Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is undertaking the first review of its inaugural legal panel, the energy giant has confirmed.

SSE launched its debut panel in 2014, and the current roster comprises seven firms, including: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Addleshaw Goddard, Osborne Clarke, CMS, Kennedys, and Scottish firms Gillespie Macandrew and Thorntons.

Broadly, Freshfields advises the company on takeover defence, while Kennedys provides advice on personal injury litigation. Meanwhile, Gillespie and Thorntons focus on Scottish property, whereas OC, CMS and Addleshaws advise the energy giant on construction, corporate, finance and other litigation matters.

The panel currently covers mandates in Great Britain only, according to a person at the company, and is being tendered on the basis of U.K. coverage. The company expects to complete the review early next year, but is yet to confirm whether it will downsize or add more firms to the panel.

A SSE spokesman said: "The business is currently reviewing the legal panel under a formal procurement exercise, which is already in the public domain. This process will complete in due course."

In 2017, Freshfields advised the Scotland-based company on the merger of its retail operations with Npower's, to create an independent British retail energy company.

Earlier this year, former CMS litigation partner Gemma Lampert left the firm to take up a senior commercial solicitor role at SSE Network.