The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has invited firms to tender for its new litigation panel as the current five-firm roster nears the end of its three-year term.

The SRA put together its first-ever litigation panel in early 2010, with Field Fisher Waterhouse, Bevan Brittan, Capsticks, Russell Cooke and Devonshires appointed. The current line-up is due to expire at the end of May 2013.

The new panel will come into effect on 1 June this year, with successful firms set to advise the SRA on litigation issues such as court proceedings arising from law firm failures, tracing actions and injunctions, human rights challenges, regulatory appeals, freedom of information and relevant aspects of European law.

Interested firms can apply via the SRA website ahead of the 18 March deadline.

Separately, DLA Piper has been reappointed to a two-firm legal panel for the Student Loans Company (SLC) alongside Scots firm Harper McLeod.

In 2010 DLA replaced Harper McCleod as sole advisers to the government-owned organisation; however, following a tender process, the SLC has appointed both firms to the new roster.

The panel will provide a full range of legal services to support the SLC's in-house legal team in its work across the UK and EU for the next two years, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.

Partner James McMorrow, who led Harper Macleod's bid, said: "Our team looks forward to working with SLC's in-house legal team to support them in meeting their strategic and operational objectives. This is a tremendous win for us and is testament to the quality of our people, the breadth of our legal capacity, and the advice, support and counsel we are able to provide."