Leading Cardiff law firm highly commended for major procurement project

Procurement specialists at leading Cardiff law firm Blake Morgan are celebrating after a major Welsh Government project was highly commended for innovation at a prestigious industry award ceremony.

The firm’s lawyers were part of a Welsh Government team to procure a new fleet of three highly-specialised patrol boats to protect Welsh fishing waters.

Now the Welsh Government team (including Blake Morgan) has been highly commended for innovation (coming second overall) in the GO Awards Wales 2017/2018 in the category of Innovation/Initiative (Local Government, Welsh Government and Housing). The awards celebrate excellence in public procurement and a gala awards ceremony took place on November 9 at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel.

The Blake Morgan team, led by Partner Simon McCann, advised the Welsh Government throughout the procurement process, drafting all procurement documents and the bespoke shipbuilding contracts.

The vessels are a 24-metre monohull vessel based in South Wales, a 19-metre catamaran based in North Wales with the ability to ground and deploy quad bikes, and a 12-metre cabin RIB. Both the larger vessels will also be able to deploy their own RIBs. The two larger vessels are currently under construction by Mainstay Marine at Milford Haven and the cabin RIB is being built by Marine Specialised Technology in Liverpool.

This type of procurement is normally a specialist area of expertise undertaken by the Royal Navy or Ministry of Defence.

Simon, who specialises in public and utilities procurement, said: “We are delighted to have played our part in bringing this important public project to fruition.

“It is great that the team’s commitment to excellence in procurement has been recognised by this highly-regarded awards scheme. This shows that we have the expertise in Wales to deliver large, complex and specialist projects.”

Blake Morgan’s Procurement team gives expert advice and assistance to public bodies and suppliers on all matters relating to procurement. Clients include those across the health, transport, energy and technology sectors.