TfL takeover sees job cuts and Tube Lines review put on hold

Transport for London (TfL) has cut a number of legal roles and put the Tube Lines panel review on hold following its acquisition of the underground operator earlier this year.

TfL is currently reviewing whether it will continue to run a separate legal line-up for Tube Lines, which had launched a panel review in April aiming to trim down the roster and look for synergies with the TfL legal panel.

Following the acquisition TfL has also made cuts to the Tube Lines legal team, which was previously led by head of legal Claire Wardle. TfL declined to comment on the extent of redundancies, saying that these were subject to a confidentiality clause.

Wardle, who was leading the panel review, left the group over the summer, although; it is unclear whether her departure came as part of the redundancies. London Underground's head of contract reviews, Diane Maino, is currently seconded to Tube Lines as interim head of legal.

A TfL spokesperson told Legal Week: "Following the acquisition of Tube Lines by Transport for London at the end of June, the tendering process for new legal advisers is currently under review."

TfL said Tube Lines will continue to use its existing panel, which included legacy Lovells, Simmons & Simmons, Eversheds, Charles Russell, Norton Rose, Bond Pearce and Mills & Reeve, while it is reviewing the tender process.

TfL's 12-firm panel was last overhauled in 2007. Eversheds, which is one of TfL's main advisers, and Simmons, which has advised TfL on the congestion charge, have places on both panels.

In addition, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Wragge & Co, K&L Gates, Travers Smith and Bird & Bird sit on TfL's panel.