News UK has invited firms to pitch for a role as the publishing company's sole adviser on trademark issues, amid a company-wide drive to review costs and boost efficiency.

Fiona Mensah, News UK's senior IP legal counsel for commercial legal affairs, is leading the tendering process, which has seen several firms invited to pitch. The company previously conducted most of its trademark work in-house.

The move comes after News UK appointed Kingsley Napley partner Angus McBride as its new general counsel in January this year, replacing Emma Moloney. Moloney left to join TV content business Endemol Shine.

McBride previously represented News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks during the phone-hacking trial in 2013-14. He had been a partner at Kingsley Napley since 1999 until he took up his first in-house role at News UK this year.

Since his appointment, the company has started to review its external advisers and spend.