Transport for London (TfL) has extended the appointments of the firms on its legal panel by another two years.

The panel, which has been in place since late 2012 and was due to be renewed this October, comprises Ashurst, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gowling WLG, Herbert Smith Freehills, K&L Gates, Lewis Silkin, Dentons, Trowers & Hamlins and Simmons & Simmons.

The current line-up will now stay in place until the end of 2017 or early 2018.

Lewis Silkin, Dentons and Trowers & Hamlins were all appointed in 2012 when Bird & Bird, Clifford Chance (CC), Manches and Travers Smith came off the panel. Travers opted not to tender for reappointment, while CC now carries out specialist work, such as capital markets, on an ad hoc basis.

TfL legal director Andrea Clarke said: "After successfully supporting our legal work for the past four years, we have decided to extend our existing panel of external law firms by a further two years."

A TfL spokesperson added that the organisation had held a robust competitive procurement in 2012, focusing on fees and reducing the number of panel firms.

In 2007, Eversheds was appointed to handle TfL's mainstream operational work; however, following the 2012 review it was decided that this work would now be given to panel members on a case-by-case basis.