The Legal Side of Procurement That Really Matters

In this episode of Powering Procurement, we’re joined by Nicola Cullen and Tom Beard from Capital Law to explore how procurement teams can manage legal risk with confidence under the new UK Procurement Act.Nicola and Tom bring complementary perspectives from non-contentious procurement advisory work and frontline procurement disputes. Together, they unpack what has really changed under the new legislation, including streamlined procedures, enhanced transparency requirements, and the growing administrative burden around notices.The conversation covers common misconceptions procurement teams have about legal compliance, why “fairness” does not always equal legal safety, and how vague evaluation criteria, unclear ITTs, and weak contract management can expose organisations to unnecessary challenge risk.We also explore what makes an ITT legally defensible, why risk is effectively locked in once documents are published, and how early collaboration between legal and procurement teams can prevent costly firefighting later on. Nicola and Tom share real-world examples from live procurements, offering practical lessons without naming names.The episode also looks ahead, discussing the role of AI in procurement, where it can genuinely add value, where caution is needed, and how transparency, accountability, and audit trails must remain central. Finally, they reflect on the future of the profession, why procurement capability is rising, and why this is an exciting moment for both procurement and legal professionals working closely together.A must-listen for procurement leaders, legal teams, and anyone navigating public sector procurement reform.