Lawyers from Exchange Chambers in Liverpool defeated a challenge from the Good Law Project over the awarding of a £102.6m Government PPE contract. Tony McDonough reports

A team of Liverpool lawyers have repelled a challenge into the lawfulness of a £102.6m Government PPE contract.

Louis Browne QC from Exchange Chambers, instructed by SFR Law and Brabners, successfully acted for Pharmaceuticals Direct at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The matter arose out of a claim for judicial review, whereby the Good Law Project, a not-for-profit campaign organisation, sought to challenge the lawfulness of the Secretary for State for Health and Social Care’s decisions to award contracts worth £102.6m for the supply of PPE to Pharmaceuticals Direct.

The central issue was whether there was valid service of the claim form in the proceedings. The Good Law Project’s application was dismissed and the Secretary for State for Health and Social Care’s application to set aside the claim form succeeded.

Louis Browne QC is one of the region’s most active and prominent silks. The Liverpool-based barrister is currently instructed by Liverpool City Council (City Solicitor, Jeanette McLoughlin) to defend a Judicial review brought by Joe Anderson, the former Mayor of Liverpool.

The Police are investigating Mr Anderson over allegations of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation. He denies all wrongdoing.

The Judicial Review concerns Mr Anderson’s challenge to the council’s refusal to provide him with an indemnity in respect of legal costs incurred in the defence of these allegations. The case will be heard in Manchester later this month.