Eversheds has held on to its sole adviser relationship with Severn Trent after fending off competition from 13 other firms.

The five-year appointment, which comes into effect from 1 April, comes after the utility firm reviewed its legal advisers across five areas: debt recovery, employment, general quality regulation, property and combined competition/commercial economic regulation.

The firm's relationship with the FTSE 100 water company dates back to 2008.

Eversheds first took on its sole provider mandate in 2010 and was reappointed without challenge in 2012 for a three year term.

Severn Trent deputy general counsel Stuart Kelly said the company had "divided up what Eversheds had been doing for Severn Trent previously into five lots" and approached "both large and boutique" firms.

He added: "We were expecting to go into the next period with at least two firms, but in the end, Eversheds came out on top across all five lots, with an evolution of their current model."

The work extends beyond the UK to include Severn Trent Services activities in Europe, the Middle East and China.

The Eversheds relationship has been led throughout by head of litigation Ian Gray and employment partner Audrey Elliott.