Leading Associates

Education in North

Muckle LLP

Muckle LLP’s education team is known for providing comprehensive support to clients across the education sector, including higher and further education institutions, multi-academy and single-academy trusts, maintained and independent schools, nurseries, and training providers. The practice is co-led by Tony McPhillips, who oversees key client relationships across the sector; Joanne Davison, who advises on complex and high-profile projects including academy conversions; and Jill Donabie, who leads on both contentious and non-contentious matters. The wider team includes Richard Nixon, Samantha Pritchard and Chris Hook, who respectively bring property, charity law, and governance expertise to education clients.

Responsables de la pratique:

Tony McPhillips; Joanne Davison; Jill Donabie


Autres avocats clés:

Richard Nixon; Samantha Pritchard; Chris Hook


Les références

‘Fantastic service, timely responses and great understanding of the sector!’

‘Joanne Davison, Jill Donabie, and Richard Nixon, we deal with regularly, and they are fantastic. Their breadth of knowledge and support is excellent.’

‘The team at Muckle that we work with regularly have excellent knowledge of our business area – they can always answer those specialist questions that are unique to our business area.’

Principaux clients

NCG


Tyne Coast College


Bishop Auckland College


Bournemouth and Poole College


New College Durham


Newcastle University


University of Northumbria


Sunderland University


Spurgeon’s College


Smart Multi Academy Trust


Sedbergh School


Dame Allan’s Schools


Cheviot Learning Trust


Emmanuel Schools Foundation


River Tees Multi Academy Trust


East Durham College


Arete Learning Trust


Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust


NEAT Academy Trust


Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust


Providence Learning Partnership


Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust


Pele Trust


Fern Academy Trust


Advance Learning Partnership


Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust


Nicholas Postgate Catholic Education Trust


North Tyneside Learning Trust


Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP’s education team offers specialist advice to a wide range of sector clients, including schools, academy trusts, independent schools, colleges, universities, government agencies, educational charities, and local authorities. With access to the firm’s full-service capabilities, the team advises on education law, governance, property, PFI, capital projects, employment, and charity law, with particular strength in the academy sector. Co-head Kevin Robertson brings extensive experience in projects and procurement across both public and private education clients, while Emma Moody leads the higher education offering with expertise in governance and charity law. Peter Cantwell plays a key role advising academy clients.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kevin Robertson; Emma Moody


Autres avocats clés:

Peter Cantwell; Nick Moss


Les références

‘They are a very knowledgeable team within the field of HEI but also in application of the law to the HEI sector.’

‘All of the individuals I have worked with over the years have been both personable and professional. Always meeting deadlines, some of which have been very tight.’

‘Responsive to changing needs in the education sector – dealing with scenarios which are unique.’

Principaux clients

Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)


Department for Education (DfE)


LocatEd


Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust


The Education Alliance


Four Rivers Multi Academy Trust


Elevate MAT


Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education


Oak Learning Trust


Lingfield Education Trust


Staffordshire University


Durham University


Stoke on Trent City Council


North East Lincolnshire Council


Unviersities & Colleges Employers Association


Waterton Academy Trust


The Constellation Trust


Liverpool City Council


Northumberland County Council


Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Academy Trust


Bishop Hogarth Catholic Academy Trust


Skills for Life Trust, Kent


The Constellation Trust


Horizons Specialist Academy Trust


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Staffordshire University on the completion of its new £100m+ Student Village Project, which comprises the new build of approximately 700 student beds, the construction of a shared hub facility and the subsequent provision of hard facilities management services for an operational period of up to 50 years.
  • Advising on the incorporation of the Four Rivers Multi Academy Trust and the anticipated conversion of four founding schools in Stockport.
  • Advising Stoke City Council in connection with the expiry of the largest education PFI Project in the UK.

Ward Hadaway LLP

Ward Hadaway LLP’s education team is well regarded for its broad expertise across the sector, advising a wide range of institutions including nursery schools, independent schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, and maintained schools. The team is led by Graham Vials, who brings extensive experience in employment and HR matters affecting education providers. Tim Care focuses on procurement, PFI, and education projects, advising primarily public sector clients such as FE colleges and academy trusts. Neil Smith leads on property matters for further education institutions, offering sector-specific real estate expertise.

Responsables de la pratique:

Graham Vials


Autres avocats clés:

Tim Care; Neil Smith; Katy Milner; Tom Shears


Principaux clients

City of Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council


Tyne Coast College


Stanley Learning Partnership


New College Durham Academy Trust


Delta Academies Trust


Northern Lights Learning Trust


Melrose Learning Trust


Success for All Educational Trust


Whickham School


Beacon Hill Special School


Impact Multi Academy Trust


NCG


Delta Academies Trust


Northern Education Trust


Northern Lights Learning Trust


Gosforth Federated Academies


North East Learning Trust


Education Village Academies Trust


Northumberland County Council


Northern Education Trust


Gosforth Federated Academies Trust


Woodard Academies Trust


Tyne Coast College


Excel Academy Partnership


Berwick Academy