Projects/PFI

Ashfords' Projects/PFI Team has extensive experience of complex projects in the UK and abroad. 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.

We understand that achieving value for money in purchasing legal services is a key consideration for any participant in PFI/PPP projects. 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.

We 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, regeneration schemes and outsourcing schemes.

We have structured, documented and helped deliver major procurements and are frequently asked to advise sponsors and contracting authorities on their procurement strategies.

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, Planning, Commercial Property, Corporate, IT and Employment.

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

procurement whether from a public or private sector perspective;
public sector vires and governance issues;
all forms of commercial contracts including project/concession agreements, sub contracts, advance works contracts, interface agreements and all finance documents;
limited recourse and grant-based funding arrangements and associated security packages;
creation of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and corporate governance issues;
employment advice including TUPE and pensions-related issues;
corporate finance, construction, planning and property matters; and
State aid and associated competition law matters.

Recent work undertaken includes:

Torbay Council Direct Services and Waste Joint Venture Scheme Services Partnership - this is a circa £170 million services joint venture project. Due to its complexity the project is one of the leading examples of joint venture outsourcing in the UK;
Biffa Waste Services Limited - advising Biffa as sponsor on five waste management PFI/PPPs across the UK which are currently in procurement;
Bristol Leisure PFI – advising the lender in relation to this project for the construction and operation of a leisure centre in Bristol with an anticipated value of circa £30 million;
Fire and Rescue Services PFIs - currently advising a sponsor in relation to two UK Fire and Rescue Services PFI projects;
acting for Viridor Waste Management Limited in its capacity as O&M Contractor in the £3 billion Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority PFI; and
acting for the project company on the Somerset Waste PPP including a £25 million acquisition of Somerset County Council's LAWDC.