Virgin has instructed Michael Beloff QC and Nigel Giffin QC, of Blackstone Chambers and 11KBW respectively, to lead their High Court action against the Department for Transport (DfT) in regards to the West Coast Main Line contract.
The legal team, acting for Virgin, will be lead by Nusrat Zar of Herbert Smith. The Department for Transport (DfT) has brought in Eversheds’ Mark Rhys-Jones and Nicola Williams. Michael Bowsher QC of Monckton Chambers has also been instructed for the DfT.
The nature of the claim is as yet unknown, but it is understood that the aim will be to force the Government to review its decision to hand control of the network to FirstGroup. The legal challenge came just hours before the DfT was due to hand control of the network to FirstGroup.
Virgin boss Richard Branson has engaged in a war of words with the Government over the decision to hand the contract to FirstGroup, branding it “insane”.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said that the Government would push on with the deal, despite the complaints about the tender process.
Virgin was advised by Herbert Smith on the tender while Burges Salmon advised longstanding client FirstGroup on the deal. Eversheds advised the DfT on the tender process, fielding rail partner Anne Harris.
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