Wragge & Co LLP has been appointed to the panel of Crossrail London Rail Links, the delivery company for the £15.94 billion Crossrail project. Wragge & Co will advise on property, planning, highways and compulsory purchase aspects of the new rail link route across London.

Planning partner Dan Hemming led the team, assisted by fellow Real Estate partner Stephen Sellers and associates Toni Weston and Eleanor Penn. Wragge & Co join the panel alongside firms Eversheds LLP and Cripps Harries Hall LLP.

Dan Hemming said: "This appointment is a coup for Wragge & Co's full-service real estate practice and a strong endorsement of our reputation for high-quality legal advice. This project is of vital importance to London's future transport network and the joined-up approach of the panel will ensure concise and seamless legal support. We look forward to playing our part in delivering this ambitious and exciting project."

The Cross Rail project is the largest infrastructure project in Europe. It will provide a major new railway link connecting central London, the City and Canary Wharf to Heathrow, and to commuter areas east and west of the capital. The size of the project means over 13,000 land and property interests will be acquired to enable main construction to begin on 2010. The panel will provide support to in-house legal teams during this key planning and property acquisition phase of the project.

Wragge & Co's 180-lawyer Real Estate group offers a full-service property practice across the entire commercial real estate sector. Working across 15 specialist areas from offices in both Birmingham and London, the group advises major private and public organisations on matters ranging from asset management to environment; planning to tax; and litigation to regeneration.

Highlights include advising Ballymore Properties Limited on Barclays pre-let deal for its high-profile Birmingham Snowhill development and advising JP Morgan on the £51 million acquisition of Taunton's primary shopping centre. Clients include British Airways, Persimmon Homes, St Mowden Properties and Transport for London (TfL).

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 685 2785, Rebecca Davies on +44 (0)121 685 3819, Gayle Redding on +44 (0)121 685 2708 or Rebecca Lum on +44 (0)121 260 9973

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.