Browne Jacobson LLP advises major universities and school trusts on an array of matters, from planning to construction to disputes. The firm also has particular strength in school merger advice. Nick MacKenzie leads the practice, specialising in governance and strategic advice. Lydia Michaelson-Yeates is also noted for her governance assistance as well as her mergers and restructuring expertise. Hayley O’Sullivan advises on education law issues, such as exclusions, complaint investigations and equality concerns. Philip Wood is another key name, with experience in admissions, SEND, exclusions and discrimination advice.
Education in West Midlands
Browne Jacobson LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Nick MacKenzie
Autres avocats clés:
Lydia Michaelson-Yeates; Hayley O’Sullivan; Philip Wood
Les références
‘The firm provides second-to-none legal advice.’
‘The team is fantastic; they are very knowledgeable, organised, and responsive, and also have the client’s position at forefront of their mind.’
‘The Browne Jacobson team is extremely strong – it is a diverse team and this brings huge strength and wisdom.’
Principaux clients
Arthur Terry Learning Partnership
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Brooke Weston Trust
Central Region Schools Trust
Chiltern Learning Trust
Elliot Foundation Academies Trust
GLF Schools
Headington School
King’s College London
Lion Academy Trust
Meridian Trust
Mercian Trust
Mossbourne Federation
Outwood Grange Academies Trust
Shaw Education Trust
University of Hertfordshire
White Horse Federation
Principaux dossiers
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP’s ‘adaptive’ Birmingham practice covers the gamut of education support, including governance, GDPR, mergers, collaborations, real estate and equality advice. The firm also assists clients with financial resilience strategies. Its clients include universities, school trusts, government departments and research institutions. ‘A technical wonder with superb judgement' Richard Sykes co-leads the practice, advising on litigation, compliance, equality and GDPR matters. Fellow co-lead Christian Bull adds strength to the firm’s property expertise in the education sector. Siân Jackson supports major universities in their employment law matters. Nick Abbott retired in December 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Christian Bull; Richard Sykes
Autres avocats clés:
Siân Jackson; Abisola Latunji-Cockbill
Les références
‘Pragmatic approach to finding a solution.’
‘Fingertip knowledge of matters that they are dealing with.’
‘Extremely responsive, very supportive and technically strong. The advice is always clear, commercial and pragmatic.’
Principaux clients
Academies Enterprise Trust
ACT Multi- Academy Trust
Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
Arden University Limited
Barking & Dagenham College
Birmingham City University
Bolton College
Bournemouth University
British Council
Buckinghamshire New University
Cardiff University
Christ Church, Oxford University
Christ’s Hospital
Coventry College
Coventry University
Cranfield University
Dragon School Trust Limited
Exeter College Oxford
Francis Crick Institute Ltd
Harrow School
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Cardiff University on the complete re-development of its outdoor sports facilities to create a centre of sporting excellence for the city.
- Advising Sheffield Hallam University on all legal aspects of its new London campus.
- Advising a university client that is an admitted body in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) on its exit from the LGPS to benefit from the current surplus funding position it has.
Pinsent Masons LLP
With offices across the globe, Pinsent Masons LLP offers comprehensive support to universities and other higher education providers on cross-border matters. The firm is well-acquainted with matters ranging from acquisitions to IP to governance. The firm also undertakes litigation work, including class action claims. Gayle Ditchburn spearheads the Birmingham practice, advising on regulatory, constitutional, structuring and governance matters. Noted for providing 'proactive and valuable commercial and strategic advice', Rami Labib has a wide-ranging expertise, with experience in regulatory issues, collaborative arrangements, joint ventures and mergers.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gayle Ditchburn
Autres avocats clés:
Rami Labib; Helen Corden; Chris Thomas; Rebecca Stephen
Les références
‘The team really understands the commercial context in which they are advising. They are very much on top of the sector, and understand its nuances and drivers. This results in truly holistic advice.’
‘Rami Labib gives clear, well thought-out and commercially-driven advice. He really knows the sector.’
‘The team are highly responsive and good at progressing matters.’
Principaux clients
Aston University
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Cardiff University
INTO University Partnerships Limited
Kings College London
Leeds Beckett University
Nottingham Trent University
Nurture Higher Education Group
Solent University
University College London
University of Brighton
University of Essex
University of Huddersfield
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
University of London
University of Manchester
University of Nottingham
University of Sheffield
University of Plymouth
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Midlands Mindforge Limited, an independent investment vehicle established by eight universities in the Midlands, on its incorporation and its framework agreement with those universities.
- Advising BIMM Group on the higher education regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Met Media Limited, including its subsidiary Met Film School Limited, a specialist OfS registered provider of higher education with campuses in London, Leeds and Berlin.
- Acting for the University of Birmingham in relation to a long running dispute with Exelogen Inc., a US biopharmaceutical company.
Shakespeare Martineau LLP
Shakespeare Martineau LLP maintains a broad expertise in the education sector, with experience in property, construction, governance, employment, compliance and disputes matters. At the head of the practice, Smita Jamdar specialises in governance, regulatory and constitutional advice for her clients. Mark Taylor, who joined the practice from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP in September 2023, is adept at providing support with mergers, collaborations and joint ventures. Geraldine Swanton handles instructions relating to student complaints, disciplinaries, equality concerns and human rights law. Selina Hinchliffe joined the firm from Browne Jacobson LLP in July 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Smita Jamdar
Autres avocats clés:
Selina Hinchcliffe; David Browne; Andrew Adams; Tom Long; Geraldine Swanton; Mark Taylor
Les références
‘Broad based expertise; B-Corps values.’
‘The team has expert knowledge of the sector. They make a point of keeping up to date with developments nationally and are therefore able to provide helpful perspectives and context in their advice.’
‘Smita Jamdar, Tom Long and Mark Taylor, Gerry have all provided advice with unfailing courtesy, efficiency and good humour. It is always a pleasure to work with them.’
Principaux clients
University of Hertfordshire
Brunel University
University of Cambridge
University of South Wales
University of Exeter
UCLAN
University of Sheffield
University College London
Cardiff University
University of Greenwich
Oxford Brookes University
Liverpool John Moore University
Leicester College
Barnsley College
Wiltshire College
University of Leeds
Abingdon and Witney College
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
Quality Assurance Agency
West Dean College
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the University of Essex in connection with an inquest into the death of a former student in its Halls of Residence.
- Provided a huge amount of training to institutions across the country in relation to free speech.
- Acted for a Russell Group university in respect of complex and multi-faceted litigation brought by an academic member of staff.
VWV
VWV advises multi-academy trusts, independent schools and higher education providers on matters spanning the education sector. The firm is experienced in collaboration projects, mergers, disciplinaries and government licensing. Jane Byford, in addition to leading the practice, assists universities with employment and HR matters. Meanwhile, Morag Roddick provides corporate and commercial advice, such as on joint ventures and collaboration projects, to a range of education providers.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jane Byford
Autres avocats clés:
Sarah Webb; Jamie Hobday; Tom Brett Young; Morag Roddick
Les références
‘Concise and pragmatic legal advice that weighs up risk both financially and reputationally.’
‘Morag Roddick is customer focused, professional, expert and incredibly personable.’
‘We chose VWV because Morag Roddick had moved to the practice. We had prior experience of working with Morag and value her pragmatic advice.’
Principaux clients
Alvechurch Church of England Multi-Academy Trust
Aston University
Bangor University
Bath Spa University
Bournemouth University
Cathedral Schools Trust
Cheltenham Ladies College
Coventry University
De Montfort University
Dudley Academies Trust
Edgbaston High School for Girls
Girls’ Day School Trust
Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology
Hallfield School
King’s College London
Learning Without Limits Academy Trust
Loughborough Schools Foundation
Norland College
Solihull School
South & City College Birmingham
Principaux dossiers
- Advised University of Bristol on a project to procure a state-of-the-art national AI supercomputing research facility, known as Isambard-AI.
- Advised Bath Spa University on the acquisition and development of its London campus and its related joint venture with an FE College to establish a University Centre there.
- Jointly advised Primitas Learning Partnership & Greywood Multi-Schools Trust advised on the merger of a four school and a three school multi-academy trust.
Bevan Brittan LLP
The ‘highly skilled and committed professionals’ at Bevan Brittan LLP advise clients on a wide array of matters, including employment, property, regulatory and commercial assistance. Its clients include universities, institutes and academies. Ashley Norman leads the team from Birmingham, specialising in contentious employment law matters for universities and further education colleges. Rachel Soundy offers corporate and commercial advice to clients, including mergers and acquisitions.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ashley Norman
Autres avocats clés:
Rachel Soundy
Les références
‘Highly skilled and committed professionals.’
‘Bevan Brittan produce great, commercial advice on employment and real estate matters. All of them are approachable, knowledgeable and keen to help.’
‘Associates and partners and all provide the same, hands on, comprehensive service. They identify the issues and provide advice that can be relied on.’
Principaux clients
University of Oxford
University of York
Cardiff and Vale College
De Montfort University
The Alan Turing Institute
The University of West London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Newbury College of Further Education
Birmingham City University
Ambition Institute
Swansea University
Cogrammar
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for a Russell Group university on several very complex employment tribunal matters including an appeal in the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
- Advising a number of higher education clients on M&A and joint venture work with an aggregate value of £500m.
- Acted for Ambition Institute on a variety of legal matters.
Shoosmiths LLP
Shoosmiths LLP provides ‘expert knowledge’ in SEN assistance. The firm advise families and councils on EHC plans and provisions. It is experienced in negotiations, mediations and SEND tribunal proceedings in relation to EHC plan appeals. Kashmir Uppal leads the team alongside the ‘outstanding’ Gurvinder Samra, who specialises in SEN advice especially around EHC plans.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gurvinder Samra; Kashmir Uppal
Les références
‘Expert knowledge of the subject area (SEN Tribunal).’
‘Gurvinder Samra is outstanding. She knows the subject matter at an expert level.’
‘When faced with the might of the local authority, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a champion. Shoosmiths proved to be just that when I engaged.’
Principaux dossiers
- Conducted and advised on First Tier SEND appeal proceedings for a young person with autism securing an independent specialist school placement funded by the council.
- Conducted and advised on First Tier SEND appeal proceedings for a young person with epilepsy, hearing loss and developmental delay securing an independent specialist college placement funded by the local authority.
- Conducted and advised on First Tier SEND appeal proceedings for a young person with visual impairment securing a residential placement at an independent specialist college placement funded by the local authority.
Lanyon Bowdler
Lanyon Bowdler offers routine advice to academies and independent schools on a broad range of matters. Its expertise includes education law, employment law and governance assistance. Based in Telford, Grainne Walters bolsters the corporate expertise in the team.
Autres avocats clés:
Grainne Walters
Principaux clients
St Paul’s Academy Trust
Lugwardine Academy Trust
The 3-18 Academy Trust
Principaux dossiers
- Advised a Multi Academy Trust in relation to the transfer in of another Multi Academy Trust.
- Advised an Academy Trust in relation to the academy conversion and joining of a community schools.