Legal services

Tender description

The University of Exeter and its entities are looking to appoint a number of Panel firms across four lots: 1) Property and Estates, 2) Employment and Higher Education, 3) Commercial/Contractual and Intellectual Property, 4) Patent Services. For lots 1-3, the University intends to appoint two Panel firms to whom work will be allocated at the discretion of legal services; for lot 4, the intention is to appoint four three Panel firms, again, to whom work will be allocated at legal services’ discretion. For higher-value work, the University may seek quotations from all firms on the Panel for a particular ‘Lot’ to ensure best value. A Panel firm can be appointed to more than one Lot. The Panel firm may be asked to store University Deeds and other title documentation on behalf of the University and all firms should include within their tenders full details of proposed arrangements for storage of and access to such documents, where appropriate to include removal from their current location including any charges that would be made for the provision of this facility. The University will decide which of the two appointed Panel firms would be most appropriate for storage purposes. The Panel firms would (where necessary) be expected to familiarise themselves with the University’s property portfolio. Subareas: • estate management, • TVG issues, • sales and purchases, • property related disputes and claims, • landlord and tenant, • operational student residences issues, • construction contracts, appointments and warranties, • construction procurement, • construction insolvency and disputes, • infrastructure, • planning matters, • easements and wayleaves, • procurement, • insolvency, • state aid, • health and safety, • projects. The Panel firms would (where necessary) be expected to familiarise themselves with the University’s HR procedures, charter and statues and academic procedures, including disciplinary, complaints and fitness to practise (including requirements of professional bodies such as the GMC). Bidders should include in their tenders details of how this would be undertaken, including any proposed charges for this process. Subareas: • tribunal work, • grievance and disciplinary, • TUPE, • pay disputes, • other employment issues, • discrimination (employment related), • discrimination (student related), • research misconduct, • student complaints/disciplinary, • fitness to practise, • charity law inc Trusts, • regulatory issues (e.g. statutes), • defending student claims, • course related issues, • international student issues, • work placement/experience activity, • open access, • education collaborative provision, • health and safety, • pensions, • financial, • debt recovery, • OFT and DS Regs in relation to student accommodation, • CRA/CMA, • immigration. The University undertakes partnerships and other work with a number of overseas institutions across the globe, and firms should indicate in their tender how any international offices or links they have could benefit the University in the light of the University’s internationalisation strategy. If successful, the Panel firms would (where necessary) be expected to familiarise themselves with the University’s IP policy, the research and impact strategy and internationalisation strategies. Subareas: • joint ventures, • spin-out company formation and management, • IP protection, management and policy, • IP licensing/assignment, • student IP, • partnerships, • research related contracts, • clinical trials, • international contracts, • IT systems contracts, • general commercial contracts, • projects, • procurement (inc IT systems), • education collaborative provision, • insolvency, • funding, mortgages and security, • corporate lending and finance, • CRA/CMA, • state aid. If successful, the Panel firms would be expected to familiarise themselves with the University IP Policy and University Research and Impact Strategy. Bidders should include in their tenders details of how this would be undertaken, including any proposed charges for this process. Subareas: • filing and prosecution of applications for patent protection in the UK and abroad; • freedom to operate searches and advice; • advice related to management and enforcement of patents in the UK and abroad.