FFW advises the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on major IT outsourcing

16 February 2006

Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has advised the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on the outsourcing of the Department’s IT services to Steria Ltd.  The contract, which signed earlier this month, initially covers a five year period and is estimated to be worth £30 million  delivering substantial savings to the ODPM.

ODPM is the central government department whose responsibilities include housing, planning, regional and local government and the fire service.  Steria will be responsible for taking over the ODPM’s entire IT desktop infrastructure and developing it to meet the Offices future needs.   Steria will also be responsible for the introduction of a new Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS).

ODPM’s previous IT provider was the Department for Transport and the outsourcing includes a ‘decoupling’ process which involves the separation of the departments’ respective systems.  FFW is also currently working on a similar project for the Government Offices for the Regions, which is expected to be signed over the next couple of months.

This project underlines FFW’s position as a leading adviser on public sector outsourcing agreements and follows on from IT outsourcing agreements recently negotiated for the Foreign Office and the UK Passport Service.  FFW also recently boosted its IT practice with the appointment of IT and outsourcing partner, Simon Briskman, from Olswang and David Naylor from Morrison and Foerster.

The FFW team consisted of Rob Shooter, Andrew Joint and Huw Beverley-Smith.

Michael Chissick, Head of Technology Law at FFW, said:

'Over the last three years we have advised on 12 large public sector desktop outsourcing projects and we are delighted to have completed this project which is strategically very important for the ODPM.'    

Steria was advised by in-house counsel Jeremy Shewring.

For further press information please contact:

Louise Eckersley, PR Executive, Field Fisher Waterhouse on 020 7861 4120
Ben Girdlestone, Communications Manager, Field Fisher Waterhouse on 020 7861 4968