The national panel and four regional panels will be used for a range of litigation, advice and corporate legal services.

The Ombudsman has reduced the number of firms on its national panel from 19 to five. Fair Work Ombudsman chief counsel Natalie James said the new structure aims to drive efficiency and ensure the agency has localised specialist support and workplace relations legal services.

Last financial year the agency's legal activity increased by 15 per cent, with 78 matters commenced. Its external legal spend totaled $5.7 million and penalties awarded by the courts against employers prosecuted by the agency exceeded $1.6 million.

The panels have been appointed until 30 June 2012. They can also be used by the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Workplace Authority.

The panels are as follows:

National

* Australian Government Solicitor

* Clayton Utz

* Corrs Chambers Westgarth

* Deacons

* Minter Ellison

NSW/ACT

* Bartier Perry

* DLA Phillips Fox

* FCB Workplace Lawyers

* Holding Redlich

* Sparke Helmore

WA/SA

* DLA Phillips Fox

* Hunt & Hunt

* Lavan Legal

* Piper Alderman

* Sparke Helmore

Qld/NT

* French Commercial Lawyers

* Gadens Lawyers

* Holding Redlich

* Hunt & Hunt

* McCullough Robertson

Vic/Tas

* DLA Phillips Fox

* Freehills

* Holding Redlich

* Hunt & Hunt

* Maurice Blackburn

* Russell Kennedy

* Sparke Helmore

* Zeeman & Zeeman

- Zoe Lyon