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Andrew Bell

Legal Director

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An experienced commercial and projects lawyer, Andrew has a particular focus on working with clients to deliver complex projects in the rail sector.

He advises on the preparation, negotiation, letting and interpretation of commercial contracts in the regulated rail sector, including rail franchise/concession agreements, ticketing agreements, regulated access agreements, and agreements relating to infrastructure enhancements and rolling stock.

Highly focused on delivering clients’ commercial and strategic objectives in a legally optimized manner, clients have commented that Andrew:

  • provides “top rate support” as part of the Band 1 ranked Eversheds Sutherland rail team (Legal 500, 2022)
  • is “commercial in [his] outlook and able to navigate the regulations to find commercial solutions” (Legal 500, 2021)

Andrew has taken a central role on a variety of high-profile rail and infrastructure projects, including:

  • advising the UK Department for Transport on a wide range of matters relating to the award of rail franchise agreements by direct award or following a competition including the 2015 and 2020 Great Western Direct Awards, the 2018 West Coast direct award and the 2017 South Western competed award
  • advising the UK Department for Transport in relation to the successful appointment of its in-house Operator of Last Resort to take over the operation of Southeastern rail services from London & South Eastern Railway Limited in October 2021
  • advising Network Rail Infrastructure Limited in relation to:
    • the complex pathfinder transfer of Network Rail’s Cardiff Valley Lines (CVL) infrastructure as part of Welsh devolution arrangements
    • matters associated with the termination of the ‘Wales and Borders’ franchise in February 2021, in particular the transfer of relevant agreements (including regulated access agreements) to the new public sector operator
  • advising in relation to various significant mandates associated with the implementation of the UK Department for Transport’s response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the passenger rail franchising system in England (including the implementation of the Emergency Measures Agreement in March 2020, and, subsequently, the implementation of the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement in September 2020)

Andrew is also experienced in advising in relation to:

  • the award of passenger rail franchises (both on a competed and directly awarded basis)
  • the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts in the regulated railway environment, including access agreements and agreements in the context of major station redevelopments
  • transactions for the leasing of railway rolling stock (both passenger and freight), including the procurement of new fleets of vehicles
  • contracts for the transportation of freight by rail
  • the legislative and regulatory framework under which the British rail industry operates, including in the context of rail-served port and freight terminal facilities
  • Referenced member of the Band 1 ranked Eversheds Sutherland rail team in Legal 500
  • Legal Practice Course, College of Law (York) - 2005-2006
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, College of Law (York) - 2004-2005
  • BA (Hons) History, University of York - 2001-2004
Andrew Bell

Legal Director

Andrew Bell

Legal Director

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