At least £10m in legal fees will be up for grabs, it has emerged, after five London boroughs kicked off a tender process to appoint barristers to their new combined panel.

The West London Alliance – comprising Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow and Hounslow councils – launched the tender process last week (22 June), with more than 75 major chambers understood to be taking part. Each borough is expected to contribute up to £2m in fees over the panel’s four-year term.