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In deliveryUnited KingdomServicesFramework agreement£1,542,000Add to pipeline

ID 5827200 - DfE- Invest NI Legal Service Framework

Awarded to Arthur Cox, CARSON MCDOWELL LLP, CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED +3 more

Invest Northern Ireland(buyer)

Published
Published 27 August 2025
Deadline
Closed 25 September 2025

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Overview

Invest Northern Ireland established a framework agreement for the provision of legal services covering twelve areas of law including contracts, corporate finance, commercial property, venture capital, intellectual property, data protection, employment law, competition law, procurement law, administrative and public law, energy and climate change, and civil litigation. The framework was awarded in December 2025 to six law firms: Arthur Cox, Carson McDowell LLP, Cleaver Fulton Rankin Limited, and Pinsent Masons LLP, with a total contract value of £18.5 million.

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Lots (12)

  • Contracts

    All aspects of contracts and contract law, including commercial contracts and other commercial agreements, including but not limited to Drafting, advising and negotiating on commercial contracts (including but not limited to goods and services, novation’s, assignments, MoU’s , joint venture agreements and grants) and advising on grant funding.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Administrative and Public Law

    All aspects of public law including but not limited to: • INI corporate governance and vires queries; • inquiries and judicial reviews; • public regulatory law; and • Public Enquiries • devolved powers of Northern Ireland Assembly and sub-national devolution; • local government law.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by Carson McDowell LLPWon by CARSON MCDOWELL LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change

    All aspects of energy, natural resources and climate change including but not limited to: • Electricity, gas, energy efficiency, energy storage, and linkages with other energy markets; • Energy Regulations and associated legislative and licensing requirements; • Renewable and Non Renewable; • Oil and Gas; • Waste and Resource Management.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by PINSENT MASONS LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITEDWon by PINSENT MASONS LLP
  • Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution

    Advice, support and where appropriate legal representation in all of the areas of law outlined within this specification. This will include but not be limited to: · Pre-action correspondence and advice in respect of civil litigation; · Providing legal opinions as required in respect of litigation options and likelihood of success; · Advice and support throughout court processes including attendance at court on behalf of Invest NI, instructing Counsel on behalf of Invest NI and preparation of all relevant court documentation; · Binding and non-binding alternative dispute resolution processes such as negotiation / mediation / conciliation / adjudication and arbitration.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by Carson McDowell LLPWon by CARSON MCDOWELL LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Corporate Finance Debt Recovery and Finance

    All aspects including advice, support and where appropriate legal representation in areas such as Drafting and advising on guarantees, loan documentation and finance arrangements and Court proceedings relating to corporate finance, debt recovery and insolvency. Also All aspects of debt recovery including bankruptcy and liquidation, Application of insolvency legislation and Post-decree enforcement including EJO processes and Banking/corporate finance advice.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by Carson McDowell LLPWon by CARSON MCDOWELL LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Commercial Property, Real Estate and Construction

    All aspects of real estate and real estate finance including but not limited to Disposal, purchase and re/development of Land/Property including construction documentation, Compulsory acquisition of land, compensation law and representation at Lands Tribuna, • Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, advice including references to the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland and Advice and representation in relation to possession proceedings. In addition, advice, support and where appropriate legal representation in areas such as Environmental law issues, Rateable Valuation Appeals, Rent arrears, Tenancy agreements, Planning law and procedure, Adverse possession/ trespass cases, Property damage claims.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by Carson McDowell LLPWon by CARSON MCDOWELL LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Venture Capital & Corporate Law

    All aspects, including advice, support and where appropriate legal representation in areas such as but not limited to: • Drafting and updating of Fund Management Agreements including Partnership and Management Services Agreements, Fund Management Structures and advice on UK/EU Regulation in respect of same; • Share transaction advice, including investment agreements, shareholder agreements, follow-on investment advice and exit advice; • Regulatory Advice, (including FCA, application of Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 and Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive); • VC specific corporate finance: • Drafting loan agreements, including security an inter-creditor documentation Also including: All aspects of partnership law including but not limited to: ● contentious and non-contentious partnership and limited partnership matters; ● directors’ duties; ● company secretarial services; • operating and partnership agreements, mutual arrangements; ● securities and governance matters; and ● restructuring of ownership and complex and innovative legal structures and initiatives; • Government joint ventures.

    £1,542,000Won by Arthur CoxWon by PINSENT MASONS LLPWon by PINSENT MASONS LLP
  • Intellectual Property

    All aspects including advice and support in respect of intellectual property law including but not limited to: ● contentious and non-contentious support and advice relating to patents, copyright, trademarks, trade secrets and rights in confidential information, database rights, design rights, and other forms of intellectual property; ● assignment and licensing of rights and commercialisation and exploitation of intellectual property; • drafting and reviewing technology licences, software and technical cooperation and development agreements; • brand licensing, sponsorship and franchising agreements.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Data Protection and Information Law

    All aspects including advice and support in respect of data protection and information law including but not limited to: • the law surrounding the use and control of information by public and private sector bodies, including domestic and EU data protection legislation; • international data transfers; • data protection laws, data requests and complying with the principles of transparency; and • Freedom of Information • Environmental Information Regulations.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by Carson McDowell LLPWon by CARSON MCDOWELL LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Employment Law Equality and Human Rights

    All aspects of employment law, including advice, support and where appropriate legal representation and attendance including but not limited to: • non-contentious employment matters relating to attendance management, performance management, TUPE, redundancies, restructuring, outsourcing, changes in terms and conditions, and reorganisations; and • Contentious claims in the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunals and related appeals • Advice on issues relating to unlawful discrimination including bullying and harassment, disability and • implementation of Equal Opportunity policies and procedures • Disciplinary and grievance policy and procedures • TUPE • Termination of employment • Complaints relating to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act In addition advice, support and where appropriate legal representation in areas such as: • Redundancies and severance payments • Collective industrial relations; • Legal aspects of recruitment; • Terms and conditions of employment; ● private and public sector pension schemes; ● pensions litigation; ● regulatory compliance; ● trusteeship; and ● other employee benefits.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by Carson McDowell LLPWon by CARSON MCDOWELL LLPWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • Competition Law (Including Subsidy Control and State Aid)

    All aspects including advice, support and where appropriate legal representation including but not limited to areas such as Competition Law, Subsidy Control and legacy State Aid advice.

    £1,542,000Won by Arthur Cox
  • Public Procurement Law

    All aspects including advice, support and where appropriate legal representation in areas such as: • EU / UK procurement regime and all stages of the public procurement lifecycle and application of the Public Procurement Act 2023, Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) the Concessions Contracts Regulations 2016 (as amended) and the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (as amended); • Drafting tender and contract documents; • The evaluation and award processes; • Contract modification and contract performance; • Provision of legal advice and representation in respect of disputes and legal challenges that may arise.

    £1,542,000Won by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTDWon by Arthur CoxWon by CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED

Key details

Country
United Kingdom
Status
In delivery
Category
Services
Estimated value
£1,542,000
Procedure
Open
Contract type
Framework agreement
SME suitable
Yes
Published
27 August 2025
Questions by
15 September 2025
Deadline
Closed
Classification (CPV)
Legal servicesLegal advisory and representation servicesLegal advisory servicesLegal representation servicesPatent and copyright consultancy servicesLegal documentation and certification servicesDocumentation servicesCertification services+1 more

Award outcome

Awarded value
£18,504,000
Award date
5 December 2025
Contract period
23 March 2026 → 22 March 2029
Winners
  • Arthur Cox
  • CARSON MCDOWELL LLP
  • CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LIMITED
  • CLEAVER FULTON RANKIN LTD
  • Carson McDowell LLP
  • PINSENT MASONS LLP

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Notice history

Every published notice in this contracting process, newest first.

  1. Contract

    13 January 2026

  2. Contract

    5 December 2025

  3. Contract Notice

    27 August 2025

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