Energy giant E.ON UK has appointed Pinsent Masons as its sole legal adviser.

The agreement will last five years, with the law firm providing work across a range of disciplines on a fixed-fee basis.

Earlier this year, Pinsent Masons signed a similar type of deal with Balfour Beatty.

Under the latest contract E.ON is retaining its UK in-house legal team and its central functions in Germany, plus specialist legal teams which will have separate panels of law firms to select for work.

Richard Masters, Glasgow-based head of client operations at Pinsent Masons, said he was delighted clients are reacting positively to the firm's initiatives to move away from an emphasis on billable hours.