Joseph Barrett, of 11KBW, acted for the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (“the Authority”) in successfully defending a substantial claim under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 brought by the incumbent provider (Lee Valley Leisure Trust) (“the Claimant”) challenging the award of a new long-term contract for the management and operation of the Authority’s portfolio of leisure facilities situated in and around the Olympic Park, London. The Claimant also advanced various contractual claims regarding sums said to be owed to it by the Authority pursuant to the existing services contract between the parties relating to the facilities.
Following the issuing of proceedings the Authority elected (somewhat unusually in a dispute of this sort) not to apply to lift the automatic suspension on contract-making. Instead, the Authority applied for the claim to be determined at an expedited trial. A trial of liability was ordered to be heard in October 2020.
The claimant has now discontinued the proceedings, enabling the Authority to proceed with the implementation of the new contract, and the various improvements to the facilities and services that the contract is intended to deliver.
Coverage of the litigation can be seen here
Joseph Barrett of 11KBW was sole counsel for the Authority throughout the litigation, instructed by Womble Bond Dickinson. The Claimant was represented by Parishil Patel KC of 39ES, instructed by Trowers and Hamlins.
