Herbert Smith and DLA Piper are among six firms to have been appointed to brewer Molson Coors' first formal UK legal panel.

The panel, which was put together by legal director and company secretary Sue Albion after a competitive tender process, also includes Nabarro, Squire Sanders Hammonds, McGrigors and Beauchamps.

Herbert Smith will deal with major projects such as M&A, litigation and competition cases, but will not work on day-to-day legal issues.

Nabarro's Sheffield office will advise on debt management issues, while its London office will advise on competition law. DLA Piper, meanwhile, will take the lead on intellectual property (IP), major commercial contracts, health and safety advice and uninsured claims. The newly-merged Squire Sanders Hammonds will advise on employment and pension law.

Meanwhile, McGrigors will oversee property and tax issues across the UK and deal with Scotland and Northern Ireland-specific legal matters. Beauchamps will manage all legal issues in the Republic of Ireland.

Albion said: "Putting together a panel like this is a novel approach but it is reflective of the diversity of opinion that a large company like Molson Coors needs on a regular basis."

She added: "Working with such an excellent panel is an exciting opportunity and is part of my attempt to ensure that the legal services provided to Molson Coors effectively supports the priorities and ambition of the company, in particular the development of our portfolio of brands."

The new legal panel comes a week after Albion's appointment to the board of Molson Coors.