The Land Registry has appointed West of England law firm Ashfords as a provider of legal services to its corporate procurement team following a tender process.
The team is responsible for all major spending by the Land Registry, principally on information and communications technology (ICT) and facilities management (FM) projects. 
Ashford’s appointment will last for three years and the firm has already received initial instructions on its first piece of work.
The win follows a number of other central Government appointments for Ashfords under the Crown Commercial Services Legal Services Framework, which aims to reduce public sector costs through better, more cost-effective procurement.
The Land Registry tender process was led by Ashfords’ Bristol-based commercial partner Stewart James, pictured.
He said: “Being appointed as a provider of legal services for corporate procurement at Land Registry is a great achievement for the firm and we look forward to starting our first instruction and working with their procurement team.”
Ashfords, which also has offices in London, Exeter, Taunton, Plymouth and Tiverton, has also recently advised London Stock Exchange-listed leather producer Pittards on its successful £5.5m placing and open offer.
Funds raised will go towards buying the freehold title of Pittards’ Yeovil headquarters.
The Ashfords team was led by London-based corporate partner James Lyons, while partner Andrew MacMillan-Scott and associate Morwenna Pestell – both based in Exeter – advised the Pittards on the property purchase.
Pittards finance director Jill Williams said: “This was a complicated transaction in that several aspects were conditional on each other and we were impressed with the way Ashfords managed the tight timetable and co-ordinated all parties involved.”
