Blake Morgan LLP is well-equipped to handle the full range of mandates across the education, health, and local government sectors. Leading the team, which is highlighted by clients for ‘unrivalled knowledge’ of public sector leisure procurement, Penny Rinta-Suksi advises leisure authorities and private sector contractors on all aspects of private partnering projects (PPP). Matthew Smith heads the education group, and specialises in dealing with employment matters, including industrial relations and strikes, and issues of equal pay. Procurement expert Bruce Potter leads on the healthcare side, and is particularly experienced in complex system management and major health organisational mergers. Vicky Schollar left the firm in January 2024.

Noted for its strong focus on the healthcare sector, Brachers is also recommended for representing both education providers and local authorities. The team is well-known for its work for NHS trust, which encompasses advice on employment and regulatory governance matters, as well as support in property co-location developments between primary and secondary care. Catherine Daw leads the employment and HR team, as well as the healthcare group, and specialises in trade union matters and employment litigation. Ash Jilani heads the primary care team, focusing on the development of new GP premises and advice on the acquisition of practices. Colin Smith excels in reorganistations, TUPE matters and tribunal claims, and co-leads the team alongside Daw and Jilani.

Cripps regularly acts for a broad array of public sector clients across the healthcare, education, social housing, and utility sectors, with the team’s noteworthy strengths spanning real estate acquisitions and disposals, development work, joint ventures, and commercial contracts. Following the merger with PDT solicitors in January 2024, real estate development specialist James Clewlow joined property litigator Miles Paffard and James Lee as practice co-head. Paffard is recommended for proficiency in landlord and tenant matters, while Lee leads the firm’s construction practice and specialises in procurements and capital investment programs. Holly Goacher is recommended for her expertise in the healthcare sector, focusing on acquisitions and disposals of retail pharmacy businesses.

DAC Beachcroft LLP is lauded for its ‘unparalleled experience and expertise' in the healthcare sector, routinely advising public clients on infrastructure projects, in addition to assisting clients with digital platforms, defending Employment Tribunal claims, and contract negotiations. Hamza Drabu, Gill Weatherill, Heather Durston-Hillyer, Belinda Dix, Udara Ranasinghe, and Stan Campbell co-lead the public sector teams. Dix is recommended for her expertise in healthcare regulatory matters, and Durston-Hillyer is an expert in defending clinical negligence claims.

At Birkett Long LLP, Tim Field leads the healthcare team, which is particularly well-known assisting residential care home and GP clients. The education team is led by ‘trusted advisor’ Thomas Emmett, who routinely assists clients with pupil admissions, parental complaints and exclusions. Tracey Dickens is a key contact for corporate transactional mandates. Madeleine Oakley joined the education team in July 2023 from Paul Robinson Solicitors LLP, further strengthening the firms capabilities in Education, Health and Care plans (EHC) and SEND Tribunal claims.

Birketts LLP's core strength lies in advising local government clients on project development, property, and housing matters. Ruth Neave heads the practice, excelling in both domestic and EU procurement regulations. Abigail Trencher often advises on employment, safeguarding, and governance matters within the education sector, while Matthew Newnham handles the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious employment work within the healthcare sector.

Community care law is at the heart of Martin Searle Solicitors‘ practice, frequently acting for vulnerable clients and professional deputies in disputes with health and social services. The group is led by Cate Searle, who is an expert in public funding for health and social care, frequently representing clients before the Court of Protection. Clare English is noted for her niche expertise in obtaining reimbursements for the estates of people who have been wrongly charged for care.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is well-known for its expertise in the education sector, maintaining a broad offering which handles employment, governance, and safeguarding matters. Practice head Daff Richardson specialises in employment-related instructions from higher education clients, while Gemma Woodhouse is particularly proficient in discrimination matters, often advising schools on parental complaints involving allegations of wrongful exclusion. Kate Glendinning’s workload consists of data protection and admission issues, as well as matters concerning the removal of pupils whose special educational needs could not be reasonably met.

Frequently instructed by a variety of schools, colleges, universities, and local government bodies, Blandy & Blandy LLP is well-equipped to advise clients on a broad array of matters involving regulatory law, procurement, intellectual property, and commercial contracts. Nick Burrows heads the ‘extremely efficient and professional’ practice, and is well-versed in public procurement related issues.

Carter Bond Solicitors is a transactional boutique firm with a strong focus on the healthcare sector, regularly assisting clients with sales and acquisitions in the pharmacy and dental industries. The team is well-equipped to handle a broad range of corporate, commercial property, employment, and IP transactional issues, and is jointly led by Kate Beech and Reena Popat, whose expertise extends to work for international clients in cross-border transactions. Corporate expert Hammad Naveed was promoted to partner in January 2024. Nikesh Shah is noted for his strong transactional expertise, having joined the team in January 2024 from R. R. Sanghvi & Co.

Howes Percival LLP houses a broad practice with strong capabilities spanning corporate, property, commercial and data protection law matters. The team's workload routinely consists of mandates involving acquisitions and reorganisations in the healthcare sector. Practice head Simon deMaid is an experienced employment tribunal advocate who frequently acts for healthcare and education sector clients, with a distinctive specialism in disability discrimination claims and executive terminations.

Praised by clients for its ‘pragmatic solutions-based’ approach, Mills & Reeve LLP‘s education team leverages the firm’s national network to assist clients with M&A, commercial contracts, and student accommodation projects. In the Oxford office, the team is headed by employment expert William Downing, and Sarah Seed, who also works from Cambridge, and specialises in advising non-profit clients on lending.

Known for its in-depth knowledge of the education sector, Thomson Snell & Passmore frequently handles a broad range of matters involving education funding agreements, and advice on disputes between multi-academy trusts. Leading both the public sector and employment teams, Nick Hobden is well-regarded for his expertise in parental complaints, teachers pay, and cases of head teacher misconduct.

Led by Jenny Arrowsmith in Leeds, Irwin Mitchell houses a broad offering. Key names within the practice include Esmat Faiz and Poppy Ford, who handles a diverse range of both contentious and non-contentious employment issues in the education sector, particularly in relation to holiday pay disputes.

Tees Law is recommended for its expert knowledge of SEND law. Polly Kerr heads the practice and regularly represents clients in tribunal hearings against local authorities. The team benefits from the expertise of Caroline Middleditch, who focuses on defamation matters.