13 January 2012
We have selected our top ten points to watch out for in the Commission’s proposals which were published on 20 December. Whilst the final proposals are not due to be published until the end of 2012, we believe these headline points represent the key issues of which contracting authorities and utilities should be aware.
06 January 2012
In this update we touch on a variety of current issues in procurement law including the role of environmental considerations in public procurement and the shape of public procurement for 2012. We also consider recent UK and EU case law.
17 November 2011
The Localism Act 2011 will devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities more control over housing and planning decisions.
28 October 2011
In this update we consider the recent rash of Northern Ireland cases (with some familiar names returning) on transparency of criteria. We also have another look at wider EU developments and UK procurement policy initiatives.
28 October 2011
As both central and local government strive to put in place models that will secure greater procurement efficiencies and improved public services, it is timely to revisit the benefits (and pitfalls) of framework agreements.
16 September 2011
Government amendments to the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (PCR); Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 and the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (the "Regulations").
10 August 2011
This briefing provides an update on the most recent developments in procurement law and provides practical guidance to help your organisation, whether you operate in the public or the private sector.
04 August 2011
Quarterly newsletter from our Construction and Engineering group. The focus this time is on public sector work, the Government’s new construction policy and imminent changes to the Construction Act.
21 July 2011
Ongoing litigation concerning the procurement by Eurostar of new rolling stock from Siemens, rather than the supplier of its existing fleet Alstom, is continuing to clarify the law on procurement remedies. In a judgment on 13 July 2011 Mann J has clarified the rules on ‘ineffectiveness’ under the recently amended Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006.
09 June 2011
This briefing provides an update on the most recent developments in procurement law and provides practical guidance to help your organisation, whether you operate in the public or the private sector.
11 April 2011
Download this PDF to read more about how our Procurement team can help you.
11 November 2010
The High Court in the very recent case of Cala Homes (South) Limited v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Winchester City Council has ruled that the Secretary of State Eric Pickles' decision to abolish the Regional Strategies (what were previously the Regional Spatial Strategies) in July 2010 was unlawful.
26 August 2010
This briefing provides an update on the most recent developments in procurement law and provides practical guidance to help your organisation, whether you operate in the public or the private sector.
06 May 2010
Welcome to the spring issue of Local Government, our bulletin in which we aim to keep you informed of current issues and news in local government.
13 April 2010
Businesses should now review their anti-corruption procedures to ensure protection against a new corporate offence introduced by the Act.
07 April 2010
The Equality Act has now become law. The Act will impose a single equality duty on the public sector.
10 November 2009
This update provides further information on Direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and their benefits for generators, consumers and suppliers.
09 November 2009
The long awaited guidance from the OGC on the application of public procurement rules to development agreements was published on 16 October against the background of a number of significant decisions by the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, most recently Commission v Germany dated 29 October 2009. This briefing provides an overview of the principles set out in the decisions and comments on the OGC guidance.
08 October 2009
The notion that standard form contracts help reduce procurement lead times and advisory costs is an article of faith in certain Whitehall circles – the argument being that we should avoid "reinventing the wheel" – but is this justified? Have the wheels come off the push for standardised contracting in PPPs?