National giants Pinsent Masons and Wragge & Co have taken the top roles on a deal that will see the largest warships ever designed and built in the
UK.
Contracts worth £3bn have been agreed between an alliance of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and four defence contractors..
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance includes the MoD, BAE Systems, BVT Surface Fleet, Babcock Marine and Thales UK.
Pinsents led the negotiations for the industrial members of the alliance with technology and commercial partner Chris Kelly at the helm.
Wragges advised the MoD, a regular client of the firm, with projects partners Michael Whitehouse and Jane Pittaway leading a large team.
Kelly said of the deal: “The two new aircraft carriers will form the front line of Britain’s future defence capability and we are honoured to have played a significant role. This exciting project demonstrates how multiple suppliers can partner to provide government with the best possible solutions.”
The deal represents the first time that an alliance has been used to deliver a long-term public sector project.
The new aircraft carriers – expected to come into service in 2014 and 2016 – will be constructed in Glasgow, Portsmouth and Barrow-in-Furness and will safeguard around 10,000 jobs.
In 2005 Wragges was reappointed to the MoD’s legal panel and last year the firm completed a private finance initiative deal worth £1.2bn.
