Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Morton Fraser are among nine firms to have landed spots on Heathrow Airport Holdings' legal panel, with the duo appointed to the roster for the first time.

The company, formerly known as BAA, has reappointed existing panel members Allen & Overy, Blake Lapthorn, Brodies, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Pinsent Masons, with the latter winning a spot after merging with longstanding adviser McGrigors last year.

General counsel and executive director Carol Hui oversaw the review, which kicked off in November., with no previous panel firms cut from the new line-up.

The new roster consists of 11 sub-panels: corporate, finance and taxation; regulation, competition and procurement; commercial, IT/IP and construction; trademarks/IP registration; litigation; property and planning; property management; employment and pensions; debt collection; routine commercial; and Scottish airports.

Pinsents scored the most roles after landing positions on nine of the sub-panels, while Eversheds won six. Blake Lapthorn and HSF each landed five roles, while Freshfields took four and BLP was appointed to two.

The 11 sub-panels is an increase on the previous nine, which were: corporate and M&A, general commercial, finance and taxation, IT/IP, litigation, regulation and competition, property, projects and construction and Scottish law.

The appointments, which are set to be finalised later this month, last for three years and can be extended for a further two years if the company chooses. Heathrow can also terminate the appointment at any time.

The news comes after Freshfields and HSF advised Heathrow Airport Holdings on the £1.5bn sale of London's Stansted Airport to Manchester Airport Group, which was represented by Slaughter and May. The deal closed at the end of last month.

Heathrow Airport Holdings panel in full

Corporate, finance and tax
Allen & Overy
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith Freehills
Pinsent Masons

Regulation, competition and procurement
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Eversheds
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith Freehills

Commercial, IT/IP and construction
Blake Lapthorn
Eversheds
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Pinsent Masons

Trademarks/IP registration
Eversheds

Litigation
Blake Lapthorn
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Pinsent Masons
Herbert Smith Freehills

Property and planning
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Eversheds
Pinsent Masons
Herbert Smith Freehills

Property management
Blake Lapthorn
Eversheds
Herbert Smith Freehills
Pinsent Masons

Employment and pensions
Eversheds
Pinsent Masons

Debt collection
Blake Lapthorn
Pinsent Masons

Routine commercial
Blake Lapthorn
Pinsent Masons

Scottish airports
Brodies
Pinsent Masons
Morton Fraser