Department profile
Eversheds Sutherland

Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide

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Eversheds Sutherland

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About

Provided by Eversheds Sutherland

Eversheds Sutherland’s Rail team is a recognised leader in rail, delivering strategic legal solutions across the full lifecycle of rail infrastructure and operations. With deep sector expertise, the team advises on complex commercial and regulatory matters including franchising, concessions, PPPs, rolling stock procurement, infrastructure, and parliamentary and planning work.

Our clients span public and private sectors, including the Department for Transport, Transport for London, High Speed Two, Network Rail, Deutsche Bahn, Roads and Transport Authority Dubai, Northern Rail, CAF, ONxpress Civils Contractors and others.

Recent mandates include the Public Ownership Transfer Programme, Toronto RER, Egypt High Speed Rail, Luas tram, Enterprise rolling stock procurement, Canadian High Frequency Rail, and Dubai Metro and Tram.

We offer end-to-end legal support across commercial, regulatory, HR, pensions, competition, procurement, subsidy, data privacy, real estate, and finance. With a strong parliamentary and planning practice and global reach, Eversheds Sutherland is at the forefront of rail innovation, helping clients navigate reform, deliver major projects, and shape the future of mobility.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation - UK-wide

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Eversheds Sutherland has a highly experienced group of practitioners with an excellent reputation for representing government bodies in nationalisation, planning and authorisation matters. Alongside this, the firm does notable work in both the rolling stock and infrastructure spaces. The firm has an enviable bench of both commercial and regulatory lawyers with substantial rail expertise. It continues to sit on major panels for leading players in the rail industry working for government bodies on the nationalisation of the railway. The team is regularly engaged to advise upon projects internationally, frequently in North America and Asia.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Eversheds Sutherland advised the DfT and the PSO companies on all rolling stock matters, including entry into new rolling stock leases or transferring leases from incumbent operators to the PSO.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Eversheds Sutherland are able to quickly understand and provide solutions to the issues faced by us, responding promptly and precisely to our needs.

    Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

  • The Eversheds Sutherland team have a great breadth and depth of experience in advising on rail contracts, allied with in-depth industry knowledge.

    Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

  • They are skilled people who know very well the rail market in the UK. They work hard and they are always willing to find a good solution.

    Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

  • The team from Eversheds Sutherland has an extremely comprehensive range of knowledge and experience on similar transactions.

    Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

  • They provide comprehensive support and always try to give solutions to issues rather than questions or just open-ended comments.

    Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Anne Harris
    Anne Harris

    Anne Harris

    Anne Harris has expert knowledge of the rail sector and specialises in commercial contracts. She regularly advises clients on franchise agreements and procurement issues, among other matters.
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  • Agnes Koko
    Agnes Koko

    Agnes Koko

    Agnes Koko is held in high regard for the wealth of her experience in the rail industry. She advises on significant rolling stock matters, including supply, procurement and maintenance issues. Koko is additionally adept at handling franchise agreements and investment in infrastructure projects.

    • Agnes is an excellent all-round lawyer. She has extensive experience of the rail industry. She is very responsive.

      Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

    • Agnes is very knowledgeable about the rail business. Her experience is unparalleled.

      Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

    • Agnes has the depth of knowledge and experience to deliver exactly what we need. Her attention to detail and in-depth understanding of established principles are vital to successful outcomes.

      Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK
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  • Will Spickett
    Will Spickett

    Will Spickett

    Will Spickett has notable experience advising on rolling stock and infrastructure projects both domestically and internationally. He has additional expertise in franchising matters.

    • Will is a very professional person, customer-oriented, with a broad knowledge of the business. An easygoing character, always willing to support, and a person easy to build a strong relationship with.

      Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK

    • Will brings an in-depth understanding of organisation principles as well as knowledge of the structure of the rail industry and its stakeholders to ensure that advice is key to successful outcomes.

      Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK
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  • Andrew Bell
    Andrew Bell

    Andrew Bell

    Andrew Bell is a principal associate at the firm. He demonstrates strong experience in the franchising space, regularly advising on contracts and other regulatory matters. He has experience advising on the new national rail contracts.

    • Andrew has professionally (and calmly) continued to steer us through each individual process with reassuring total competence.

      Transport: Rail: Planning & Authorisation respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Eversheds Sutherland (4)

UK-wide

Members

Provided by Eversheds Sutherland

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