Asda launches ‘Project Spark’ to review contracts with external law firms

The partnerships Asda has established with multiple external legal advisers will now be completely reviewed in a scheme called ‘Project Spark.’

The review will see the Leeds-headquartered supermarket chain’s contracts with law firms re-evaluated by general counsel member Alex Simpson, with an aim to “produce greater alignment and to drive better value and a better quality service”, he told The Lawyer.

This project was initiated after there was a change in pricing with external firms moving away from a fixed fee or hourly rate set up to a “tribunal model”. Simpson explained Asda desires a set fee that “can be adjusted to recognise and reward aggregate year-on-year reductions in cost and good behaviour”.

The main purpose of the review is to deal with significant changes that are sweeping the retail services sector by reevaluating pricing structures and firms’ offering.

Several firms Asda currently uses include Slaughter and May, Pinsent Masons, Kempner & Partners, Walker Morris, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Olswang.

Simpson added: “Good value from our externals is important but significantly this is about applying the best of our minds to set the business up for success and ensure we out-perform the market.”

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