Norton Rose and Olswang have picked up first-time appointments on BP's coveted UK legal panel following a rigorous six-month tender process.

The review, which was led by group general counsel Rupert Bondy, saw the pair appointed for three-year terms alongside longstanding advisers Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith, CMS Cameron McKenna, Field Fisher Waterhouse and Scottish firm McGrigors. The oil giant has also appointed a small number of specialist firms for niche advice.

Wragge & Co, which was appointed to BP's panel when it was last reviewed in 2008, has not been reappointed.

All of the appointments will take effect from June 2011.

Commenting on the outcome of the review, Bondy said: "We've selected the very best from a broad base of world-class legal firms to support BP's UK-instructed work."

One adviser commented: "Despite the new appointments, Linklaters and Freshfields will continue to receive the lion's share of BP's UK work. It will be interesting the see which one of the two lands the top mandates."

Linklaters has traditionally been BP's longstanding UK adviser, but the oil company has been extending its relationships with a number firms in recent years. Freshfields has picked up increasing numbers of mandates, with Baker & McKenzie and Simmons & Simmons also among those working with the company in the past.

Allen & Overy has also acted for BP previously, with the firm last year hiring Herbert Smith's former BP relationship partner Paul Griffin.

Other senior in-house counsel involved in the tender process included Adrian Morris and Andrew Haynes, who recently moved to BP from British Gas, where they held general counsel and deputy general counsel roles. The latter spent three years as a lawyer at Herbert Smith before joining BP in 2003.

It is understood that around 35 firms pitched for the panel with 14 firms shortlisted soon after the review kicked off late last year. The shortlisted firms were asked to provide details of fee structures and value added extras, which resulted in the eight appointments.