---
title: "Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DESNZ"
published: "2025-02-12"
---

# Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services

Buyer: DESNZ  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672.json)

## Summary

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) has awarded a contract titled "Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services" under the industry category of Legal services (CPV: 79100000). The procurement process was completed with a call-off from a framework agreement method, specifically targeted towards SMEs. The contract covers a wide range of regions including the United Kingdom, Europe, British Overseas Territories, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and the Rest of the World. Key deadlines include the tender period ending on 22nd November 2024, and the contract period spanning from 10th January 2025 to 10th January 2026. The total contract value is £1,750,000. The appointed suppliers are Sharpe Pritchard LLP and Mills & Reeve LLP.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in legal services, particularly those with expertise in handling financial difficulties, insolvencies, and government response mechanisms in the energy sector. The requirement for rapid and efficient legal support in crisis situations, such as the establishment of a Special Administration Regime (SAR), opens avenues for businesses capable of providing prompt, high-quality legal advice. The contract's suitability criteria favour SMEs, thereby supporting smaller firms with the expertise to compete and thrive in the competitive legal landscape of the energy market.

## Notice

Provision of legal advice in relation to electricity and gas supplier financial difficulties, insolvencies and subsequent government response which may include, but not be limited to: the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process, requirements for a Special Administration Regime (SAR) and wider considerations related to supplier failure and market stability. In the case of a SAR, this would need to be established very quickly, and short notice legal work would be required ahead of the actual initiation of a SAR. Any delay accessing legal support under such circumstances risks a disorderly exit from the market, risking the continued supply of energy to customers, and having wider repercussions on retail and wholesale markets.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/586cdaee-d7ed-43ee-ab82-f2ef35080f84 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Feb 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Nov 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 30 Dec 2024 |
| Contract period | 10 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,750,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,750,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DESNZ |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2EG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | MILLS & REEVE; SHARPE PRITCHARD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79100000 - Legal services

## Release History

- 12 Feb 2025 at 11:35 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/586cdaee-d7ed-43ee-ab82-f2ef35080f84

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/586cdaee-d7ed-43ee-ab82-f2ef35080f84
  12th February 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/4cea311d-7cfd-4760-a36b-0f6aba1bcbf5
  n/a
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/b65602cc-70b6-460b-8d81-ee505c7b5b65
  n/a
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a06daa98-c9fd-42e6-b716-c7b6443ba445
  n/a
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/17e9a2c5-e14b-4196-8146-b167449e30a7
  n/a

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a3e7022e-82e0-4042-a47e-4aa70c787672.json.