The Legal 500

United Kingdom > North West > Public sector > Education

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Eversheds LLP has a substantial education practice led by Diane Gilhooley. The funding crisis in the sector has seen the team increasingly active across complex mergers, restructuring and funding issues. It has an extensive client base, including further and higher education providers and academies. It handled significant work in 2011 for Kirklees College, Oaklands College and University of Bradford.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a dedicated national team handling education matters for public and private sector clients, led by Nancy McGuire. Highlights included advising Manchester Metropolitan University in relation to its £60m business school. The Building Schools for the Future team remains busy, despite the demise of such schemes, with work continuing for sponsors and funders. Richard Fleetwood is recommended.

DLA Piper UK LLP ‘exceeds expectations’. It is particularly strong on project work, and has a broad client base. Nick Helm has a ‘wealth of large transactional experience’ and leads the PFI team, which was reappointed as the sole adviser on PFI academies. Andrew Roberts heads the team in Liverpool.

DWF LLP gained new panel appointments and increased its national coverage during 2011, with ‘key areas expertly handled by leading lawyers’. Practice head Maria Burquest is ‘focused and incisive’, and acts for Manchester Metropolitan University, Liverpool JMU, and Leeds Metropolitan University. Kerren Daly is recommended on the employment side and acts for The Manchester College.

Hill Dickinson LLP gives ‘straightforward advice and is proactive’. Iain Campbell leads on higher and further education matters. David Rawlinson is head of the schools team, and recently acted in a case involving an independent school appealing a de-registration notice by the Secretary of State.

Pinsent Masons LLP has a national reputation in the universities sector, and acts for leading North West institutions. It also continues to act in BSF projects. Sara Sawicki is ‘clear, precise and grounded’.

Weightmans LLP works with higher and further education institutions, and is also instructed by insurer clients. Claire Lefort is noted for her work in the area of student complaint management, and Martin Vincent and Steve Peacock are also recommended.

George Davies Solicitors LLP is noted for its ‘excellent response times’ and ‘advice that is fit for purpose’, and acts for a number of further education clients. Anne Fairhurst heads the team.

Mills & Reeve LLP nationally acts for over 170 education sector clients, including universities, colleges and private schools. Manchester-based practice head Richard Sykes is ‘excellent and supportive’.

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 North West for Education

  • 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

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
© 2013 www.legal500.com