With ‘extensive expertise in higher and further education’, the market-leading team at Anderson Strathern is regularly instructed by Scotland’s major universities, colleges, and local authorities on the full range of contentious, non-contentious, and administrative matters. Key areas of expertise include college mergers, restructurings and asset transfers. Practice leader Alun Thomas specialises in litigation and mediation, while Catriona Watt spearheads the regulatory team and handles governance and safe guarding issues in the private school sector. Audrey Cameron is another key contact in the group, advising on commercial and procurement-related mandates.

Brodies LLP is noted for its ‘excellent technical expertise’ in handling a broad range of matters for major Scottish higher education institutions. Niall McLean jointly leads the team alongside Brenda Scott, providing support on commercial mandates and student misconduct cases. Chair Christine O’Neill is another active member of the team, advising educational authorities on IP, employment and regulatory matters. Showcasing a ‘breadth of expertise’, Kirstyn Burke assists on major governance issues and Lynne Marr advises on discrimination-related matters.

Burness Paull LLP stands out for its expertise in public law and regulatory compliance matters, regularly advising higher education institutions, funding councils and colleges on a range of advisory and transactional mandates. Practice leader Hazel Moffat’s client roster includes student loan companies and educational regulatory bodies. Scott Peterkin leads the property department and handles real estate transactions, while James Forbes focuses on construction and infrastructure projects within the education sector. The team is also well-equipped to advise on immigration compliance cases, joint venture interests, and sales and purchases of land. Fiona Killen departed for Harper Macleod LLP in June 2023.

CMS is well-regarded for its experience in servicing both Scottish and English higher education clients on a wide spectrum of commercial law and IP matters. In addition to advising on strategic partnerships and technology transfers under the leadership of Carina Healy, the team also handles commercial property transactions and property portfolios for local councils. Darina Kerr regularly assists with negotiating contractual leasing and developmental frameworks, while antitrust and competition expert Graeme Young assists with subsidy control mandates.

The education practice at Shepherd and Wedderburn is situated within the firm's wider immigration, infrastructure, and employment offering. Jointly steered by Neil Maclean, Malcolm Rust, Joanna Boag-Thomson, Keir Willox and Matt Phillip, the practice is well-equipped to advise major Scottish universities and councils on pension schemes, venture investment funds and IP matters. Additionally, the group advises on the full scope of regulatory compliance matters. Private client specialist Heather Bird is also recommended.

Thorntons Law LLP showcases ‘specialist knowledge of the sector’, advising numerous Scottish higher education institutions on a broad range of corporate governance issues. Robbie Francis jointly leads the team alongside head of employment Noele McClelland, assisting clients with mergers, restructurings, and structural and funding matters. Accredited employment law specialist Debbie Fellows handles contentious discrimination cases and is another key contact in the group.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts counts schools, colleges, and various education boards among its key roster of clients, advising on international partnership, brand protection matters, and governance matters. The team also acts for student financial services clients in employment tribunals and, in addition to representing clients in Court of Sessions proceedings regarding occupational hazards on campuses. David Gourlay leads the team, with other key contacts including, Kenny Scott, Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor and Sarah Gilzean.

Pinsent Masons LLP maintains a strong educational offering catered to higher education institutions in Scotland and England, advising on strategic and transformational technology matters. Praised as ‘personable and knowledgeable’, Chris Martin leads the team, and infrastructure specialist Chris Owens’ ‘experience and commercial know how is second to none’ in public and private sector transactions. Joanne McIntosh is another key member of the group.