Our International Public Sector Contracts & Disputes Group provides cross-border and national advice to public sector organisations, companies bidding to the public sector and institutions financing public sector projects in all the key markets across Europe.
Although based on the EC Treaty and various European procurement directives, public procurement law and practice in European market-places varies widely from country to country. Recent developments at the European and domestic level mean that the law is changing fast in this area. In particular, it is becoming much more realistic for bidders to take action, even in countries such as the UK, in which it has traditionally been far harder for bidders to challenge procurements. We have market-leading procurement teams based in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and the UK with extensive experience of advising both government bodies and bidders on complex procurement processes and procurement law challenges and disputes. Our lawyers provide integrated advice on procurement law, commercial negotiations, contract drafting and dispute resolution.
We have an impressive track record in public procurement, acting for contracting authorities as well as bidders, customers and suppliers. This gives us a 360-degree perspective on the various business, policy and other politically-sensitive aspects of every project, making us better equipped to anticipate the needs of all parties, and to develop commercially workable solutions.
We have particular strength in complex infrastructure and sophisticated technology-based projects across sectors such as Aviation & Aerospace, Defence, Communications, IT, Energy, Transport & Logistics, Construction and Facilities Management and Health Services.
We advise on all areas of law affecting public procurement transactions at any stage of the lifecycle: from planning and advertising to negotiation, short-listing and contract award (including making and defending legal challenges) through to management of the contract (including dispute resolution and avoidance).
Clients turn to us because of the value we can add to their involvement in the procurement process, whether through advice on financing, structuring consortia bids, helping to resolve disputes or just an instinct for what to do next.
Of particular benefit to organisations bidding for work outside their own countries, our pan-European practice means we can tailor our knowledge of the considerations specific to purchasers’ local environments to take account of bidders’ own particular circumstances and needs.
In addition to work on public procurement matters, we advise public sector bodies in a number of countries on a full range of legal work.
Head of Group: Jan Byok