Eversheds loses out as NHS cuts panel down to seven

NHSLA cuts non-clinical panel from nine to seven firms - but Eversheds lands group trust mandate

The National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has completed its panel review of non-clinical claims advisers, reducing the line-up from nine law firms to seven in a move that has seen Eversheds taken off the lucrative list.

The organisation has retained six of its nine existing advisers, but Eversheds, south of England practice Brachers and London-based Watmores have all been taken off the list. Specialist insurance firm Kennedys has been appointed to the panel for the first time.

The firms keeping their positions on the panel, which handles all non-clinical claims against the NHS, are Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Browne Jacobson, Hill Dickinson, Veitch Penny, Ward Hadaway and Weightmans.

The appointments will take effect from 1 April, 2009, and carry a term of three years.

They were decided last week (26 March) after a review by NHSLA chief executive Steve Walker.

Walker told Legal Week: "We have finalised our panel, which we are happy with. Those that were not reappointed are all good firms. They were just not for us this time."

The organisation's decision to drop Eversheds comes after the firm pulled out of clinical negligence work after striking a deal to transfer its entire team to Beachcroft last November.

The firm decided to exit the market months after a trio of partners - Newcastle-based practice head David Weatherburn and Neil Rowe and Leeds-based Paul Taylor - resigned to join Beachcroft.

In a separate development, however, Eversheds' health practice has been appointed to Yorkshire and Humber Commercial Procurement Collaborative, winning a mandate to advise 32 NHS Trusts across the region for a two-year period.

Other firms to be appointed include Capsticks, Beachcroft, Browne Jacobson, Hempsons and Ward Hadaway.

The combined legal spend of the Collaborative is an estimated £15m over the two-year appointment.

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