House building giant Taylor Wimpey has kicked off a review of its UK legal panel, with the new line-up's term set to commence next year.

The company's group legal director and company secretary, James Jordan, is overseeing the  review.

He told Legal Week: "The renewal for our UK panel is in its very early stages for the next three-year period with effect from 1 January 2019. We are of course again looking for top-quality national firms which can serve our regional businesses on a value-for-money, first-class service basis."

The current line-up, last appointed in 2015, consists of Eversheds Sutherland, DAC Beachcroft, Osborne Clarke, Gateley, Dentons, Gowling WLG and Womble Bond Dickinson. 

Taylor Wimpey uses the panel primarily for land, planning and litigation matters, while it turns to magic circle firm Slaughter and May – which sits outside the panel – for its corporate needs.

The last full panel review came at the end of 2015, when legacy Bond Dickinson was the only new firm added to the roster.

Following its 2012 review, the company stripped back its panel from 13 firms to six, with Clarke Willmott, Watson Burton, Walker Morris, DMH Stallard and legacy firms Berwin Leighton Paisner and Nabarro all losing their places.

Photo credit: David Wright