The Legal 500

United Kingdom > London > Public sector > Education: schools

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Farrer & Co continues to provide advice to prestigious independent schools such as Eton College. It handles a range of work, from registrations with the Charity Commission to high-profile bullying, child abuse and disability discrimination cases. The team recently acted for the Independent Schools Council in a judicial review regarding guidance on public benefit. Practice head David Smellie demonstrates ‘real understanding, common sense and pragmatism’ and is ‘highly competent’. Sam Macdonald, Anna Gregory, Katie Lancaster, Jonathan Eley, Anthony Misquitta and Serena Hedley-Dent are also recommended.

Stone King LLP’s team has a strong grounding in the education sector, advising some 435 schools, both independent and maintained. Work highlights included acting on a number of academy conversions, advising in relation to industrial action, and successfully defending against alleged disability discrimination. Team head Roger Inman provides ‘reliable, measured and thoughtful advice’, and Richard Gold ‘cannot be bettered’.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards acts for 775 independent schools, and has broadened its client base to include a number of state-funded and academy schools. The team recently advised on Ofsted inspections, charity administrations and the merger of two schools. Barney Northover leads, with support from Yvonne Spencer and Simon Bevan. Clients include Millfield, Roedean and Manchester Grammar School.

Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP is ‘consistently excellent on specialist educational expertise’, and provides ‘exceptional value’. The team acts for both independent and state schools, and in 2010 advised on the establishment of the first umbrella body for academies. Practice head Julian Blake is ‘an exceptionally able and deeply committed solicitor ’. Clients include Hammersmith Academy and Canterbury Steiner School.

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s ‘responsive, constructive and practical’ team is headed by the well-respected Geraldine Elliott, and was recently bolstered by the addition of Andrew Hodge and Patrick Brodie from Wragge & Co LLP. Work highlights included conducting test-case litigation at the Supreme Court on behalf of NASUWT and ATL.

Winckworth Sherwood has a strong following among faith schools clients such as the London Diocesan Board for Schools. It acted on a number of academy conversions, including that of The Kemnal Academies Trust – the first multi-academy trust to be established.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has strong sector experience within the projects field, and continues to act in Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes on behalf of sponsors, subcontractors and local authority clients. Nancy McGuire leads the team from Manchester.

Bevan Brittan LLP’s ‘highly knowledgeable’ team has strength within the projects arena. In 2010 it brought a number of BSF projects to a close; was instructed in Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council v Secretary of State for Education; and was invited to the James Review. Within Martin Howe’s team, David Hutton has ‘excellent strategic understanding of BSF’ and provides a ‘consistently high quality of service’.

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s ‘excellent’ team is appreciated for ‘exemplary quality of service’, and demonstrates ‘first-class professional expertise ’. The team, led by Penny Chapman, acts for clients such as Eltham College and Vernon Educational Trust.

Browne Jacobson LLP is ‘excellent on all levels’, advising on reorganisations, academy conversions and child protection matters. The team also contributed to the government’s education policy. Practice head Mark Blois is ‘responsive, strategic’ and well respected by his peers. Clients include the Girl’s Day School Trust and the General Teaching Council for England

Charles Russell LLP’s ‘excellent’ practice uses ‘creativity and innovation’ when advising its independent school clients, which include Lord Wandsworth College and Merchant Taylors School. Within Andrew Cameron’s team, Michael Scott provides ‘excellent, experienced advice’, and Lynn Povey is ‘absolutely outstanding’.

Geoffrey Davies’ team at Lewis Silkin LLP has a strong academy client base, and in 2010 provided advice on both establishment and operational matters. Clients include Westminster Academy and United Learning Trust.

Nabarro LLP’s ‘highly responsive, very professional’ projects-focused team advises local authority clients on complex BSF programmes, and recently acted on behalf of Kent County Council in the delivery of five academies. Within Elizabeth Cooper’s team, associate Janet Lewis provides a ‘universally high-quality service’.

Employment partner Alice Reeve leads the highly regarded team at Rickerbys LLP. It focuses on the independent schools sector, and provides a broad range of intellectual property, charities and governance advice.

Stephen Hocking’s team at Beachcroft advises clients on governance, charities and competition law issues.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP advises both state and independent schools, such as Drayton Manor High School and Wakefield MDC, on matters including conversions, expulsions and policy.

Bird & Bird provides intellectual property and information technology advice to clients such as the Department for Education and Ofsted. Peter Elliott leads.

In 2010, Rowan Ferguson’s team at Dickinson Dees LLP advised a number of councils and schools on academy conversions and the establishment of trust schools.

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP advises government bodies such as the Department for Education, the UK Commission for Education and Skills, and Pearson Education.

Lee Bolton Monier-Williams acts for academies, independent schools and maintained schools on property, employment and contentious matters.

Eugene O’Keeffe’s ‘highly knowledgeable’ team at Memery Crystal LLP provides an ‘outstanding professional service’. In it 2010 acted on a number of academy conversions, and advised on the Harris Federation of South London Schools.

Payne Hicks Beach handles charity law, property and dispute resolution matters, including admission, bullying and discrimination cases. Theresa Grant Peterkin is the key figure.

Jerry Hawthorne’s team at Pothecary Witham Weld advises education clients on SEN and employment law issues, and is appointed to a number of independent appeals panels.

Helen Randall’s team at Trowers & Hamlins LLP acted on a number of complex BSF projects in 2010, for clients such as Blackpool City Council. Mike Mousdale recently joined from Eversheds LLP.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com