Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Pinsent Masons, DLA Piper and Fieldfisher are among 27 firms to have won places on FTSE 100 publishing and education group Pearson's new legal panel, following a review led by general counsel Bjarne Tellmann.

In a move away from its previous arrangement, the company has restructured its panel into two distinct parts – a 'preferred' list comprised of 14 firms, and a separate 'general' list of 13 firms.

The preferred firms will deal with day-to-day matters and areas not previously covered by Pearson's panels – including US immigration, employment litigation and patent work – while the 'general' roster will help the company meet its other legal needs.

The preferred panel includes Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), DWF, Charles Russell Speechlys and Fieldfisher, as well as US firms Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Littler Mendelson, while the general panel includes Pinsents, DLA Piper, Bird & Bird and US firms Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Sullivan & Cromwell, among others.

Freshfields, HSF, Pinsents, DLA Piper and Fieldfisher are all reappointments, having won places on the company's first-ever legal panel in 2015.

The panel review was part of what Pearson called a wider effort to "simplify its business, become leaner and more agile and realign Pearson's use of legal resources most effectively". In assembling the new panel, the company said it considered a combination of factors including value and strong cost management, firm experience, strength of team, flexibility in billing and diversity.

Tellmann (pictured), the British Legal Awards 2017 GC of the Year, was assisted in the review by Michael McQueeney, deputy general counsel, and Karen Abraham, senior counsel and vice-president.

Of the review, he said: "Running a periodic review is also good business practice, ensuring we have the scaffolding in place to help Pearson achieve its strategic objectives as well as maximise value and meet budgets. This process ensures Pearson has a range of trusted partners to provide high-quality counsel for us as we navigate through the digital transformation."

Preferred panel in full

Ballard Spahr Charles Russell Speechyls DWF Fieldfisher Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Goodwin Procter Herbert Smith Freehills Jackson Lewis Kilkpatrick Townsend & Stockton Littler Mendelson Morgan Lewis & Bockius Nielsen Merksamer Parrinelo Gross & Leoni Oppenheim + Zebrak Quarles & Brady

General panel in full

Bird & Bird Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Davis Wright Tremaine DLA Piper Dorsey & Whitney Gray Plant Mooty Kemp Little Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler Pinsent Masons Shapiro Arato Steptoe Johnson Sullivan & Cromwell Woodhouse