National Grid has appointed a new panel of seven firms to deal with its groupwide property, planning and parliamentary agency work.

The international electricity and gas company will use Berwin Leighton Paisner, Dundas & Wilson and Hammonds for complex project, environmental and property work and BrookStreet des Roches, Davies & Partners and Needham & James for volume property, easement work and less complex property matters.

Bircham Dyson Bell has been appointed for general property easement work and to act as the group's parliamentary agent.

The new line-up consolidates the previous panel of 16 firms and came into affect at the beginning of the month (1 November). As part of the tendering process, firms were asked to provide detailed information about their diversity policies before being selected.

Commenting on the review of the panel, group general counsel and company secretary Helen Mahy (pictured) said: "The appointment of the new panel reinforces National Grid's requirement for quality, cost-effective law firms to act as an extension to our in-house team."

National Grid's property roster is the second panel of external advisers the company has reviewed this year. The company appointed a new commercial and disputes panel in March with Berwin Leighton Paisner and Hammonds among the firms winning places on the line-up.

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