The Co-operative Bank has appointed 11 firms to its inaugural legal panel.

The panel is the first time the bank has had its own set of firms since it split from the wider Co-operative Group in 2013, although the group remains a shareholder in the bank.

The bank previously shared a panel with its former parent, but this year chose to create an independent panel and conducted a competitive tender and interview process that kicked off in June.

The firms on the panel are Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Mishcon de Reya, Bates Wells Braithwaite, Hogan Lovells, Pinsent Masons, TLT, Eversheds, DLA Piper and Matthew Arnold Baldwin.

The panel is effective immediately and will run for the next three years.

Clifford Chance advised the bank earlier this year in relation to an investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) after the bank breached stock market rules.

The bank received a censure from the FCA but escaped a fine because of its financial position.

The Co-op Bank's legal function is overseen by former CMS Cameron McKenna lawyer Brona McKeown,  who was appointed general counsel and company secretary in December 2013. She reports to group chief executive Niall Booker.

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