National law firm Eversheds has been appointed as the sole provider of legal services to Belgium-based energy company Sovereign Oilfield Group.

The top 10 UK firm landed the role for Sovereign after a tender process that also involved one other major international firm and three Belgian independents.

Eversheds has already begun working with Sovereign, with the agreement set to run for an indefinite period.

Eversheds Brussels senior partner Stefan Corbanie said: "We are pleased to have been appointed as sole provider to Sovereign, a multinational oilfield services company. The win demonstrates Eversheds' international growth and expertise and follows recent appointments as sole provider to the Moroccan National Tourism Agency and [US manufacturing group] Brady."

Eversheds is currently primary UK adviser to companies including Samsung and AkzoNobel.

In 2007 the firm agreed a groundbreaking deal with US conglomerate Tyco International – which had previously operated an advisory panel featuring around 240 law firms – to handle the bulk of its work in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. That deal was renewed this year, with Eversheds handed a fine-tuned brief including a number of new targets and incentives.

A spokesperson for Sovereign said: "The growth of Sovereign's business has led to an increase in legal activity and the need to establish an efficient way of meeting these requirements. Eversheds was chosen for its reputation, its client management systems and for its similar international footprint and will effectively become part of Sovereign's team."

More news, deals and comment on Eversheds

Eversheds on the Legal Week Wiki