A go-to adviser for educational institutions across financial challenges, estate rationalisation, health and safety, data privacy, governance and employment matters, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has a well-established presence in the sector. Nicola Bennison specialises in employment and student issues, with particular expertise in senior management, equality and diversity, freedom of speech and discrimination tribunals in higher and further education. Diane Gilhooley brings extensive experience in employment tribunal claims, litigation, mergers and restructuring. Chris Mordue specialises in employment advice to universities and industrial relations. Ben Wood advises educational establishments on governance and employment matters. Robert Gray handles cross-border employment, redundancy, collective and trade union issues, senior terminations and governance matters. Laura Marshall advises across contentious and non-contentious employment law, including discrimination, TUPE, organisational change and employment tribunal litigation. Glynne Stanfield is a trusted adviser to further and higher education clients on M&A transactions and joint ventures.

Active across M&A, financial restructuring, regulatory compliance, governance, freedom of information and litigation, Mills & Reeve LLP offers a broad service to educational institutions. Martin Priestley advises on commercial projects and international collaborations. Poppy Short advises universities, further education colleges and schools on commercial and corporate matters including partnerships, mergers, governance and academic arrangements. Richard Sykes focuses on public and administrative law, education disputes and information governance, assisting clients on constitutional and procedural matters, equality legislation and data protection. Kate Allan advises on student disputes, regulatory compliance and governance, and regularly delivers training on consumer law in higher education. Sam Rose advises on all aspects of higher education law, handling complex complaints, contentious matters and policy drafting.

Pinsent Masons LLP advises both traditional and private higher educational institutions on complex transactions, governance, regulatory compliance and the OfS regime, including first-time registration, degree-awarding powers and conditions of compliance. Victoria Goddard specialises in complex development structures for student accommodation projects. Julian Sladdin is an experienced commercial litigator advising higher education institutions on regulatory compliance, risk management and disputes. Gayle Ditchburn advises on university mergers, OfS registration and university governance and is particularly sought after for her understanding of governance structures.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP advises educational institutions on mergers, restructurings, campus disposals, collaborations, governance conflicts, freedom of speech and employment matters. Smita Jamdar specialises in governance, regulatory, student-facing and constitutional matters, bringing a breadth of expertise to some of the sector’s more complex institutional challenges. David Browne advises on major restructures and the termination of senior post-holders. Tom Long handles complex employment matters, including trade union recognition and large-scale staff transfers to subsidiary entities. Mark Taylor advises on governance and collaborations. Nicola Bradfield brings over two decades of experience advising on contentious and reputationally sensitive matters for universities and education institutions, including student disputes, high-value commercial claims and regulatory investigations.

Advising across disciplinary matters, discrimination, real estate, employment disputes, safeguarding and regulatory matters, Blake Morgan LLP offers a broad service to educational institutions. Matthew Smith heads the practice with particular experience in the outsourcing of university services, equal pay, industrial relations and senior leadership restructuring. Joanna Rees brings experience in contentious and non-contentious construction law. Eva Piffaretti is well known for her specialism in safeguarding and health and social care law, advising public sector bodies and regulators on issues ranging from adults at risk to the Court of Protection and mental health matters. Jonathan Walsh, the team’s most recent arrival, strengthens the litigation offering with expertise in employment tribunals, whistleblowing, safeguarding and sensitive executive exits across both the education and healthcare sectors.

Advising universities and colleges across real estate, discrimination, DSARs, intellectual property and judicial reviews, Browne Jacobson LLP has a well-rounded higher education practice. Bettina Rigg advises on employment law, student matters and equality and diversity and regularly delivers training to governing bodies and senior management teams. Nick Smee specialises in intellectual property across both transactional and contentious matters. Trish D’Souza is a public law and education specialist with extensive experience advising further and higher education providers on judicial reviews, student claims, governance issues, SEN, discrimination and regulatory matters. Kate Gallagher has departed the firm.

Bringing a multidisciplinary approach to education, Farrer & Co advises institutions across employment, intellectual property, commercial matters, data, property, construction and student regulatory compliance. David Coppin leads the team, focusing on IP, commercial matters, international collaborations and contractual frameworks. Kathleen Heycock specialises in employment and student matters, including student safeguarding. Alice Kendle focuses on student and higher education matters. Laetitia Ransley advises institutions on charity and governance matters. Sam Macdonald brings expertise in philanthropist structures. William Charrington acts for institutions on copyright and brand disputes and further advises on student disputes and research misconduct issues.

VWV‘s education practice spans employment, redundancies and restructuring, procurement and commercial matters for institutional clients. Jane Byford is well regarded for her expertise across employment and HR work. Michael Halsey handles employee relations matters, bringing particular depth to complex grievance, disciplinary and discrimination cases. Kris Robbetts advises on freedom of speech, academic freedom, harassment and sexual misconduct, as well as the evolving duty of care owed to students. Bob Fahy supports higher education institutions through restructuring projects, collective consultation, trade union matters, tribunal litigation and HR issues spanning academic and professional staff.

With a broad offering for university clients, Weightmans LLP covers employment, property, procurement and international projects. Martin Vincent leads the team with experience in funding and clawback issues, IP portfolio management and collaborative ventures. Josh Conroy handles student litigation, judicial review, academic misconduct, governance, procurement and regulatory compliance. Richard Vaughan specialises in non-contentious construction law.

Covering compliance, regulatory frameworks, data protection and freedom of information, Bates Wells has a focused offering for educational institutions. Jean Tsang advises on governance reviews, charity, safeguarding and commercial matters for higher and further education providers. Lucy McLynn is a trusted adviser to further education providers on employment matters.

Acting for higher and further education clients across employment, student matters, property and commercial work, Bevan Brittan LLP also advises on complex matters including academic partnerships and sexual misconduct investigations. Ashley Norman specialises in employment, immigration and discrimination advice to universities and further education colleges. Virginia Cooper is a leading adviser to the sector on education law and dispute resolution. Tijen Ahmet supports institutions with international recruitment and UK business immigration. Anne Palmer advises on employment law and HR matters across universities and colleges.

Development provisions, pension funds and credit facilities sit at the core of Burges Salmon LLP‘s offering for universities and further education providers, with the team also advising on broader matters across the education sector. Matthew Ramus brings particular experience advising on project-related matters for education clients. Gary Delderfield focuses on pensions-related work. Huw Cooke assists clients on employment law and business immigration issues.

Serving higher and further education clients across employment, intellectual property, governance, charity law, immigration, data protection and information law, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP offers a broad institutional practice. Daff Richardson advises on employment matters. Hilary Aldred handles public law matters and advises clients navigating education regulation and regulatory challenges. Pat Saini advises on all aspects of immigration, including sponsor compliance, student visas, business restructuring and risk management, and regularly engages with senior Home Office officials on behalf of clients. Sophie Whitbread advises education institutions and charities on employment law, with particular regard to trustee duties and Charity Commission obligations.

Immigration, governance, policies and procedures, student matters and charity law make up the core of Withers LLP‘s higher education offering. Philip Reed is a well-regarded adviser to higher education providers, colleges and independent schools on governance, M&A and regulatory matters. Alana Petraske advises educational institutions and their donors on legal, fiscal and regulatory issues. Hugh More advises both employees and employers across all stages of the employment relationship chain within the education sector.

Dedicating its practice entirely to higher education, JG Poole & Co. LLP covers real estate, construction, student matters, governance and data protection. Jason Poole is well-versed in student accommodation and project finance for higher education providers. Helen Bolton focuses on forward funding developments and student accommodation. Lucy Poole advises universities on research collaborations, student proceedings and complaints.

Real estate transactions within the education sector are a particular strength for Trowers & Hamlins LLP. Amardeep Gill advises on commercial education transactions, academy and free school initiatives. Assad Maqbool leads the education group, focusing on construction aspects of mixed-use developments. Patrick Morris specialises in investment, development and regeneration in public sector education property.