Request ID: FOI-1216-2122 Date published: 05 October 2021
You asked
Please could you supply a breakdown of legal costs spent for each calendar year for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 for your organisation as a whole. This request is to supplement data previous requested for the period 2016 to 2020.
If details of the money spent are not available for the whole organisation, please supply details for all divisions/departments for which the data is available.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1216-2122
Thank you for your request received on 8 September 2021 asking for information about our legal expenditure.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
Please find the requested information in the table below:
As a large commercial organisation, (employing approximately 28,000 people), TfL inevitably has a significant volume of complex legal issues in relation to general commercial and corporate matters, property, disputes and employment law. Total annual amounts are given in respect of firms who provide such legal support. TfL has a panel of external law firms to provide the majority of external legal support that is required. These firms were appointed after a competitive process and TfL continuously seeks to ensure that it achieves value for money from its external lawyers including driving greater efficiencies through securing reduced fees.
When considering the information please also note the following:
• In some cases legal costs incurred have been met by third parties, for instance in relation to the commercial development of TfL property, or recovered following successful legal proceedings. • Fees paid to law firms may include disbursements (i.e. the cost of experts, counsel etc.) these amounts have not been separated out from the general legal support figures provided. • Figures cover the four financial periods from 1 April to 31 March. • Expenditure figures are net of VAT.
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
