City legal giant to call the tune over new IT projects; Five-year deal could net seven-figure sum.

Byline: BY BEN SCHOFIELD Daily Post Staff

LEGAL giant DLA Piper has won a major re-tender contract with the Department for Work and Pensions that could earn the firm a seven-figure sum.

Four of the firm's northern offices, including Liverpool, will provide external legal advisors for all the DWP's IT projects over the next five years.

They will work for the Department's Corporate Infrastructure Technology (CIT) Group.

The DWP is one of the largest departments in the UK Government, and a leader in the deployment of IT across the Civil Service.

It is responsible for ensuring benefit payments totalling in excess of pounds 125bn are made to 25m UK citizens each year.

DWP is planning an ambitious programme of re-tendering some of its decades-old IT contracts.

A team of more than 15 lawyers from Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield will work with the support of DWP's inhouse team of commercial lawyers based in the North West.

It will be headed by partners Richard Bonnar and Andrew Dyson.

Mr Bonnar, who leads DLA's public sector group, told LDP Legal: "The support we provide is crucial to helping DWP continue to implement world-class IT infrastructure that will support the effective delivery of pensions and benefits to millions of people.

The Department is a real leader in the approach it takes to IT project delivery and at the cutting edge of public sector contracting."

DWP's strategic sourcing director added: "The Department is pleased to confirm the appointment of DLA Piper for the provision of its external legal advice and is looking forward to further developing the excellent working relationship over the coming years."

DLA's Mr Dyson added: "We are excited by the challenge of supporting the implementation of an IT sourcing strategy that will redefine the Department's IT landscape for the next 10 years and set new standards across the public sector. It is a reflection of the strength of our public sector practice and experience in delivering complex IT projects that we have been selected for this high-profile appointment."

DLA Piper has advised the DWP on its IT projects since 2003.

The re-appointment - won in a competitive tender - consolidates DLA Piper's market leading position as a legal adviser to the public sector on IT projects and follows recent similar appointments for the Cabinet Office, the Office of Government Commerce and the Pensions Regulator.

The firm also advises NHS Connecting for Health on the highly complex National Programme for IT within the NHS.

The support we provide is crucial

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