Award

Legal Services support for academisations

LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

10 Jul 2025 at 09:51

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Liverpool City Council has completed the procurement process for "Legal Services support for academisations" in the North West region of the United Kingdom, classified under the CPV code 79100000 for legal services. The contract, valued at £120,000, has been directly awarded to Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP. The contract period is set from 13th January 2025 to 14th January 2026, following the conclusion of the tender period on 23rd December 2024. This award marks the unique procurement stage completion, with implications for legal support in aiding academisation processes within local schools, aligning with the statutory duties of the Council.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for large legal firms that have the capabilities to handle complex statutory conversion processes. Although the current tender has been awarded directly, future opportunities in similar sectors can be expected given the statutory nature of the academisation process. Firms specialising in education law and possessing a strong regional presence in the North West, or those with an ability to scale quickly to meet similar needs, would be well-positioned to compete in future procurement activities by Liverpool City Council or other local authorities following similar processes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal Services support for academisations

Notice Description

All LA maintained schools can voluntarily apply to become an academy. RI schools that are not deemed to be making sufficient progress can become subject of a DfE Academy Order. Once the decision is made to progress with an academisation, the Department for Education will issue the City Council with an instruction to commence and engage with the process. It is a statutory duty to comply. The specific areas the Council must undertake are listed below: 1. Guidance on all matters relating to the conversion process 2. Undertake all works associated with the completion of the Commercial Transfer Agreement, ensuring the statutory duties of Liverpool City Council are discharged 3. Undertake all works associated with the completion of the Land Registry (TP1), ensuring the statutory duties of Liverpool City Council are discharged 4. Any other legal work to ensure the successful and timely completion of the conversion process Legal Services within the City Council does not have the resources to undertake the legal work associated with academy conversions.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-bb7152f0-d8fe-47a8-be79-d3cc919a8e70
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1c15ed2d-8b62-48eb-9d9b-3bcae134efe3
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
23 Dec 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Jan 20251 years ago
Contract Period
13 Jan 2025 - 14 Jan 2026 1-2 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
LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Kevin Fletcher
Contact Email
kevin.fletcher@liverpool.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1512333000

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1DS
Post Town
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Waterfront South
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (UK

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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