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Outsourcing and Shared Services

We advise on a wide range of public sector outsourcing arrangements, from commercial contract models through to public sector companies set up to provide shared services.

Our focus is on ensuring that our clients’ needs are met in a commercial and pragmatic way which fosters successful long-term relationships between parties. We are on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) general legal advice panel, and regularly advise national and local public authorities on all aspects of public procurement, contract law, sale of goods and supply of services.

Our experienced solicitors advise on commercial strategies, negotiating positions, tactics and techniques. For in-house legal teams who are embarking on a major negotiated procurement we also provide training courses for their negotiating team. We pride ourselves on providing hands-on practical advice and assistance.

Ever mindful of the need to minimise financial risk and any detriment to services, Sharpe Pritchard’s London-based outsourcing and shared services solicitors have a reputation for finding innovative ways to package contracts, ensure quality control and leverage value for money over the long term.

We also regularly advise our clients on vires issues relating to outsourcing services for the first time and on the TUPE and pensions aspects of such arrangements.

Key Contacts

Work highlights

  • Advising a metropolitan borough council in relation to outsourcing it’s children services to a trust model and negotiating the necessary service contract.
  • Advising a large county council on the outsourcing of library services.
  • Advising a metropolitan authority on its first service outsourcing of facilities and maintenance services.
  • Advising a large county council and associated district councils on a significant shared service contract for transactional services.
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