Eurotunnel v Secretary of State for Transport
Eurotunnel and the Secretary of State for Transport have today settled Eurotunnel’s challenge to the award by the Government of contracts to DFDS, Brittany Ferries, and Seaborne Freight for the provision of additional freight capacity between the UK and continental Europe. The capacity contracts were procured under the extreme urgency provisions in regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to deal with the consequences of a ‘no-deal Brexit’. Eurotunnel challenged this procurement as being unlawful under the Regulations. The Secretary of State denied that Eurotunnel had standing to make such a challenge and denied all the claims.The procurement claim was due to be heard by Mr Justice Stuart-Smith in the Technology & Construction Court between 1 and 6 March 2019.
Daniel Beard QC, Valentina Sloane, Ligia Osepciu and Jack Williams of Monckton Chambers acted for Eurotunnel.
Philip Moser QC, Ewan West and Azeem Suterwalla of Monckton Chambers acted for the Secretary of State.