Please would you advise me which firms of lawyers you use where either TfL or one of its subsidiaries (including Crossrail) is required to defend a construction contract claim. Do you have a panel and do you ever instruct outside the panel?

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Our ref: FOI-1624-1718/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25 September 2017 asking for information about firms of lawyers used by TfL and Crossrail Limited (CRL).

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

As a large commercial organisation TfL inevitably requires a panel of external firms that work alongside our in-house team of lawyers.  The panel were appointed after a competitive process and comprises: Ashurst, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gowling WLG, Herbert Smith Freehills, K&L Gates, Lewis Silkin, Simmons & Simmons, Dentons and Trowers & Hamlins. We would ordinarily appoint Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills or K&L Gates to support us on significant commercial disputes. 

Crossrail Ltd (CRL) has a separate panel of law firms, which it has instructed during the delivery of the Crossrail programme, as follows: Ashurst, Bircham Dyson Bell, Cripps Harries Hall, Eversheds Sutherland, Gowling WLG, Herbert Smith Freehills, OAH Law and Winckworth Sherwood.  

TfL and CRL both occasionally work with other lawyers where that is justified, e.g. where a particular specialism is required or a conflict of interest prevents a panel firm from acting.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response, please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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