Award

Provision of Legal Services to The University of Birmingham

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

UK5: Transparency notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-063621

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05ab63

Published 9 October 2025, 11:23am



Scope

Description

Summary:

The University of Birmingham previously established a framework agreement for the provision of legal services across a range of specialist areas relevant to the Higher Education sector. This framework supports the institution accessing high-quality legal expertise tailored to the complex and evolving needs of the sector.

Scope of Services:

The framework covers the following key work areas:

Information law

Academy sponsorship and governance matters

Higher Education Law, including authority duties, charity law, corporate governance, and compliance

Litigation (contracts, grants, personal injury, negligence, breach of statutory duty)

Land and property transactions (freehold, leasehold), property litigation, and minor agricultural tenancy matters

Commercial law (contracts, procurement, IT, research grants, IP, copyright, overseas operations)

Employment law (contentious and non-contentious), including health and safety, immigration, and pensions

Student-related matters (contractual, procedural, statutory, discrimination, litigation, immigration)

Licensing matters

Debt recovery litigation

Professional regulatory advice on legal practice

Banking, corporate, and spin-out support

Current Legal Services Provision:

The University of Birmingham's in-house legal department, led by the Director of Legal Services, handles a wide range of legal matters including property, contracts, governance, employment, intellectual property, and compliance.


Contract 1

Supplier

Contract value

  • £600,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 October 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 9 October 2025 to 16 September 2026
  • 11 months, 8 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 79100000 - Legal services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 2

Supplier

Contract value

  • £600,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 October 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 9 October 2025 to 16 September 2026
  • 11 months, 8 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 79100000 - Legal services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 3

Supplier

Contract value

  • £600,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 October 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 9 October 2025 to 16 September 2026
  • 11 months, 8 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 79100000 - Legal services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 4

Supplier

Contract value

  • £600,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 October 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 9 October 2025 to 16 September 2026
  • 11 months, 8 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 79100000 - Legal services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 5

Supplier

Contract value

  • £600,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 October 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 9 October 2025 to 16 September 2026
  • 11 months, 8 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 79100000 - Legal services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Participation

Particular suitability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)


Other information

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes


Procedure

Procedure type

Direct award

Direct award justification

Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement

The current legal services framework is due for renewal. To ensure continuity of service and allow sufficient time for a comprehensive tendering process, the University of Birmingham intends to extend the existing framework agreement for a further 12 months. This extension is necessary to maintain access to specialist legal services based on expertise, sector-specific experience, pricing, and availability.

A formal procurement process will be undertaken to establish the new framework agreement, ensuring compliance with public procurement regulations and delivering value.


Suppliers

Eversheds-Sutherland (International) LLP

  • Companies House: OC304065

One Wood Street

London

EC2V 7WS

United Kingdom

Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1

Freeths LLP

  • Companies House: OC304688

Cumberland Court, 80 Mount Street

Nottingham

NG1 6HH

United Kingdom

Region: UKF14 - Nottingham

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 2

Mills and Reeve LLP

  • Companies House: OC326165

78-84 Colmore Row

Birmingham

B3 2AB

United Kingdom

Region: UKG31 - Birmingham

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 3

PINSENT MASONS LLP

  • Companies House: OC333653
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCCJ-7195-ZBYD

30 Crown Place

London

EC2A 4ES

United Kingdom

Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 5

SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLP

  • Companies House: OC319029
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXPX-4658-DTQQ

No 1 Colmore Square

Birmingham

B4 6AA

United Kingdom

Region: UKG31 - Birmingham

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 4


Contracting authority

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

  • Companies House: RC000645
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHCQ-3464-LVTM

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 2TT

United Kingdom

Region: UKG31 - Birmingham

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government