TfL plans journey with new line-up of legal advisers
Transport for London (TfL) is in the process of shortlisting firms for its new legal services framework, as the current roster enters the last year of its existing line-up.
The government body is reviewing submissions from firms to draw up a shortlist of bidders to be invited to tender. The successful firms are expected to be appointed this December.
The panel was last reviewed in 2019, when 15 firms were appointed. Seven of those were new to the panel – Addleshaw Goddard, Burges Salmon, DLA Piper, Stephenson Harwood, Pinsent Masons, Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans – while the other eight were reappointments – Ashurst, Eversheds Sutherland, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Dentons, Herbert Smith Freehills, K&L Gates, Trowers & Hamlins and Gowling WLG.
The new framework, which is worth up to £120m, covers eight areas – employment law; major commercial matters; rail industry; routine commercial and real estate (contentious and non-contentious); housing; complex property and commercial development; major consents; and town and country planning and highways.
As with last time, the panel will run for at least four years, with an option to extend for a further two. The appointed firms will advise TfL and its subsidiaries, as well as TfL’s shared services clients, including the Greater London Authority.
Nine firms win spots on new MUFG’s EMEA panel
MUFG EMEA, the Europe, Middle East and Africa business of Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, has appointed nine law firms to its new 2024 legal panel.
The successful firms, which were chosen after what the bank described as a ‘a rigorous evaluation and procurement process’ are A&O Shearman, Addleshaw Goddard, Baker McKenzie, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith Freehills, Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, Simmons and Simmons and Slaughter and May.
The new panel will be in place for two years, as of 6 May this year.
MUFG EMEA’s co-GCs are James Morgan and Prabhat Kumar. Morgan is a former Slaughters associate who has also worked in-house at Citi and NYSE Euronext, and has been in his current position for five years. Kumar, meanwhile, worked in private practice at India’s Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, Bingham McCutchen in New York and Ashurst in London before joining MUFG in 2012.
In a statement, they said: ‘It is with pleasure we announce our newly-formed panel to support our business in the EMEA region. MUFG has some exciting plans ahead and the timing has allowed us to align our panel to our business priorities. We look forward to partnering with this strong group of firms and receiving the benefit of their market-leading expertise.’
Government Legal Department looks outside the bubble
In its latest annual report and accounts, the Government Legal Department (GLD) has set out an intention to become ‘a National GLD’ by increasing its footprint outside of London.
Currently 88% of of the organisation’s workforce are based in London and the South East. Of the other 12%, 221 are based in Leeds, with 104 in Bristol, 78 in Salford and 68 in Croydon.
The Croydon base was opened in summer 2023, after staff moved into the new premises in Salford in April that year.
In its report, the GLD states: ‘We want to increase our footprint outside of London as part of meeting the Government’s Places for Growth programme. We want our people to be able to work effectively and efficiently from any location across a state-of-the art national estate. We aspire to achieve a common culture where any role can be performed from any location.’
The GLD launched a new hybrid working policy during the year, and in its report, the organisation said that its aim was ‘to ensure we deliver inclusive and sustainable working practices for our people and continue to deliver for departments.’.
Moves that matter
- Louise Pentland, former chief counsel and senior VP for Disney Experiences and Products, has been appointed as senior VP and general counsel to US streaming platform Roku. Pentland’s role at the Walt Disney Company saw her overseeing legal and regulatory matters for global theme park destinations, cruise operations, global consumer products operations, and the division’s e commerce platform. She has prior experience in executive positions at technology companies PayPal, Hitachi and Experian. Founder and CEO of Roku Anthony Wood said in a statement that Kay’s ‘extensive expertise in legal affairs, government relations, and corporate governance will be invaluable as we advance our mission to transform how the world watches TV and connect and enhance the entire TV ecosystem.’ She replaces Stephen Kay who will stay on until November as part of the transition process. Kay is stepping down after ten years at the company and played a leading role in the company’s successful IPO in 2017.
- Grant Dixton has joined General Motors as executive vice president and chief legal and public policy officer with his official start date named as the 15 July. He will lead on global legal, compliance, corporate governance, privacy, and public policy functions. Dixton began his legal career as a judicial law clerk in Alexandria and has gone on to hold posts at Kirkland & Ellis, Boeing and most recently Activision Blizzard where his $14.2m golden parachute payment, confirmed in a proxy statement from Activision Blizzard, was widely reported upon. His predecessor Craig Glidden will continue to serve as president and chief administrative officer of Cruise, the self-driving car company that is a subsidiary of GM.
- US semiconductor company Lam Research has announced Ava Harter as its new chief legal officer, stepping into a post previously occupied by Ava Hahn who joined AMD as general counsel in January. Harter was previously chief legal officer at Whirlpool Corporation where she held enterprise-wide responsibility, including the oversight of environmental, corporate security and sustainability matters. Prior to Whirlpool she has held the position of general counsel at insulation and roofing company Owens Corning, and aviation firms Taleris and GE Aviation, respectively. President and CEO of Lam Research Tim Archer said in a statement: ‘Having led large legal organisations at two Fortune 500 companies, Ava brings to Lam significant experience in developing legal strategy and building world-class teams.’
- Media and entertainment veteran Lesley Freeman has been appointed as chief legal officer at independent studio Agbo. Freeman will oversee the company’s business and legal affairs as it expands its global presence in physical production, virtual production, gaming, and immersive technology. She joins from Amazon MGM Studios, where she served as vice president of legal and had previously worked as chief legal officer at MGM and senior vice president of legal affairs at HBO where she headed the film programming, home entertainment and strategic investments legal groups. Chris Brearton, partner at AGBO said in a statement that Freeman’s ‘distinguished track record, visionary mindset, and extensive background with leading media companies’ make her an ‘indispensable asset’ to the team. Freeman will oversee all aspects of AGBO’s business and legal affairs around the world as the company expands its global physical production, virtual production, gaming, and immersive technology footprint.