A raft of UK companies have announced new additions to their panels. Metro Bank increased its number of law firms from 14 to 18 with CMS Cameron McKenna and Gateley new additions. The list of other firms are:  Nabarro Olswang, Charles Russell Speechlys, Bates Wells Braithwaite, DMH Stallard, Seddons, Abrahams Dresden, Birketts, and Woodfines joined Blake Morgan, Hugh James, McMillan Williams, Eversheds Sutherland, Dentons, EMW, Herrington Carmichael, Howard Kennedy and Lawrence Stephens.

Pensions Protection Fund

Meanwhile the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has reduced its legal panel from 23 to six firms. The new line up is Gowling WLG, DWF, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Mayer Brown and Osborne Clarke being selected. PPF director of legal, compliance, and ethics Dana Grey said: ‘Our new streamlined legal panel will allow us to develop better working relationships with each of the successful firms to not only improve the quality of the service we receive but also to ensure we get the best value for our spend on legal services.’

Scottish football

Finally the Scottish football league has appointed a new legal adviser and set up a four strong panel. Its longtime law firm advisor Rod McKenzie, a partner at Harper Macleod, has joined SPFL as part-time lawyer. Brabners, Fladgate, Gunnercooke and Shepherd and Wedderburn are all on the new panel.