys
- Weightmans
Lot 3 –Regulatory, health and disciplinary
- Browne Jacobson
- Capsticks
- DAC Beachcroft
- Field Fisher Waterhouse
- Hempsons
- Hill Dickinson
- Kennedys
- Mills & Reeve
- Morgan Cole
- Ward Hadaway
- Weightmans
The panel firms have agreed to provide extra services to support the NHS in addition to fixing their hourly rates over the four years.
The most valuable lot is Lot 1, which was estimated to be worth £70-80m over 12 months. The second lot is considered to be worth £10-15m over 12 months, while the third lot is valued at £2-5m over 12 months.
The Department of Health bodies are expected to make the greater users of Lot 3.
Catherine Dixon, Chief Executive of the NHS LA, said: “We’re delighted to have secured what I am confident will be excellent quality legal services for the NHS at a price which ensures value for money”.