Eversheds has been appointed as preferred legal supplier to optician Specsavers, following a competitive tender process.

Eversheds has been appointed to advise on UK litigation, employment law and commercial issues such as data protection, IT and supply chain matters.

Specsavers was started in 1984 and now operates across the UK, Europe and Asia, employing more than 30,000 people worldwide.

The tender process was led by Specsavers global legal director, Stretch Kontelj (pictured), who said: "We're a global company with growth ambitions. Through the tender process, Eversheds showed that [it was] the firm to help us realise them. We were particularly impressed by the care they took to focus on our strategic priorities and how they would support these."

Eversheds bid was led by corporate partner James Trevis, who said: "We're immensely pleased and look forward to helping Specsavers in the next step of their remarkable journey."

Trevis previously spent nine months on secondment as Specsavers' head of legal.

Eversheds has previously struck similar agreements, including its partnership deal with security systems company Tyco, which dates back to 2006, and its sole adviser relationships with utility companies Anglian Water and Severn Trent.

Eversheds announced its 2015-16 results last week, revealing an increase in revenue of 6.5%, to £405.5m, while profit per equity partner stayed broadly flat at £742,000.