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The team at Beachcroft is at the forefront of higher education policy change. Work highlights included advising the Higher Education Funding Council for England on policy and funding matters, and advising on the establishment of both the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator. Stephen Hocking heads the team, and Julian Gizzi is also recommended.

The ‘excellent’ Diane Gilhooley heads Eversheds LLP’s ‘outstanding’ national education team, which acts for clients such as Cardiff University, Leeds City College and The University of Manchester. It has recently handled a range of international partnership, collaboration and outsourcing matters, and also advised on the restructuring of the Barnfield College into a group structure. John Hall chairs the team, which includes Glynne Stanfield in Cambridge and John Boardman in Manchester.

Smita Jamdar’s well-respected practice at Martineau continues to provide higher and further education clients with advice on joint venture, employment, and health and safety issues. The Birmingham-based practice caters to a national client base including the universities of Cambridge and York.

In 2010 Mills & Reeve LLP further cemented its position in the higher education sector with appointments to the panels of the universities of Cambridge, Manchester and Nottingham. Work highlights included property, constitutional and joint venture matters. Within Gary Attle’s team, associate Jan Harris is a ‘standout lawyer’ who provides an ‘excellent service’.

Pinsent Masons has an ‘extremely competent’ team led by the ‘remarkable’ and ‘brilliantly minded’ Nicola Hart. Praised for its ‘technical sector knowledge’, the group continues to act for the London School of Economics and City University, and recently advised Nottingham Trent University on the provision of 700 new bed spaces.

The ‘outstanding’ team at Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP advises higher and further education clients such as King’s College London, the Royal College of Nursing and London Higher, and was recently appointed to three lots on the London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC). Within Julian Blake’s team, head of employment William Garnett is ‘absolutely outstanding, extremely pragmatic and responsive’.

Farrer & Co’s ‘exceptional’ team advises clients such as Oxford University and Imperial College on employment and constitutional matters, Charity Commission registrations and joint ventures. Julian Smith heads the practice; Peter Wienand is a ‘highly intelligent lawyer, sensitive to clients ’ needs’; and Sam MacDonald and David Smellie both have ‘great depth and breath of knowledge and experience’. The team recently welcomed Frances Barnwell, formerly associate director of legal services of Oxford University.

Martin Howe’s ‘pragmatic and helpful’ team at Bevan Brittan LLP is known for its expertise in construction and PFI, advising clients such as Bristol, Southampton and Oxford universities. It is advising ten universities on the recovery of funds invested with Icelandic banks, and is acting for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council v Secretary of State for Education.

Charlotte Capstick’s ‘excellent’ contentious practice at Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP is adept at ‘defending robustly and negotiating tenaciously’. Work highlights included successfully defending King’s College London in a race discrimination case. The team includes Richard Wilkins and Elliot Pound, whose negotiating skills are ‘second to none’.

Stephenson Harwood is particularly strong in projects work, and in 2010 advised the University of Greenwich on a new £76m building. Colin Mackenzie-Grieve’s team is also experienced in issues relating to funding and rescue packages.

In 2010 Bircham Dyson Bell LLP handled governance issues, alternative structures and charity law matters for clients such as University College London and The College of Emergency Medicine. Within Penny Chapman’s team, Jonathan Brinsden has an ‘excellent manner underpinned with strong knowledge’.

Rowan Ferguson’s team at Dickinson Dees LLP advises clients such as the University of Newcastle and Gateshead College on complex freedom of information requests, restructuring projects and employment matters.

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP advises clients including Ofsted, the Department of Education and the UK Commission for Education and Skills on restructuring, employment and intellectual property matters. Tom Rider leads the team following former joint head David Gollancz’s move to the Bar.

Catherine Wilson’s team at Thomas Eggar LLP in 2010 advised on the merger of Lambeth and Southwark colleges, and advises clients such as Southgate College and the University of Kent on governance and employment matters. The group acquired a number of new clients following the arrival of new partner Matthew Kelly from Eversheds LLP.

Martin Kay’s team at Blake Lapthorn was recently appointed to two lots of the LUPC. It represents over 30 colleges in Oxford, and universities including Sussex and Reading, on governance, property and employment law issues.

Roger Bull’s team at Burges Salmon LLP acted for the University of Bristol in relation to its new National Composites Centre and a major employment restructuring. Other clients include Cardiff University and the Babcock Group.

Finers Stephens Innocent LLP’s ‘responsive and pragmatic’ team acts for clients such as Havering College of Further and Higher Education and the University of East London. Practice head Michael Kutner is ‘highly experienced, knowledgeable, very approachable and responsive’.

Stone King LLP’s ‘outstanding’ practice is led by Roger Inman. In 2010 it advised on the legal restructuring of the Blavatnik School of Government, and acted for the Oxford University Student Union on its establishment as an independent charity.

Victoria Miller heads the team at McGrigors LLP from Edinburgh. The team is the sole adviser to the University of Aberdeen, and also acts for Robert Gordon University and Motherwell College.

Nabarro LLP is a ‘a national firm with a local presence’ that provides clients with ‘extremely good’ advice. Work highlights included advising the University of the Arts on a redundancy program, and Middlesex University on student protests.

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