3.2 The purchasers sought to mitigate this risk of the lack of direct experience by equipping themselves with appropriate advisers. They appointed Bird and Bird, a firm experienced in Information Technology contracting as their legal advisers and as members of their negotiating team. They also obtained assistance from Charterhouse, a merchant bank, on financial matters. They received specific advice on Private Finance practice from the Private Finance Panel Executive. Towards the later stages of the project in 1998 and 1999 they were able to learn from experience on the NIRS2 project, for example the importance of acceptance criteria that ensured the system actually worked as intended when activated. The purchasers also imported specialist advice and assistance in the area of IT project management from PA Consulting, Andersen and Kermons. Kermons also provided procurement advice.