icare selects new legal service provider panel for workers compensation
icare has announced providers for its legal services panel for workers compensation claims.
Until now, icare has had separate legal services panels for the two workers compensation schemes under the Nominal Insurer (since May 2016) and Insurance for New South Wales (since 2013, before icare). The new panel combines the provision of legal services across both schemes.
The six-month procurement process involved consultation with select brokers, employers and government agencies, and was overseen by external procurement consultants and probity advisers.
The law firms on the panel are (in alphabetical order):
- Bartier Perry Pty Ltd
- Gair Legal Pty Ltd
- Hall & Wilcox
- Hicksons
- HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
- Lee Legal Group Pty Ltd
- McCabe Curwood Pty Ltd
- Moray and Agnew
- Rankin Ellison Lawyers
- SMK Lawyers
- TurksLegal.
Transition arrangements for the new panel
Contracts for this panel commence on 1 January 2021 and details will be disclosed on the NSW eTendering website within 45 days from that date as per NSW Government guidelines.
There will be a transition period to 30 June 2021 to ensure all legal matters are appropriately managed and completed through the transition to the new panel.
Exiting providers are able to be referred new matters up to 31 March 2021, however any matters unresolved at 30 June 2021 will be transferred to a law firm on the new panel.
Selection process
These providers were selected through an open and transparent procurement process. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on the NSW Government eTendering website on 7 September 2020 and was open for four weeks. The procurement process was overseen by both internal and external probity advisors.
