External Legal Services (Solicitors - England & Wales)

The GMC has a substantial and well established in-house legal team. The in-house legal team carries out the majority of the legal work for the GMC in relation to the exercise of its core statutory functions. It is now the sole provider of legal services in respect of the investigation of cases in relation to individual medical practitioners, as well as the conduct on behalf of the GMC of resultant cases before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) and litigation before the courts of England and Wales. As a consequence the GMC does not anticipate that it will require much (if any) assistance from its external legal services supplier in relation to the day to day delivery of its core statutory functions. It is anticipated that the vast majority of instructions will relate to legal issues associated with any large commercial organisation and / or public sector body as reflected in the statement of requirement. That said, to provide flexibility, including where independent advice and scrutiny may be required it would be advantageous (not essential) if the legal services supplier were in a position to provide legal advice and support in relation to the GMC’s fitness to practise work. To that end, the Statement of Requirements does contain reference to the ability to deliver legal advice in relation to fitness to practise work and litigation. For the avoidance of doubt this tender does not include the provision of advocacy services in relation to proceedings before the MPTS / Higher Courts or the provision of legal services outside England and Wales. The GMC will continue to instruct barristers in England and Wales directly. Further, the GMC has a separate contract for the provision of Employment Law Advice and that is excluded from this tender.