Wragge & Co LLP PFI team is advising Gloucestershire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service on a fire station PFI. This is the first instruction following the firm's appointment to Gloucestershire County Council's major projects panel.

PFI partner Stephen Kenny is leading the team, supported by public sector partner Bleddyn Rees, PFI associate Simon Chappel and solicitor Kate McKenna. They are working closely with Sam Wood, acting assistant director of law and administration at Gloucestershire County Council.

Stephen Kenny said: "This market-leading project is the first fire station PFI using the new fire and rescue services guidance developed by 4Ps. Creative thinking and a flexible approach will be needed to adapt the standard PFI contract. We impressed sufficiently to win this appointment with our strong track record and insight into emergency services requirements."

The fire station PFI, expected to close in 2009/10, is designed to transform fire and rescue services in the county. Plans have been approved for four new fire stations and a community life skills centre to educate young and vulnerable people about safety. The new fire stations will replace the existing stations at Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Wragge & Co was appointed to Gloucestershire County Council's major projects panel following a successful tender through Catalist, the Office of Government Commerce's approved panel of legal firms.

Peter Thorp, PFI Project Manager at the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are very pleased to have Stephen and his team on board for this exciting project. We have every confidence in their ability to provide us with the necessary PFI-related expertise and guidance to bring this project to a satisfactory contract close in the timescale envisaged."

Wragge & Co's 27-strong PFI team advises contractors, sponsors and funders on PFI, PPP and international projects. Previous projects in the education, waste, defence and social infrastructure sectors display the breadth of the team's experience. The latest headline project in the local authority sector involved advising Shropshire County Council on its integrated waste management PFI project. The team has also closed PFI projects for Croydon Council and Solihull Council.

A cross-firm team of lawyers with expertise in the public sector advise local authorities and central government departments on a full range of legal matters. Specialist areas include debt finance, employment, construction, pensions, property, PFI, outsourcing, planning and regeneration. Wragge & Co won a place on OGCbuying.solutions' Catalist Legal Services Framework Agreement in 2007. The firm was accredited in the full commercial and major projects lots following a competitive tender.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 213 2397, Alexa Highfield on +44 (0)121 213 2396 or Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 213 2360

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.