Laura specialises in procurement law. She has advised a wide variety of clients including central government departments, local authorities, NHS bodies, other public sector bodies and the private sector on both procurement and contract law issues at national and international levels. She has experience in the transport, energy, utility, health, education, manufacturing, construction and infrastructure sectors.
She regularly advises on high value, complex procurement processes and the general application of procurement law, including: drafting procurement documents and related contracts; advising on challenges to procurement processes (both claimant and defendant); general ad-hoc advice on issues such as urgent direct awards; extensions and variations to existing contracts; and the robustness of procurement processes generally.
Laura works closely with in house procurement teams, as well as other technical advisors, to deliver clients' key outcomes on time; she is known for providing pragmatic advice in a responsive and timely manner. Laura has closely followed the Procurement Act 2023, which is due to come into force in February 2025 and will have an impact on any processes that are commenced after that date.
In addition to procurement law advice, Laura is also able to assist with contract law queries and drafting. She has experience in advising on and drafting high value services agreements; drafting and review of high value framework agreements; and drafting and reviewing template and bespoke contracts for supplies and services. In particular, Laura was involved in advising and drafting a number of high value contracts relating to the supply of pharmaceutical and biomedical supplies to the manufacturers of a number of COVID-19 vaccines during 2020 and 2021. She was also involved in advising on and drafting various contracts for the collaborative works to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine programme from both a procurement and contract law perspective. This enables her to provide joined up and cohesive advice to clients during the procurement phase of projects.
Experience
Examples of experience include:
Procurement
- Central government departments, local authorities and utilities on the delivery of negotiated and dialogue procurement processes for a number of high value procurements, including attendance at bidder sessions, drafting documentation and delivering training to evaluators.
- Utilities, local authorities, central government departments and various NHS bodies on a range of matters including defence of challenged processes, reviewing standard and bespoke procurement documents, shared services, public to public contracts, assisting with the drafting and negotiation of contract terms and advising on evaluation and moderation processes, including delivering bespoke training to internal evaluators on a number of different projects.
- Universities on the procurement aspects of procuring delivery partners to design, build, operate and maintain student accommodation.
- Several Academy Trusts and utilities clients on the review of standard framework and/or Dynamic Purchasing System documents and advice on running further competitions using the same.
- A variety of contracting authorities and utilities on the amendment of contracts during their term and compliance with procurement law.
- NHS England, NHS Foundation Trusts, NHS Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Commissioning Support Units and Category Towers on various procurement issues and processes, including drafting procurement documents, contract documentation and novation agreements/contract variation, defence of challenged processes, reviewing standard and bespoke procurement documents.
- North East Purchasing Organisation with procurement and commercial advice on the successful and innovative procurement of a number of frameworks used regularly by both central and local government clients, including the NEPRO3 framework
- A number of local authorities on their heat network and de-carbonisation procurements to select partners for the design, build, operation and maintenance of heat networks, development and delivery of de-carbonisation opportunities and management of multiple network customers. This involves working closely with the various Councils at every stage of the procurement, including drafting procurement documents, design of the process and general procurement advice. Estimated values range from £36m - £250m.
- A major train operator in respect of a large number of varied transport related projects including bus replacement services; smart technology (for example, e-ticketing and web based travel apps); cleaning services and other related procurements. This involves input into procurement strategy, commercial decision making, all procurement documentation (including evaluation criteria and scoring methodologies), training for evaluators, assistance on clarification queries, ad hoc advice on processes (including dialogue and negotiated procedures), abnormally low bids, evaluation, and preparation of standstill letters. Estimated values range from £6m - £122m.
- A Charity with advice relating to their status under the PCR 2015, in particular in relation to their status as a Registered Social Landlord.
- Money and Pensions Service in relation to its procurement for debt advisory services.
Contracts
- A world-leading technology and innovation centre on the establishment of a collaborative project with a leading global biopharmaceutical company and various related supply and distribution contracts relating to the COVID-19 vaccine booster programme.
- A leading UK chemicals company on various multi-million pound contracts for the supply and distribution of pharmaceuticals to the producers of COVID-19 vaccines including a particular focus on the allocation of liability in the event of any adverse impact to the expedited vaccine rollout.
- A worldwide distributor of PPE and a leading UK car manufacturer on routes to market for the development and supply of PPE worldwide during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A leading UK chemicals company on the purchase of patented chemical reaction equipment worth circa £1.5m.
- A multi-million pound distribution agreement for a UK leading drinks manufacturer.
