BCLP Shortlisted for Legal Advisor of the Year at the 2026 Partnerships Awards

BCLP has been shortlisted for Legal Advisor of the Year at the 2026 Partnerships Awards. Organised by Partnership Bulletin — one of the leading publications covering public-private partnership (PPP) procurement worldwide — the Awards celebrate excellence in the delivery of PPP and infrastructure projects across the globe.

The shortlisting recognises the team's outstanding advisory work on some of Europe's most significant and complex infrastructure PPP transactions during 2025, further cementing BCLP's position at the forefront of first-of-a-kind PPP procurement and establishing precedents set to shape European infrastructure delivery for years to come.

A Year of Market-Defining Mandates

Central to the shortlisting is the team's advisory role on the £2.9bn+ Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) — the first large-scale UK water project to reach financial close under Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model, setting a new precedent for regulated utilities procurement in the UK water sector.

The project involves replacing six critical tunnel sections along the 110 km Haweswater Aqueduct, securing the supply of approximately 570 million litres of drinking water per day to 2.5 million people across North West England.

HARP also delivers wide-ranging environmental and social benefits, including supporting around 1,200 jobs, removing approximately 3,000 HGV movements from sensitive routes through below-ground tunnelling, and embedding biodiversity net gain commitments throughout the project design.

BCLP’s advisory work on HARP established several UK-first approaches — including target-cost contracting mechanics, multi-creditor financing platforms, and ARD-aligned affordability structures — delivering a repeatable, bankable blueprint now shaping the next generation of UK water infrastructure procurement.

The transaction has since been recognised by IJGlobal as its Water Deal of the Year for Europe — a testament to the quality and innovation of the legal and commercial work that underpinned it.

International Reach: A First-of-Its-Kind PPP in the Czech Republic

Beyond the UK, BCLP continues to advise on a landmark first-of-its-kind PPP project in the Czech Republic. A successful outcome would validate the country's modernised PPP framework and has the potential to unlock a broader pipeline of similar projects with significant regional impact.

The deal teams advising on both mandates are led by Mark Richards, Partner and EMEA Head of BCLP's Energy, Environment & Infrastructure practice group, bringing deep sector expertise and a proven track record of delivering landmark transactions across multiple jurisdictions.

Mark Richards, Partner and EMEA Head of Energy, Environment & Infrastructure at BCLP, said:

“We’re delighted to be shortlisted for Legal Advisor of the Year. HARP was a landmark transaction — the first of its kind under Ofwat’s DPC model — and we’re proud to have helped create a bankable, repeatable structure that can accelerate much-‑needed investment in UK water infrastructure. Thank you to our clients and partners for their trust; we look forward to supporting the next wave of DPC and European PPP projects.”

About BCLP's Energy, Environment and Infrastructure Practice

BCLP's Energy, Environment and Infrastructure team advises sponsors, lenders, contractors, and public authorities on some of the most complex and high-profile transactions in the energy, infrastructure, and utilities sectors worldwide.

The team's capabilities span the full lifecycle of infrastructure transactions — from project finance and development, NEC construction contracts, and regulatory frameworks, through to equity investment and long-term operations and maintenance — positioning BCLP as one of the leading legal advisors in the UK and European energy and infrastructure markets.

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BCLP Advises STRABAG:Equitix Consortium on first of a kind £2.9bn Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme