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
Email: jane.eyre@freeths.co.uk
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
Email: tenders@shma.co.uk
Website: https://www.shma.co.uk/
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
Email: procurement@bham.ac.uk
Website: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government