Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is facing a potential negligence claim worth more than £68m from the Department for Transport (DfT) for advice it gave the organisation in 2006 in relation to a rail franchise agreement with Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT).
The firm received a letter before action from the Employment, Commercial and Companies Division of the Treasury Solicitor’s Department, dated 13 June 2011, which accuses the firm of negligently deleting a clause in the agreement that resulted in the DfT having to pay out £66.9m to SSWT, as well as £1.3m in costs incurred dealing with the dispute and arbitration proceedings.
