Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Denton Wilde Sapte and Dickinson Dees are among the firms advising as three bidders compete to win a £300m operating contract for the Tyne & Wear Metro.

BLP has been drafted in to advise the current management team of the Tyne & Wear Metro as it bids to retain the contract from Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive, Nexus, for 2010 to 2019. The City firm is fielding a team under London project finance partner Richard Lucas.