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Legal Services in relation to an ISDS dispute

Department for Business and Trade

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 Jul 2026 at 09:26

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Business and Trade procured legal services for an investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) dispute. The requirement covers document review and management, preparation of pleadings, legal submissions and witness statements, and procurement of expert evidence. The expert evidence areas are mining subsidence, mining finance and quantum. This is a specialist legal services requirement, classified under CPV 79100000, to support the department’s dispute work. Delivery is in London, United Kingdom. The buyer is the Department for Business and Trade, and the selected supplier is Ashurst LLP. The opportunity was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, although the awarded supplier is recorded as a large organisation.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Ashurst LLP received the contract on 7 July 2026 for £6,000,000 including the stated currency of GBP. The contract runs from 7 July 2026 to 7 July 2030. The procurement used a selective procedure as a call-off from a framework agreement. The tender submission deadline was 5 June 2026 at 12:00. The requirement was evaluated through the framework call-off process. The award is active, and the contract period begins on the award date. This outcome records one selected supplier for the legal services requirement; no lots or separate awards are identified.

This award demonstrates demand from the Department for Business and Trade for high-value, specialist disputes capability combining international arbitration or ISDS expertise with substantial litigation support. Credible competitors would need to manage large and sensitive document reviews, develop coherent pleadings and submissions, prepare witness evidence, and coordinate expert evidence on technically demanding subjects. Relevant expertise in mining subsidence, mining finance and quantum would be particularly important, alongside the ability to work with expert advisers and public-sector legal teams. Suppliers should also be able to operate through the relevant legal services framework and deliver a coordinated service in London. The SME suitability indicates that appropriately experienced smaller practices may be able to compete, potentially through specialist teams or framework participation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal Services in relation to an ISDS dispute

Notice Description

The Buyer, the Department of Business and Trade, requires assistance from the Supplier on document review and management, preparation of pleadings, submissions and witness statements, and procurement of expert evidence in the areas of mining subsidence, mining finance and quantum.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-2a124498-bb9b-44f1-97c3-54472f1ea2b1
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7ea056f2-342d-4f71-9d5d-16afa2b90d50
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79100000 - Legal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
7 Jul 2026 - 7 Jul 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Business and Trade
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2DY
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Ashurst LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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