Catherine Bogoje

Cat gained more than 10 years’ experience as an in-house local authority commercial contracts and procurement solicitor before she joined Sharpe Pritchard as a Senior Associate in 2022. Her most recent in-house role was as a legal team leader within a highly regarded County Council. She has also previously worked in-house in a procurement and commercial role for the MOD.

She provides pragmatic, risk based, strategic, legal, procurement and commercial advice on a wide variety of public sector commercial and contractual arrangements. Cat is known for her dedication to contributing to delivering public sector objectives.

Cat is also experienced in procurements conducted under the restricted, open and competitive dialogue procedures (for fully regulated and “light touch” services) and concession contracts under the CCR 2016, above and below threshold contracts and “single tender” contracts under Regulation 32 of PCR 2015. She’s also versed in advising on contract variations and the non-competitive negotiated procedure under DSPCR 2011. Cat has advised on shared services and public-public and public-private collaboration arrangements, utilising exemptions under Regulation 12 of PCR 2015.

With her strong understanding of local and central government governance and decision-making arrangements, she was the in-house go-to advisor for contract and procurement governance queries. She has produced a range of standard templates and delivered training to in-house legal and procurement teams and client departments. She has also been a member of numerous internal advisory and assurance boards/panels, providing on the spot ad hoc advice.

Cat’s role:

Cat advises on and drafts contracts across all departments of local authorities, including but not limited to health and social care services, education, transport, FM, transport, HR, corporate and IT services and equipment. She also advises on shared services, alternative delivery models and the “art of the possible” for income generation initiatives.

Cat provides full legal, procurement and commercial advice and support throughout the procurement lifecycle, including:

• Initial options appraisal.
• Early market engagement.
• Procurement and commercial strategy.
• Development of the business case and internal governance decision reports.
• TUPE and associated advice on IP rights, including licensing, copyright, registering trademarks and reviewing internal IP policies.
• Reviewing or preparing the ITT documentation, including the award criteria and evaluation methodology.
• Contract drafting.
• Advising on contract award and completing contract execution.
• Providing advice and drafting in respect of contract management issues such as variations (inside and outside scope of Reg. 72 PCR 2015), default, termination, exit and re-procurement.

She is also skilled in drafting different types of agreements, including:

• Multi-lot framework agreements and DPS agreements.
• Consultancy contracts.
• Grant agreements.
• 75 and s.256 agreements with the NHS.
• Joint working, collaboration, and contractual JV agreements.
• Supplies and services contracts.
• IT equipment and services contracts.

 Skills and strengths:

Cat is used to working collaboratively with a number of stakeholders and in project teams, providing clear advice, guidance and input throughout, either as the sole legal advisor, as part of a larger legal team with internal/external legal, procurement and project advisors or acting as the lead solicitor providing supervision and support to junior lawyers.

Cat is known for her diligence, cutting through to the key issues and getting things done to meet her client’s objectives.

Outside of work, Cat is a Trustee for a local charity that supports people with dementia and their families. She is familiar with charity governance, legal and contractual matters.