Procurement
Procurement regulation is central to the way that the public sector and utilities purchase works, services and supplies. We help clients in the public, utility, defence and private sectors to successfully navigate the various UK procurement regimes.

Procurement is a critical stage of any project, with a real effect on its value for money, and its eventual success or failure. Procurement responsibilities also extend into contract management post-award.

Following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, there are now different procurement regimes in force across the UK. It is therefore key for both the public and private sector to stay on top of the relevant obligations and procedures. Our wide-ranging service includes strategic advice on structuring and optimising procurements, support during procurement processes, and raising and responding to challenges across the various UK procurement regimes.

We advise clients across various sectors on all of the relevant issues – including during the procurement of complex, high-profile or politically sensitive projects – using our commercial awareness, legal expertise and project management skills to help to secure the best outcomes.

From a public sector perspective, it is key to ensure compliance, while at the same time optimising your processes to deliver best value, on time. We can help you to structure and run your procurements in accordance with the relevant regime (whether that is the Scots law procurement regulations or the Procurement Act 2023) in a manner that minimises risk whilst still meeting your key objectives. We can also provide support on defending potential procurement challenges.

For private sector clients, we advise at each stage of the process, from supporting your tender submission process, to considering whether there have been breaches in compliance with the Regulations, to helping you to decide whether to challenge a decision within short timescales with a view to protecting the widest range of remedies possible. We also support and advise on supply chain procurement matters that are outside the scope of the procurement regulations.

Specifically, our advice includes:

Obligations under the Procurement Act 2023
Obligations under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, the Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016 and the Concession Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016
Obligations under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014
Optimising your procurement strategy and processes, and structuring bespoke procurement solutions for complex projects
Defence of claims under any of the UK procurement regimes
Pursing claims for tenderers where there is an apparent breach of the relevant procurement regime
Support in relation to the procurement implications of modifications of contracts during their term

Our experience includes:

Advising multiple local authorities and NHS Boards on the procurement of large-scale complex infrastructure contracts and private sector development partners
Advising a private sector bidder in a challenge to a local authority roads project
Advising a major UK utility on various procurement matters, including procurement of transmission and distribution infrastructure across the UK
Advising higher education establishments on various procurement matters
Advising public and private sector clients on the defence procurement regime
Advising public sector and private sector clients on the procurement implications of modifications to contracts during their term

Meet our key contacts

Euan Murray

Partner

Steven McLaughlin

Solicitor

Related articles and insights: Procurement

1 April 2026

Construction challenges in scaling renewable infrastructure

Contributors:
Euan Murray, Steven McLaughlin

Partner Euan Murray and Solicitor Steven McLaughlin explore the infrastructure challenges faced by current clean energy projects.

13 September 2024

Procurement Act Delay

Contributors:
Euan Murray, Colin Bathgate

The government is postponing the coming into force of the Procurement Act 2023 to allow for a new NPPS to be prepared.

21 November 2023

Transforming public procurement – The Procurement Act 2023

Contributors:
Euan Murray, Colin Bathgate

The Procurement Act, aimed at reforming the way public bodies procure suppliers, now has Royal Assent. This comes alongside an update to relevant thresholds.