Herbert Smith Freehills has today announced the signing of long-standing client Transport for London's £660 million contract for its provision of next generation ticketing and fare collection services, which includes the iconic Oyster brand and the framework to introduce contactless payment cards across TfL's network in London.

TfL awarded the contract to the existing contractor, Cubic, after a competitive procurement process.

The re-procurement of TfL’s revenue collection systems, used for transport services including London Underground, , London Buses, the DLR, the Emirates Air Line and London Overground  and the requirement to introduce new technology to allow for contactless payment cards to be used across the network (currently in use on buses) resulted in the existing contract being updated to include this innovative step.

Working closely with the in-house legal team at TfL, the Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by partners Nick Pantlin (Head of our Outsourcing and Technology team in London), Mark Turner and associates Amos Carrington, Alba Bozo and Caroline Hartley. Other key team members included Sam Clearwater, Annabel Gillham, Isobel Carruthers, Adrian Brown and Loretta Pugh.

Nick Pantlin, Partner, commented: "Working closely with TfL's in-house legal and commercial teams since February 2012 on this complex, innovative and long-term contract, we are delighted with the recent signing which introduces the next generation of Oyster and contactless payment systems for the nine million journeys made on London's transport system each day."