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Introduction

Delivering a successful PFI/PPP Project demands highly skilled lawyers who are enthusiastic, pragmatic and who approach the complexities of each Project with a 'can do' attitude. This is the approach that Ashfords is committed to providing.

Members of our team have extensive experience of complex Projects in the UK and abroad. They have advised Governments and other public sector bodies, project companies, sponsors, contractors and lenders. These Projects have covered a range of sectors including waste, airports, roads, education, health, defence and various other infrastructure and regeneration schemes.

The scope of legal work involved in PPP/PFI Projects is extensive and the depth of our practice allows us to draw on the knowledge and experience of our other well regarded teams within the firm including Construction, Procurement, Public Law, Planning, Commercial Property and Employment.

We understand that achieving value for money in purchasing legal services is a key consideration for any participant in PFI/PPP Project. Our policy of ensuring dedicated partner level resource to each Project together with our ability to offer genuine 'regional' rates whilst maintaining a 'city quality' service means that we add value to every transaction.

Work handled includes: 

 We provide a full range of legal services in relation to PFI/PPP and regeneration projects including:

• Procurement advisory services including advice on State Aid and EU Competition Law
• Public sector vires and governance issues;
• All forms of commercial contracts including project/concession agreements, sub contracts, advance works contracts and interface agreements;
• Limited recourse and grant based funding arrangements and associated security packages;
• Creation of SPVs and corporate governance issues;
• Employment advice including TUPE related issues; and
• Corporate finance, construction, planning and property matters.

Recent work undertaken by the team includes:

• The £3 billion Greater Manchester Waste PFI
• The US$800 million concession for Larnaca and Paphos International Airports, the US$100 million project financing of Norman Manley International Airport in Jamaica and the 30 year concession of Abuja International Airport in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Acting for the project company on the Somerset Waste PPP including a £25 million acquisition of Somerset County Council's LAWDC
• Representing the local authority on a £45 million Magistrates' Courts and Probation Service Accommodation PFI Scheme in Somerset
• Acting for a private sector contractor on a secure accommodation PFI scheme in Cheshire
• Advising the South West of England Regional Development Agency on the following projects:

• Acting for Defra on the New Technologies Demonstration Programmes through which Defra have made available £30 million of funding to leading waste operating companies in the UK
• Acting for Taunton Deane Borough Council for Project Taunton which to date involves the redevelopment of Firepool which will be an exemplar of sustainability in the UK