Procurement group YPO names seven firms to £2bn legal services framework

One of the UK’s largest public sector procurement organisations, YPO, has appointed seven suppliers, including a council-controlled company, to its first legal services framework.

The contract, which is estimated to be worth £2bn, started on 8 October 2024 and is due to end on 7 October 2028.

The contract is divided into the following lots:

  1. Childcare Law
  2. Adult Social Services & Community Care Law
  3. General Litigation
  4. General Conveyancing / Routine Property
  5. General Contracts, Commercial & IT
  6. Planning, Compulsory Purchase and Highways & Environment
  7. Major or Complex Projects
  8. Local Government Law and Corporate Governance
  9. Employment Law and Pensions
  10. Public Health
  11. Commissioning/Procurement Training for WPS
  12. Legal Training for WPS
  13. Commissioning/Procurement Training for YPO Suppliers

The successful firms were:

  • Anthony Collins (lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13)
  • Bevan Brittan (1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
  • Browne Jacobson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
  • Capsticks Solicitors (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
  • DWF (3, 8, 11, 12, 13)
  • First North Law, which is controlled by North Yorkshire Council (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
  • Forbes Solicitors (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13)

Craig Elder, Partner in Browne Jacobson’s government and infrastructure team, said: “As a new public sector framework formed by a longstanding central purchasing organisation, this has great potential to deliver high-value legal services to the public sector across the UK and we’re thrilled to be at the heart of this.

“This will be complementary to other public sector frameworks and offers another procurement route for public sector bodies that wish to partner with trusted law firms.

“As a leading provider of legal services to local and central government, schools, universities and NHS trusts, this is testament to our profile in the sector.”

YPO, which is owned by 13 local authorities, recently announced that it will undertake preliminary market engagement to establish an "easier and compliant route to market" for public sector organisations requiring barrister services under the Procurement Act 2023.

The estimated total value of that contract is £100m.