Next Generation Partners

Leading Associates

Public sector in East Midlands

Browne Jacobson LLP

Browne Jacobson LLP fields a market-leading public sector practice with a national reputation. The firm’s distinct teams include lawyers with specialist knowledge and understanding of the education, government, and health sectors. Gerard Hanratty is an expert on the public law obligations of healthcare clients and an active inquiries lawyer, working for health bodies. Mark Blois is a recognised authority on education law, while Peter Ware specialises in local government commercial matters and is highly regarded for his public procurement work. Clients from the health and government sectors instruct Laura Hughes on a variety of complex and high-profile matters.


Responsables de la pratique:

Peter Ware; Mark Blois; Gerard Hanratty


Autres avocats clés:

Laura Hughes


Les références

 ‘Experienced professionals at all levels.’

‘Provide a collaborative approach to dealing with risks and issues that shares knowledge and experience across our organisation.’ 

‘Openness and honesty but with a professionalism that ensures we are equipped with the right amount of information and advice for empowered and effective decision making.’ 

Principaux clients

Accord Multi Academy Trust


Achievement Through Collaboration Trust


An Daras Multi Academy Trust


Ansford Academy Trust


Arthur Terry Learning Partnership


Aspire Education Trust


Bath & Wells Diocesan Academy Trust


Beckfoot Trust


Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust


Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College


Believe Academy Trust


Bright Futures Educational Trust


Brooke Weston Trust


Central RSA Academies Trust


Champion Education Trust


Changing Lives Learning Trust


Cheshire Academies Trust


Chiltern Learning Trust


Chorus Education Trust


Coast Academies Trust


Coleg Sir Gar


Colyton Grammar School


Community Inclusive Trust


Consilium Academies


Cornwall Education Trust


Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust


Cumbria Education Trust


Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust


David Ross Education Trust


Department for Education (RPA)


Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust


Diocese of Middlesbrough


Diocese of Salisbury Multi Academy Trust


Diocese of Westminster


Diverse Academies Trust


Durrington Multi Academy Trust


E-ACT


Ebor Academies Trust


Education Learning Trust


Elliot Foundation Academies Trust


Empower Trust


Exmouth Academy Trust


Falcon Education Academies Trust


Falmouth Multi Academy Trust


Finham Park Multi Academy Trust


Flying High Trust


GLF Schools


Great Heights Academy Trust


Great Schools Trust


Greengate Academy Trust


Greenwood Academies Trust


Hayes School


Heathercombe Brake Trust


Heathfield School


Hope Sentamu Learning Trust York


Horrington Primary School


Humber Education Trust


Iron Mill College


Kernow Learning


Keswick School Multi-Academy Trust


Kings Langley School


Leading Edge Academies Partnership


Learner Engagement and Achievement Partnership MAT


Learning Accord Multi-Academy Trust


Leodis Multi-Academy Trust


Lighthouse Schools Partnership


Linwood School


Lion Academy Trust


Lion Education Trust


Lionheart Academies Trust


Loxford School Trust


Meridian Trust


Mercian Trust


Northern Education Trust


Northern Star Academy Trust


North West Academies Trust


Oak Learning Partnership


Osprey Learning Trust


Our Lady of Lourdes Academy Trust


Outwood Grange Academies Trust


Preston Primary Academy Trust


Quantock Multi Academy Trust


Raedwald Trust


REAch2 Academy Trust


Ringwood School


Rodillian Multi Academy Trust


Salford Diocese


Sea View Trust


Severn Foundation


Shaw Education Trust


Spencer Academies Trust


SS Simon and Jude C of E Multi Academy Trust


Steyning Grammar School


St Joseph’s Catholic MAT


Tees Valley Collaborative Trust


The Castle Partnership


Teaching Regulation Agency


The Enquire Learning Trust


The First Federation


The Inspire Multi Academy Trust


The Levels Academy Trust


The Sentient Trust


The True Learning Partnership


The Young Engagement Schools Trust


Thomas Deacon Education Trust


Timberley Academy Trust


Three Saints Academy Trust


Transform Trust


Trewirgie Junior School


Trinity Multi Academy Trust


Twynham Learning


Uffculme Academy Trust


University of Winchester Academy Trust


Ventrus Limited


Warrington Primary Academy Trust


Wessex Learning Trust


Wessex Multi Academy Trust


Westcountry Schools Trust


Westfield School


Wimbourne Academy Trust


Ventrust Limited


Vision MAT


White Rose Academies Trust


Principaux dossiers


Freeths LLP

Freeths LLP provides notable advice to local government clients based across the UK, assisting with real estate matters, complex projects, employment issues, and governance investigations. Nathan Holden manages a broad workload pertaining to local government and property projects, and Stephen Pearson has been integral to several major public sector projects, including regenerative, educational, and healthcare developments. Mitchell Ball leverages his real estate knowledge on regenerative projects, and Maxine Chenoweth has advised a number of clients on a range of residential and commercial development transactions.


Responsables de la pratique:

Nathan Holden


Autres avocats clés:

Stephen Pearson; Gillian Roberts; Mitchell Ball; Lucy Jackson; Frank Suttie; Shireen Eliyas; Eleanor Mangham; Maxine Chenoweth; Mohammad Sajjad; Paul Bownes;


Les références

‘My experience of working with Freeths has been a positive one. This has resulted in Freeths sourcing the right individuals/teams with the expertise and experience of the public sector and their subject matter to provide the best advice, guidance, training, and legal documents.’ 

‘Freeths have also handled lease and land transactions for me, providing advice, handling the transaction, and generally going ‘all-out’ to ensure the interests of me as their client are protected at all times.’

‘Stephen Pearson has always got time to handle any enquiry or question I have. He is exceptional. If not, he will always ensure there is a response from a colleague promptly to be able to close out the matter.’

Principaux clients

Plymouth City Council


The Cornwall Council


North Devon Council


Bath and North East Somerset Council


Gloucestershire County Council


Torfaen County Borough Council


Runnymede Borough Council


Waverley Borough Council


Rushmoor Borough Council


Walsall Borough Council


London Borough of Ealing


London Borough of Hackney


London Borough of Enfield


London Borough of Brent


London Borough of Newham


London Borough of Hillingdon


London Borough of Camden


London Borough of Sutton


London Borough of Lambeth


Principaux dossiers


  • Cambridge City Council – see below
  • Plymouth City Council – see below
  • South East Lincolnshire Partnership – drafting of Subsidy Control compliant grant documentation.

Geldards LLP

Geldards LLP‘s dedicated public sector offering fields specialist solicitors with a deep understanding of projects and public law issues. On behalf of local authorities, the firm undertakes a broad workload which includes handling complex projects, planning issues, and public procurement matters. Paul Hilsdon has notable experience working for local authorities, universities, and multi-academy trusts, while Chris Hawrylak is highly regarded for his risk management, funding documentation, and project capabilities. Clare Hardy is skilled at governance and administrative law work, and Neil Walker has specialist real estate expertise.

Responsables de la pratique:

David Williams


Autres avocats clés:

Paul Hilsdon; Neil Walker; Chris Hawrylak; Clare Hardy


Les références

‘I enjoy working with Geldards, because they are dedicated to getting the best outcome for their clients, organised, down-to-earth and clever.’

‘We were delighted with the expertise and advice provided by Geldards who delivered high-quality advice, support and commitment to us at every stage of the process. We were particularly impressed with their ability to deliver effective and pragmatic advice ensuring that an often challenging project was completed satisfactorily.’ 

‘Clare Hardy’s client service is excellent. She advised and managed often difficult issues and made them seem less complex for our lay client department.’

Principaux clients

Derby City Council


Derbyshire County Council


Westmorland and Furness Council


Cumberland Council


Burnley Borough Council


Warrington Borough Council


Milton Keynes City Council


Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council


Rushmoor Borough Council


South Staffordshire District Council


Leeds City Council


Isle of Wight Council


Tees Valley Combined Authority


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Derbyshire County Council on all relevant legal issues regarding the South Derbyshire Growth Zone Project.
  • Advised Westmorland and Furness Council on its constitution and associated governance issues.
  • Advising Warrington Borough Council on arrangements for the relocation of Warrington bus depot.

Wilkin Chapman LLP

Wilkin Chapman LLP‘s team is well versed in the requirements of politically sensitive investigations into public sector bodies, and the firm is a key adviser on governance issues to internal drainage boards and multi-academy trusts. Jonathan Goolden heads up the practice; he leads on investigations and is regularly called upon to advise on core policies and governmental procedures. Estelle Culligan has deep knowledge of local authorities and is a key adviser to drainage board clients.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jonathan Goolden


Autres avocats clés:

Estelle Culligan


Principaux clients

Association of Drainage Authorities


Allerdale Borough Council


Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council


Kirklees Council


Principaux dossiers


  • Drafted a Good Governance Guide for ADA’s members.
  • Investigated and presented a report regarding a code of conduct breach.

Flint Bishop Limited

Flint Bishop Limited‘s education offering handles a spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters on behalf of nurseries, schools and universities, with particular expertise in employment-related mandates. Briony McDermott now heads the team. Former practice head Louise Easthope  departed for PHP Law LLP in March 2024. Siobhan Mulrey left the team post-publication.

Responsables de la pratique:

Briony McDermott


Autres avocats clés:

Paul Sabin; Haroon Younis; Janet Rhodes; Ian Wilson


Principaux clients

Embark Federation


DCG


The Rutland Learning Trust


Central Co-operative Learning Trust


The SENAD Group


The University of Derby


Derby Teaching Schools Alliance


Odyssey Collaborative Trust


Birkett House


Principaux dossiers


  • Providing employment law support to a large college group, covering a range of employment and HR issues.
  • Representing six independent Jewish schools to support potential judicial review proceedings in respect of discriminatory funding.
  • Providing employment law advisory support to an independent operator of special needs schools, transition homes, supported care and community support services.

Howes Percival LLP

Howes Percival LLP fields an ‘extremely knowledgeable’ team, which utilises its ‘extensive breadth of experience’ for clients from the healthcare, housing, and government sectors. As an employment law specialist, Graham Irons advises schools on trade union recognition and academy conversions. Robert Starr handles health and safety work for clients in the healthcare sector, and Simon deMaid focuses on employment law, particularly tribunal disputes.

Responsables de la pratique:

Graham Irons; Robert Starr


Autres avocats clés:

Simon deMaid


Les références

‘The team at Howes Percival LLP are extremely knowledgeable and have an extensive breadth of experience.’

‘The individuals I have worked with are extremely approachable and I have appreciated their approach to problem-solving and giving all potential options for resolution.’

Principaux clients

Anchor Care Homes


Anchor Hanover Group


Braintree District Council


Breckland Alliance


Cambridge University Endowment Fund


Enterprise Retirement Living


E-Surgery / Total Access Health


Girton College, Cambridge


Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind


Norse Care


Norwich University of the Arts


South Holland District Council


South Norfolk Healthcare


Suffolk County Council


University of Cambridge


East and Central Brighton Primary Care Network


BHR Pharmaceuticals


West Norfolk Housing Company


Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk


This Land Developments


Principaux dossiers