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  1. Education: institutions
  2. Leading individuals: Education

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s ‘invaluable’ team is ‘excellent in every aspect’ and has ‘superb’ knowledge. In 2011 it advised the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency on arrangements for National Curriculum testing, and advised the Office for Fair Access on various agreements. Team head Stephen Hocking and Julian Gizzi provide ‘excellent advice’.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘outstanding’ team has been appointed as the main legal adviser to New College Nottingham, and recently advised the University of Bradford on a collaboration with a private sector developer for campus redevelopment. Other clients include the University of Manchester and the University of Bradford. Glynne Stanfield has ‘unrivalled expertise’ and is ‘a robust and dogged negotiator’, and practice head Diane Gilhooley is also recommended.

Farrer & Co’s ‘top-notch’, ‘professional’ team is led by ‘formidable lawyer’ Julian Smith. Clients include the University of Oxford and Imperial College. The team advises on issues including charity law, governance, commercial agreements, funding, employment and intellectual property. Recently promoted partner Paul Jones has ‘a keen eye for detail’, Peter Wienand is ‘absolutely excellent’, and Sam Macdonald is also noted for his expertise in the sector.

Mills & Reeve LLP represents public and private education providers in the higher and further education sectors, and was appointed to the University of Hertfordshire’s new legal panel as sole provider of employment, litigation and estates advice. Additionally, the firm’s projects team is active on student accommodation projects, and its employment team advised on an equal pay claim in the sector. The ‘effective’ Gary Attle heads the team.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘excellent’ and ‘well-informed’ group acts for clients including the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London and LSE. Highlights included advising on the merger of the University of London’s School of Pharmacy with UCL, via a transfer of assets under a business transfer agreement. Victoria Goddard has been leading on a procurement and development project for the University of Manchester. Practice head Nicola Hart and associate Gayle Ditchburn make ‘a formidable team’.

Smita Jamdar leads SGH Martineau LLP’s ‘respected’ team, which acts for higher and further education clients including Teesside University, Lancaster University and Warwickshire College. It recently advised three universities on a merger.

Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP’s ‘highly competent’ team represents higher and further education clients. William Garnett continues to advise Goldsmiths College, and recently advised on a contentious matter regarding exam results. In 2011, the team also represented Tower Hamlets College in litigation brought by two students, and advised on freedom of information and data protection. New clients include King’s College London and Hammersmith & West London College. Practice head Julian Blake is ‘highly knowledgeable’ and gives ‘pragmatic advice’. Selman Ansari was recently promoted to the partnership.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s ‘excellent’ team successfully defended Oxford Brooks University against alleged breaches of statutory obligations in Abramova v Oxford Brooks University. The firm also advised the Bar Standards Board in a tribunal dispute concerning fitness to practise and disability discrimination. Charlotte Capstick leads the practice, and Elliot Pound is recommended for his negotiating skills.

Bevan Brittan LLP acts for various universities on construction matters, and advised the University of Oxford on taking additional research space in a PFI hospital. Other clients include the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol. Martin Howe heads the practice.

Stephenson Harwood’s ‘service-oriented’ group is ‘knowledgeable, diligent and hardworking’, particularly for construction projects. Marcel Haniff now leads the team, following the retirement of Colin MacKenzie-Grieve. Jonathan Cripps and Rebecca Carter joined from Eversheds LLP.

Karen Stephenson leads Veale Wasbrough Vizards’ team, which was reinforced by the arrival of Bettina Rigg from Bond Pearce LLP and David Hansom from Eversheds LLP. Clients include Bath Spa University and University College London.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides ‘a pragmatic and commercial yet robust view on instructions’ for its higher and further education clients. James Reynolds and practice head Nancy McGuire are ‘top-notch’ advisers.

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s ‘knowledgeable and experienced’ team has a ‘wide range of expertise’, including real estate, governance, IP, and data protection. Team head Paul Voller provides ‘considered, effective advice’, and the ‘insightful’ David Darvill is also recommended.

Burges Salmon LLP provides an ‘excellent all-round service’ for higher and further education clients. Recent work for Roger Bull’s team includes advising the University of Exeter on redevelopment projects.

Rowan Ferguson’s team at Dickinson Dees LLP acts for higher and further education clients, and was recently appointed to Leeds City College’s legal panel. Other new clients include York St John University and the Higher Education Academy. The team advised Durham University on construction projects and employment issues.

Tom Rider leads Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s team, which has expanded its client base to include universities as well as regulators. The firm advises on regulations, procurement, data protection and IP.

Nabarro LLP provides an ‘excellent service’, and continues to advise the University of Surrey on construction matters. Martin Grabiner and practice head Caroline Newsholme are recommended.

Thomas Eggar LLP continues to advise on further education mergers, and acts for clients including Bromley College of Further and Higher Education. Catherine Wilson heads the team, and Matthew Kelly is ‘professional, succinct and astute’.

Martin Kay heads Blake Lapthorn’s multidisciplinary team, which operates from three offices. Longstanding clients include ISIS, the University of Reading and the University of Winchester.

‘Consistently pragmatic, high quality and value for money’, Finers Stephens Innocent LLP’s ‘first-class’ team continues to advise Havering College on its property portfolio. Michael Kutner heads the team.

Irwin Mitchell acts for Sheffield Hallam University and a number of further education and universities clients in the West Midlands. Michael Longden heads the practice.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP acts for higher and further education providers and operators of private colleges, and advises on immigration, mergers and partial takeovers, and employment issues. ‘Original thinker’ Nichola Carter is recommended, as is practice head Simon Bickerdike.

Roger Inman leads the team at Stone King LLP, which advised the Oxford University Student Union on becoming an independent charity. Other clients include Weston College and Exeter College, Oxford.

Wragge & Co LLP recently advised Birmingham City University on acquiring a site for its new campus.

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Legal Developments in London for Education: institutions

  • TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS (PROTECTION OF EMPLOYMENT) AND AGE DISCRIMINATION

    I have been asked to cover the topic of Employment law within my half an hour speaking slot today. I have narrowed my subject down to Transfer of Undertakings and Discrimination, with the focus on providing an update on the recent spate of cases on service provision change and on the important developments in the law of age discrimination. Needless to say, in my presentation I shall not be able to cover the level of detail which is contained in my written paper, which I will leave you to read.
    - 11KBW

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