Herbert Smith has been appointed as chief legal adviser to the National Lottery Commission.

The top 10 City firm won the mandate after a competitive tender process that saw previous advisers LG and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer miss out on reappointment.

A team from Herbert Smith has been charged with advising the Commission as it heads into its third National Lottery licence. Litigation partners Nusrat Zar and Andrew Lidbetter will be the main contacts for the firm.

Zar commented: "The National Lottery Commission's requirements for legal support are broad, and depending on the issues which arise over the next five years, we are looking forward to advising the Commission on general public law, licensing issues, litigation, employment law, and a wide range of other matters."

The contract is set to run for five years – two years longer than the previous contract.

Other firms that took part in the beauty parade were LG, Nabarro, Eversheds, Burges Salmon and Denton Wilde Sapte.

Marcia Boys, head of licensing at the Commission commented: "We look forward to developing a successful working relationship with Herbert Smith and welcome the legal expertise they will contribute to the regulation of the third National Lottery licence."

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