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Public Procurement

Our Public Procurement team can help you navigate the full range of legal challenges associated with any type of transaction.

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The quality of public services is increasingly determined by the skilled procurement of suppliers, contractors and service providers. As a public authority, utility or company looking to contract with the public sector, you will need a deep understanding of how the procurement framework regulates your plans.

Acting for both private sector clients and public authorities enables us to offer innovative advice within the legal framework. We can guide you through complex tender procedures, not only if you are in the public sector but also in the defence, energy and utilities, infrastructure, lifesciences and healthcare, real estate and TMT and outsourcing sectors. We regularly advise on procurement complaints and challenges and have acted on cases before the courts in all three UK jurisdictions.

With over 100 public procurement specialists globally, we can lead your response to public tender procedures in different countries simultaneously. This means we cover all your complex public tender issues such as those regarding compliance with the procurement rules, the formation of bidding consortia, the exchange of sensitive data among competitors and the procurement of complex PPP projects or concessions. Should you need support before tribunals and courts across Europe or in front of the European Commission and ECJ, our experts can also provide the legal advice you need.

Our market leading practice advises on the structuring of complex projects in light of the procurement rules. We give commercially-focussed, practical advice, guiding clients through the process, managing risks, identifying solutions and challenging and defending award procedures.

Highlighted experience

  • Transport Scotland

    on the procurement of the contract for the Clyde and Hebridean ferry services (CHFS3) (est. value £3.9bn).

  • National Grid Ventures

    on the procurement of the 1.8GW LionLink interconnector between the UK and Netherlands.

  • Northern Ireland Water

    on its Major Project Partnering Framework (est. value £1.2bn); Water Rehabilitation Integrated Partnership Framework (est. value £270m); Professional Services Framework Agreements (est. value £800m).

  • The Common Services Agency (NHS National Services Scotland NSS)

    on its procurement of the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) programme (est. value £350m) and in the related procurement challenge: Capita Business Services Limited v Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service [2023] CSOH 9.

  • National Grid / Scottish Power (EGL1)

    on the procurement of a 190km £2.5bn subsea HVDC link connecting the east coast of England with the east coast of Scotland via the North Sea (est. value £2.5bn).

  • Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London

    on the new Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL’s Institute of Ophthalmology (est. value £400m).

  • Commissioner for Northern Lighthouses/Northern Lighthouse Board

    on the procurement of aviation services (est. value £67m).

  • University of Glasgow

    on a range of public procurement matters across all of its spend categories, including construction framework agreements.

  • Transport Scotland

    on the A9 dualling programme.

  • Scottish Water and Scottish Water Horizons

    on heat and electricity from waste water projects.

  • A leading global healthcare company

    in a procurement challenge in the Court of Session.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "From original planning to the final outcome, the service levels and responsiveness from CMS were excellent."
    Chambers, 2024

Public Procurement Insights

Disagreement is not dishonesty: Court of Appeal clarifies the honest opinion defence

Disagreement is not dishonesty: Court of Appeal clarifies the honest opinion defence

21 Aug 2026 9 min read
New notification direction issued for data centres over 50MW

New notification direction issued for data centres over 50MW

18 Aug 2026 2 min read
Crypto Disputes Report 2026

Crypto Disputes Report 2026

30 Jul 2026 14 min read
Balancing Sovereignty and Innovation: A Proportionate Path for the Proposed EU Cloud and AI Development Act

Balancing Sovereignty and Innovation: A Proportionate Path for the Proposed EU Cloud and AI Development Act

22 Jul 2026 15 min read
The European Competition Network (ECN) supports merger control "call-in" mechanisms"

The European Competition Network (ECN) supports merger control "call-in" mechanisms"

09 Jul 2026 5 min read
Procurement Cube

Procurement Cube

24 Jun 2026 4 min read
CMS announces role as founding supporter of Law Beats Cancer

CMS announces role as founding supporter of Law Beats Cancer

09 Jun 2026 3 min read
ICC Rules 2026: Key Reforms in Context

ICC Rules 2026: Key Reforms in Context

09 Jun 2026 11 min read

Events

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    CMS Skills For Future Facing Teams: Connecting across generations

  • 08 Sep 2026

    2026 Insurance sector webinar programme

  • 08 Sep 2026 - 01 Dec 2026

    CMS Disputes 101 Annual Webinar Series 2026

  • 10 Sep 2026 - 04 Nov 2026

    IP Insights webinar series 2026 - Autumn

  • 11 Sep 2026

    The equIP Collective | Glasgow to Global: Expanding into International Markets

  • 16 Sep 2026 - 11 Oct 2026

    Anatomy of an Investigation

  • 16 Sep 2026

    Data Centres - Managing Construction Risk

  • 17 Sep 2026

    ERA Ready?

  • 24 Sep 2026

    Is your data protection programme ready for the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025?

  • 29 Sep 2026

    CMS Brand Forum 2026

  • 30 Sep 2026

    On the Pulse Webinar Series 2026 - Autumn

  • 05 Oct 2026

    CMS Skills For Future Facing Teams: LaughABLE - achieving absurdly great results in challenging times

  • 06 Oct 2026

    Powering CEE's Energy Future: Policy, Investment, Innovation

  • 07 Oct 2026 - 10 Oct 2026

    CMS at AIPPI 2026

  • 07 Oct 2026 - 10 Oct 2026

    CMS at PTMG Autumn 2026

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