Leading Partners

Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Education

Harper Macleod LLP‘s team, led by Jennifer Jack, leverages its strength in dispute resolution and public law to handle safeguarding work and judicial reviews.

Education in Scotland

Anderson Strathern

Anderson Strathern houses a broad team known for its ‘invaluable’ knowledge of the education sector. The team is well-equipped to handle the full spectrum of work within the sector, from investigations into sexual assault allegations between students to discrimination claims and school property issues. Catriona Watt stands out for her specialism in independent school-related work, with a strong emphasis on the protection of vulnerable children and adults, and submissions to government bodies. Andrew Brown is well-known for his vast experience in all issues concerning transgender students and disputes concerning industrial relations within the education sector. Audrey Cameron is recommended for her expertise in major transactional mandates within the educational space, including mergers, governance issues, and procurement.

Responsables de la pratique:

Catriona Watt; Andrew Brown; Audrey Cameron


Autres avocats clés:

Mandy Armstrong


Les références

‘The team under Andrew Brown are always responsive and offers good advice. They advise on various options for each case and explore the risks associated with each case.’

‘Andrew Brown runs a good team, and their advice on complex legal cases is always helpful. Andrew is also good enough to do an annual session for our national HR Directors’ group on current employment law.’

‘The team’s expertise is demonstrated throughout the full breadth of services that they offer. That knowledge is invaluable.’

Principaux clients

University of St Andrews


University of Edinburgh


University of Strathclyde


University of the Highlands and Islands


Glasgow Caledonian University


Edinburgh Napier University


Glasgow School of Art


Colleges


Ayrshire College


Edinburgh College


Fife College


Glasgow Clyde College


New College Lanarkshire


North Highland College


Moray College UHI


South Lanarkshire College


West College Scotland


Inverness College


Gateshead College


Scotland’s Rural College


Fettes College


Gordonstoun


St Leonards


Merchiston Castle School


Kilgraston


St George’s School


Bellhaven Hill School


Fairview International School


Loaningdale School


My Online Schooling Limited


Glasgow College Regional Board


APUC


Out of School Scotland


College Development Network


Scottish Council for Independent Schools


City of Edinburgh Council


Midlothian Council


Fife Council


West Lothian Council


Falkirk Council


North Lanarkshire Council


Principaux dossiers


  • Defending litigation for various universities, colleges, independent schools and local authority schools.
  • Provide specialist work around the demands placed upon Special Educational Needs provision for Local Authorities.
  • Advise on collaborations, commercialisations and research partnerships for our clients with other institutions across the UK and the rest of the world.

Brodies LLP

Housing a practice ‘bursting with technical experts’, Brodies LLP acts for a diverse client base of education authorities, well-known universities, colleges, and independent schools. Noted for the ‘fantastic support’ he provides, Niall McLean leads the team with his deep knowledge of student issues, spanning disciplinary hearings and work surrounding equalities legislation. Described by clients as being ‘in a class of her own’, Christine O’Neill is an expert in the application and interpretation of education legislation and statutory powers, in addition to the handling of student complaints. Martin Sloan routinely assists clients with tech procurement contracts, collaboration agreements, and data transfers.

Responsables de la pratique:

Niall McLean


Autres avocats clés:

Christine O’Neill; Martin Sloan; Lynne Marr


Les références

‘The personal touch and support given by Brodies gives us a lot of confidence when we have potential issues on the horizon.’

‘The continuity of being able to deal with the same person over many years is very much appreciated.’

‘Bursting with technical experts on all topics and across levels of experience, this is a standout team giving thoughtful, strategic advice which aims to help deliver a result rather than simply follow processes. Their approach is highly collaborative.’

Principaux clients

Scottish Qualifications Authority


Queen Margaret University


University of Dundee


University of Edinburgh


London Universities Procurement Consortium


University of Glasgow


Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations


Stirling, Falkirk and Argyll and Bute Councils


University of West of Scotland


Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for University of Edinburgh in governance and student issues.
  • Advising SQ on its role as a core participant in the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry.

Burness Paull LLP

The multidisciplinary group at Burness Paull LLP draws expertise from across the firm to handle immigration, real estate, and regulatory issues. The team is also well-equipped to advise education authorities on their powers. Practice head Hazel Moffat is a key name for all matters relating to public law within the education sector, including judicial reviews, procurement, and governance. Construction expert James Forbes utilises his longstanding expertise to advise on major projects within the education space.

Responsables de la pratique:

Hazel Moffat


Autres avocats clés:

James Forbes


Les références

‘Very attentive and alert to the current and potential needs and aspirations of clients. Much more attentive to understanding the bigger picture than simply following instructions as isolated events than others.’

‘The team is bright, informed and interested.’

Principaux clients

University of Aberdeen


University of the West of Scotland


Forth Valley College of Higher and Further Education


University of Dundee


University of St Andrews


Hub West Scotland Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising the University of the West of Scotland on immigration compliance matters for sponsored staff under the skilled worker route.
  • Advising the University of Aberdeen on real estate, property and planning advice.
  • Assisting the Forth Valley College of Higher and Further Education and its technical advisor on the procurement of facilities management services.

CMS

The ‘knowledgeable, pragmatic and commercial’ group at CMS handles a broad swathe of education-related work, from the extension of schools to franchise and license agreements. The team often acts for universities, councils, and developers. Carina Healy leads the team and stands out due to her knowledge of academic tech transfers. David Dennis utilises his vast knowledge of tech to assist universities with collaboration agreements and clinical trials.

Responsables de la pratique:

Carina Healy


Autres avocats clés:

David Dennis; Neeraj Thomas


Les références

‘The team comprises knowledgeable, pragmatic and commercial lawyers who are responsive and provide a high-quality service.’

‘Tom Morgan has an excellent understanding of the higher education sector and provides expert, pragmatic advice. The support we have received has been outstanding.’

‘Very professional team that understands the needs of higher education institutions.’

Principaux clients

University of Glasgow


University of Sheffield


University College London


Heriot-Watt University


University of St. Andrews


UCL Business Ltd


University of Durham


Fife College


Glasgow School of Art


University of Cambridge


University of Central Lancashire


University of Bristol


University of Dundee


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising on the University of Glasgow’s Campus Expansion Project.
  • Advising the University of Suffolk’s project with funding from the UK Space Agency to deliver the UK’s largest optical research test range.
  • Advising UCL’s Contracts Services team to provide contract support services.

Thorntons Law LLP

Thorntons Law LLP is known for handling a broad spectrum of education work, including commercial property and construction issues, IT procurement mandates, and both discrimination and dismissal claims. Robbie Francis divides his time between Dundee and Edinburgh. Francis’ primary areas of expertise include corporate governance issues and funding, and the entry of academic institutions into international partnerships. In Dundee, Noele McClelland leads the firm’s employment practice, and is noted for her expertise in reputation management and complex senior executive-level issues within the education sector.

Responsables de la pratique:

Robbie Francis; Noele McClelland


Autres avocats clés:

Debbie Fellows


Les références

‘Full service firm that takes time to understand the business and the issues at hand.’

‘Debbie Fellows – A true and integral part of our business. Honest and reliable.’

‘Strong alignment of team capabilities and team member experience to our specific niche.’

Principaux clients

Abertay University


University of Stirling


University of the Highlands and Islands


Glasgow School of Art


Robert Gordon University


University of St Andrews


The James Hutton Institute


City of Glasgow College


Dundee & Angus College


Perth College


Borders College


Dumfries & Galloway College


Glasgow Kelvin College


The High School of Dundee


Colleges Scotland


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Glasgow School of Art on the conditional sale of JD Kelly and Richmond Buildings in Glasgow to a student accommodation developer.
  • Advised Robert Gordon University on how to manage industrial and employee relations in a wide-scale and complex collective redundancy situation.
  • Advised the University of Stirling on a substantial IT procurement of the Worktribe research management platform.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts

Morton Fraser MacRoberts‘ practice is noted by clients for being ‘experienced, knowledgeable, very approachable’. Practice head David Gourlay has extensive IT and data protection expertise, and the ‘wonderfully knowledgeable’ Sarah Gilzean is an expert in discrimination and employment issues within the education sector, often acting for schools. Adrian Bell stands out for his vast experience in structural governance matters, regularly advising higher education institutions, while Robin Fallas has longstanding expertise in procurement issues and governance mandates.

Responsables de la pratique:

David Gourlay


Autres avocats clés:

Adrian Bell; Robin Fallas; Sarah Gilzean


Les références

‘The practice has a cross-section of teams who can advise on all matters.’

‘The team is excellent. They are truly experts in their fields, they are very responsive, and advice is always comprehensive.’

‘Overall, I have found the team to be experienced, knowledgeable, very approachable and able to explain things well in layman’s terms. They have all been a pleasure to work with.’

Principaux clients

Ministry of Defence


Student Loans Company Limited


SRUC


Dollar Academy


New College Lanarkshire


George Watson’s College


Social Enterprise Academy


Community Enterprise Scotland


Sumdog Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Acted for the University of West Coast of Scotland in relation to multiple Court of Session proceedings concerning nickel sulphide inclusion defects in the glazing units at their Lanarkshire Campus.
  • Acted for the Ministry of Defence in the boarding schools phase of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
  • Advised the Student Loans Company, involving advising extensively on their operational framework with the Department of Education and the general legislative framework in which they operate.

Pinsent Masons LLP

Praised by clients for its ‘excellent sector and market knowledge’, Pinsent Masons LLP acts for a diverse range of clients across England and Scotland. Chris Martin leads the team with his longstanding experience in digital transformations and IP commercialisation mandates, while the ‘excellent’ Joanne McIntosh is well-equipped to advise academic institutions on collaboration agreements and software supply agreements.

Responsables de la pratique:

Chris Martin


Autres avocats clés:

Susannah Donaldson; Joanne McIntosh; David Woods


Les références

‘Susannah McDonaldson – superb client care skills, thorough and sensible in approach.’

‘Well-resourced team with excellent sector and market knowledge.’

‘Joanne McIntosh is excellent. She is very responsive and provides practical and commercial advice informed by an in-depth knowledge of the market.’

Principaux clients

University of Edinburgh


Jisc


Roslin Institute


University of Birmingham


Coventry University


University of Sussex


University of Lincoln


University of London


University of Manchester


Old College Capital


Dundee Superannuation and Life Assurance Scheme


Aberdeen Superannuation and Life Assurance Scheme


Smart Data Foundry


Heriot-Watt University


Equitix Group


Aston University


University of Nottingham


Manchester Metropolitan University


University College London


INTO University Partnerships Limited


London School of Economics & Political Science


Bloomsbury Heat & Power II Limited


hub South West Scotland Limited


Ecctis Limited


The Sullom Voe Association


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising the University of Manchester on a large student accommodation project.
  • Advising the Roslin Institute on research collaboration agreements, patent licences and other commercialisation contracts.
  • Advising the University of Edinburgh on its agreement with OpenAI.