A consortium of some of the UK’s leading housing associations is officially launched today.
Peabody, Metropolitan Housing Partnership, Phoenix Community Housing and Servite Houses have come together to form the Housing Associations’ Legal Alliance (HALA), with a view to driving down external costs and improving efficiency in the provision of legal services.
The group, which last year had a combined total spend on external lawyers of over £5 million, is advertising for a panel of solicitors in this week’s Law Society Gazette.
The announcement of HALA is part of an increasing trend across both the public and private sectors for a more creative approach to the delivery of legal services.
Susan Hickey, Finance Director of Peabody, said:
“HALA is a big step forward in cost efficiency and the effective delivery of legal services for housing associations. We’re proud to be leading the way.”
Katrina Robinson, Head of Legal Services for Servite Houses, said:
"I am confident that all of the members of HALA will be able to make substantial savings on their external legal costs enabling us to report to the Audit Commission positively on this breakthrough value for money initiative.”
While its first task will be the setting up of a consolidated panel of law firms to provide best value legal services and training, HALA also plans to explore other initiatives aimed at forging further collaboration between its members.
Leo Fattorini of Kennedy Cater Legal, the consultants assisting HALA with this project, said:
“In the current economic climate, it’s not often you see reduced spending accompanied by increased services – but that is exactly the result being achieved for other consortia we are working with in the area of legal services. HALA is an exciting project which it is hoped will deliver immediate cost savings for its members, whilst also creating a platform for further collaboration and improvement.”
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For further information, contact Peabody Media Relations Officer Neil Young on 020 7021 4210 or neil.young@peabody.org.uk.
