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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

End of the road? Assisted dying legislation stalls across the UK

31 Mar 2026 7 min read

Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028

19 Mar 2026 7 min read

European Commission unveils Industrial Accelerator Act Proposal – A turning point for EU Industrial Policy?

11 Mar 2026 8 min read

From gig to guarantee: how the EU is transforming platform work

05 Mar 2026 7 min read

Proposed changes to Children’s Care in Scotland - What providers need to know

27 Feb 2026 6 min read

The Class Ceiling

12 Feb 2026

CMS Expert Guide to public procurement regulation

10 Feb 2026 15 min read

Procurement Cube

09 Feb 2026 5 min read

Events

  • United Kingdom
    08 Apr 2026

    CMS at Fordham IP & Policy Conference

  • United Kingdom
    13 Apr 2026

    Skills for Future Facing Teams: Creating a team culture of coaching and feedback

  • United Kingdom
    16 Apr 2026

    Green claims in focus

  • United Kingdom
    21 Apr 2026

    On the Pulse webinar series 2026 - Spring/Summer

  • United Kingdom
    21 Apr 2026

    Future of Renewables Spring Seminars

  • United Kingdom
    22 Apr 2026

    Sustainable Buildings: Taking the Temperature in 2026

  • United Kingdom
    23 Apr 2026

    ESG: Breaking Down the Buzzword

  • United Kingdom
    28 Apr 2026

    Strategic expansion to India: A new chapter for UK higher education

  • United Kingdom
    28 Apr 2026

    IP Insights webinar series 2026

  • United Kingdom
    29 Apr 2026

    CMS Update Morning: Media, Sports and Entertainment

  • United Kingdom
    02 May 2026

    CMS at INTA 2026

  • United Kingdom
    05 May 2026

    Joint seminar with CMS and Tannenbaum Helpern - A global perspective on securing, maintaining, and enforcing...

  • United Kingdom
    05 May 2026

    Cross-Border Financial Services 2026 webinar series

  • United Kingdom
    13 May 2026

    2026 ITechLaw World Technology Law Conference in Chicago

  • United Kingdom
    21 May 2026

    Navigating Global Uncertainty: Practical Insights for In-House Teams

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We provide future-facing legal advice to help your organisation thrive. Combining local market knowledge and a global perspective, and with lawyers in locations worldwide, your organisation benefits from the expertise it needs, even across borders.

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