DLA Piper has been appointed as the first principal legal adviser to Heineken UK following the brewing company's decision to cut back the number of law firms it works with.

The three-year appointment will see DLA provide a range of advice across practice areas including property, litigation, intellectual property and corporate.

Licencing work will be carried out by Derby headquartered firm Flint Bishop, with recoveries work handled by TLT.

Heineken's UK head of legal Graeme Colquhoun said: "While we have historically worked with a significant number of strong law firms in a wide variety of areas, we believe the time is right to consolidate the provision of these services in one key partner and that DLA Piper demonstrated an excellent cultural fit and the business focus we were looking for."

The relationship will be led by Edinburgh-based intellectual property and technology partner John McKinlay and litigation partner Hazel Moffat.

"Our aim throughout the process was to create a compelling vision of a legal adviser as a true partner. We are proud that Heineken UK share that vision and trust us to deliver," said McKinlay.

Firms to have previously been mandated by Heineken include Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, with the former advising the drinks giant on its rejection of SAB Miller's takeover offer in September last year.