Harper Macleod lands a full house of appointments on new Scottish Government legal panel

Harper Macleod has been appointed to all six lots of the expanded Scottish Central Government Legal Services Framework.

Harper Macleod is one of only two firms to be named on every lot (the other being Anderson Strathern) with nine firms in total making up the various panels. The individual Framework lots are: contracts - commercial and corporate; debt recovery; litigation, reparation, employment and inquiries; major projects; property; and a one-stop shop.

The firm was previously appointed to the Scottish Government’s panels for debt recovery and property and related work.

The new Scottish Central Government Legal Services Framework comes into force on 1 August 2015 and will run for four years. All procurements covered by the Framework will be run under the new guidelines from that date. The collaborative procurement approach of the new Framework represents a significant change from the previous panel arrangements. Now, more than 100 Central Government public bodies will be able to access the Framework to procure their legal services.

Professor Lorne Crerar, chairman of Harper Macleod said: “The Scottish Government set out to create a framework that would deliver both quality and value, a combination we pride ourselves on delivering to everyone we work with. The process of being appointed involved a thorough examination of the firm and our services as a whole so we are naturally delighted to have been recognised as meeting this benchmark.

“It’s a testament to the continued growth and ambition of Harper Macleod, and the talented lawyers we continue to develop and add to the firm, that we have improved upon our position since the last panel review in 2011.

“Given the level of interest and high levels of competition during this procurement process, being appointed to the Framework panels is an achievement in itself, however this simply affords us the ability to bid for a wide range of tender opportunities. We look forward to competing for the opportunity to work with the Government and a wide range of public bodies over the next four years.”