Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has formalised its first ever legal panel for property work with the appointment of Eversheds, Pinsent Curtis Biddle, Hammond Suddards Edge, Masons, Walker Morris and Wilbraham & Co.

The agency traditionally used Hammonds for most of its property work. The firm will now have to compete with the other panel members.

Yorkshire Forward's head of property development, Eileen Molloy, said the need to achieve the completion targets set in its ambitious regional development strategy demanded more law firms to handle the work.

The two-stage tendering process took six months and saw more than 25 UK firms apply. A short-list of firms was then invited to submit detailed bids in March.

Notable exceptions to the panel are DLA and Addleshaw Booth & Co, which are both understood to have pitched.

The successful firms, which will serve three-year terms on the environment directorate panel, were notified last week. Masons' appointment to the panel marked the only City firm to be successful. While planning specialist Wilbrahams, which recently announced its formal alliance with Denton Wilde Sapte in April, was the smallest firm to be added.

Eversheds property partner Stephen Sorrell said: "This is a very significant client, one we have been chasing for a long time."

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