The battle for places on the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) expanded major projects panel is set to hot up after the deadline for firms' expressions of interest passed last Friday (1 August).

The department has said it is planning to expand the panel from seven to 10 firms when it makes its appointments later this year.

Firms were last appointed to four-year terms in 2010 in a review which saw Simmons and Simmons win back the spot it lost in 2006. Field Fisher Waterhouse (now Fieldfisher) was also a new addition to the panel, while Wragge & Co, Pinsent Masons, Denton Wilde Sapte, Mills & Reeve and Shepherd and Wedderburn were all reappointed.

The MoD is now looking for up to 10 firms to fill its latest panel, meaning three new appointments could be made. The panel will still be smaller than it was before the number of spots was cut from 12 firms to eight in a 2006 review.

Firms had until last week to register their expressions of interest in the tender.

In 2010, competition was fierce, with 22 firms going for positions as preferred advisors. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith and Burges Salmon were among those to lose out out as the roster was trimmed down. 

In the past, the panel has focused on major public private partnership (PPP) and private finance initiative (PFI) projects.