BAA has completed a tender process to cut back the number of external firms it uses, with seven appointed to the airport operator's first formal legal panel.

Magic circle duo Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have been appointed to the roster alongside Herbert Smith, Pinsent Masons, Blake Lapthorn and Scots duo McGrigors and Brodies.

The appointments will be seen as a coup for A&O, Pinsents and McGrigors, which have acted for BAA on a number of previous occasions but were not regarded as regular advisers.

The move follows the appointment of general counsel Carol Hui in March 2009.

Hui commented: "We use to use a huge number of firms, but when I joined in March last year it was something I wanted to look at. The whole point of the panel is to rationalise the number of firms being used and get better value."

Panel firms will advise across nine practice areas, although not all firms will advise on all areas. These include corporate and M&A, general commercial, finance and taxation, IT and intellectual property, litigation, regulation and competition, property, projects and construction and Scottish law.

The appointments are initially for a three-year term.

In addition to the seven panel firms, Eversheds provides advice to BAA on employment matters after being appointed last year.