Procurement & Subsidy Control
Public procurement rules govern how goods, services, and works are purchased by public sector organisations and utilities. Subsidy control rules aim to ensure commercial organisations do not receive an unfair financial advantage from public funds.
With the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Subsidy Control Act 2022, UK procurement and subsidy control regimes have undergone transformational changes. Practical, timely advice is available to help navigate these developments. Understanding these rules can be complex, but with the right support, you can navigate them with confidence.
You can rely on us for specialist, partner-led procurement and subsidy control advice tailored to your needs. We work closely with clients across education, with a focus on academies and universities, local government and executive agencies, charities, and healthcare organisations.
Whether you need strategic advice at the outset of a project, support throughout a tender process, or guidance on procurement issues that arise during a contract’s lifespan, we are by your side every step of the way.
If things don't go to plan, our dedicated procurement lawyers handle procurement challenges and complaints, acting for both contracting authorities and UK and international suppliers.
On the subsidy control side, we conduct detailed subsidy control assessments and advise on structuring schemes and transactions to ensure compliance. We also support organisations applying for grant funding, helping them navigate subsidy control implications with clarity and precision.
Our expertise
Ensuring your procurement and subsidy control processes are efficient, compliant, and strategically aligned is at the heart of what we do. Our team is recognised for delivering commercially focused, pragmatic advice that supports your goals and helps you manage risk.
Working as an extension of your team, we take the time to understand your priorities, challenges, and risk appetite. This approach allows us to provide clear, actionable recommendations that empower you to make confident decisions. From procurement strategy and tender preparation to evaluation, contract award, modifications, and dispute resolution, or identifying if there is a subsidy issue and solutions to manage it, we are with you at every stage, ensuring a seamless process.
Our expertise is backed by industry recognition, with all team members part of the Procurement Lawyers Association and key practitioners, including Stephanie Rickard, Ben Holt and Rachel Crean, ranked individually in Chambers and Partners.
Stephanie has vast experience and knowledge and is always very understanding of our particular needs.
Our work highlights
Supporting a university in delivering a £225m government-funded AI supercomputer project, we provided strategic advice on procurement, subsidy control, and grant funding. This complex, high-profile project required expertise in providing support and assurance in relation to the procurement process, negotiating the terms of the supplier appointment, subsidy control compliance, and funding terms. Our time-sensitive advice ensured the project remained on schedule and fully compliant.
Helping a local authority-owned waste company establish a dynamic purchasing system for waste collection, we guided them through procurement strategy and process development. Our team drafted a comprehensive suite of procurement documents and service agreements, ensuring a structured and legally robust framework for future supplier engagement.
Successfully representing an incumbent provider of a healthcare services contract, we issued procurement proceedings to challenge an award decision in relation to a multi-million-pound contract. Our strategic approach led to the commissioner abandoning the procurement, securing a favourable outcome for our client.
