Alison Richards Partner

Alison Richards

Alison is a Birmingham based partner. She has extensive experience of large-scale, complex Government and the wider public sector transactions, and regularly advises clients on the preparatory stages of such transactions including participating in options assessments, strategic procurement and the formation of different provider organisational forms and transaction structuring. As a public sector projects lawyer, Alison is well experienced with working within a political landscape which responds to national and local policy. She is also very aware of the impact public projects have on public confidence and therefore the need for the public sector to be seen to be getting things right first time.

Alison has advised in relation to developing and procuring contracts which are relevant to the needs of the organisation and adhere to procurement regulations, the organisations' financial standing orders and meet governance requirements. She has extensive experience of large scale, complex public sector transactions and service reconfigurations including business transfer arrangements.

Experience

• Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office - Lead adviser on the ECHO2 project which has involved extending and varying the incumbent contract to ensure minimum risk/disruption to operationally critical communication services; procuring, via a Competitive Dialogue with Negotiation procedure, a framework agreement and two call off contracts for an enhanced global Network Integration Service and procuring a Dynamic Purchasing System for global internet connectivity.
• UK Health Security Agency – Advice and assistance in relation to COVID-19 test and trace and lighthouse contracts.
• MoD - Military Pay and Pensions Service - Lead Adviser on a project for the re-procurement of the contract. Contractor requirements included maintaining excellent service delivery as well as mid-term service and ICT transformation. The project included reviewing and advising on procurement documentation and risk along with and supporting strategies; managing the current contract sensitivities; providing advice and training, via workshops, for commercial and technical SMEs including in relation to: contract performance measures, change control and evaluation and moderation; drafting the new contract and schedules, based on the model services agreement and leading legal negotiations.
• MoD – procurement of land vehicles for construction and lift requirements including, earthmoving, construction and specialist plant, cranes and material to support MoD training and operations worldwide. Alison provided senior advice in relation to leading on the vehicles project, leading on public procurement issues and assisting with drafting of the core contract terms and conditions.
• The Royal Parks – advice in relation to the procurement of public concession arrangements and advice and training on evaluation of public tenders.
• Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games – procurement of contracts and advice and training on post Brexit procurement in the UK