Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP  provides legal counsel to a diverse range of clients, including higher education and further education providers, schools, academies, and private education institutions. The firm’s expertise spans various areas such as employment matters, charity law issues, litigation, dispute management and regulatory work. Mandates for university clients concerning free speech and academic freedom issues are also a notable area of activity for the team. Higher education specialist Chris Mordue leads the offering in Leeds alongside ‘standout partner’ Ben Woods. Alison Oldfield wins plaudits for her handling of reputationally sensitive disputes and public law challenges. Charlotte Tanikal is equipped to assist education clients with a wide range of matters including real estate disposals and the establishment of free schools.

Retained by a broad spectrum of prominent universities and higher education institutions throughout the UK, Pinsent Masons LLP is well-positioned to advise a cross a range of issues including group litigation, acquisitions and disposals of education assets and mergers and collaborations between education providers. The team of ‘specialists’ is additionally equipped to assist new entrants to the market with the process of gaining registration. Victoria Goddard chairs the practice and frequently wins plaudits for her work on development structures for student accommodation projects. Commercial litigator Julian Sladdin is known on the market for his work relating to student mental health and sexual harassment. Gwen Sharp left in January 2023.

 

Helmed by IP and grant-funded transactions specialist Richard Taylor from the firm’s Sheffield office, DLA Piper‘s education team has a strong regional presence and frequently advises public and private sector clients on a range of commercial, IP employment and real estate issues. Sheffield-based disputes expert Richard Norman frequently leverages his contentious expertise to assist higher education clients.  In the same office, Nigel Howard is well-placed to assist education clients with mandates with a real estate dimension.

Academy conversions, employment tribunals and advice on student issues - such as special education needs, safeguarding, and parent complaints - are noteworthy elements of the broad offering at Irwin Mitchell. In Leeds, Jenny Arrowsmith heads up the team and counsels clients on a range of employment law issues such as minimum service levels during strikes, irregular hours workers and discrimination claims. In the context of contentious work, the unit is praised for providing a ‘holistic and supportive service throughout the litigation process’.

Described as the ‘UK’s leading higher education law firm’  Mills & Reeve LLP advises a broad selection of education institutions on work such as mergers and collaborations, liability issues and student accommodation projects. The unit is praised for its ability to handle ‘complex and novel transactions’. Martin Priestley heads up the team and has a proven track record of advising universities on complex outsourcings. Stuart Craig expands the team’s expertise in employment mandates.

The Hull-based ‘broad team of specialists’ at Rollits LLP assists clients including FE Colleges, multi-academy trusts and private training providers with a range of work, spanning academy conversions, IP portfolio protection and licence agreements for third parties to conduct operations on education provider premises. Charlotte Hardcastle frequently leverages her contentious experience to assist clients with dispute avoidance. James Peel is well-positioned to advise on issues such as data protection and FOI compliance. Ralph Gilbert is lauded as a ‘superb professional’.

Praised for its ‘exceptional combination of expertise, innovation, and client-focused approach’, Schofield Sweeney's far-reaching practice advises across academy conversions, land acquisitions and disposals, and education health care plans. Karen Crutchley, who chairs the practice from the firm’s Leeds office, counts the drafting and reviewing of commercial documents among her practice strengths. Bradford-based Andrew Hurst‘s longstanding experience in the education sector includes assisting with development schemes for schools. ‘Outstanding practitioner’ Simon Shepherd conducts his own advocacy in Employment Tribunals in cases such as discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal. Tina Morris is well-versed in issues related to academy conversions.

The team of ‘experts in the field’ at Stone King LLP assists clients across the education landscape with issues spanning governance, banking, regulatory challenges and academy conversions. Tom Morrison, praised as ‘a great supporter of the college sector’ is the key contact in Leeds. He is well-positioned to assist colleges with strategic advice. Jamie Otter, who divides his time between Leeds and Manchester, is well-placed to guide dedication clients through complex corporate governance issues. Louise Castle counts mergers in the further education sector among her practice strengths.

Described as a unit that ‘understands education’, Walker Morris LLP is regularly tasked with assisting schools and colleges with work such as academy conversions and construction advice. The team is additionally seeing an increase in instructions from higher education clients, as showcased by its recent intervention in a mandate concerning a major student accommodation scheme at the University of Birmingham. Jules Harbage heads up the team and frequently assists clients from the education sector with the drafting and negotiating of building contracts. Alex Jones frequently brings his contentious and non-contentious construction expertise to bear on education matters.

Hailed for being able to deal with ‘stakeholders across property, employment, contracts, and service-level agreements’, the ‘flexible’ team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP is instructed by a broad spectrum of clients from across the education spectrum. Practice head Chris Billington‘s expertise is frequently relied on by academy trusts. Graham Shaw is an authority on academies and has expertise spanning primary, secondary, church academies and alternative provision. Teacher turned solicitor Alacoque Marvin is equipped to advise schools and academies on their employment tribunal and SEND claims. Alexandra Slater is a further key contact.

A niche focus on advising religious educational trusts and Diocesan Boards of Education has made Lupton Fawcett‘s ecclesiastical, charities and education team a popular destination for clients looking for specialised advice; the implementation of the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 2021 is one such example. Practice head Christopher Burns is regularly tasked with mandates relating to governance matters such as amending articles of association and establishing trading subsidiaries. Tom Watkins is well placed to advise on work at the intersection of employment and education.