International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised the UK’s Ministry of Defence on its competition to appoint a strategic business partner for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) – the organisation which manages and develops the U.K’s national and international defence estate portfolio.

The ten year contract, worth approximately £400 million, was this week awarded to Capita, who will work in conjunction with URS and PA Consulting.

The contract is expected to help transform the facilities and services that allow the British armed forces to live, work, train and deploy on operations, and has the potential to deliver substantial savings for the taxpayer, which could reach over £300 million a year during the period of the contract.

The Freshfields team was led by partner Sally Roe, supported by counsel Max Cairnduff and associate Laura Wisdom.