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Education

Dickinson Dees LLP has a strong reputation for acting for schools and further education clients. Work in 2011 included advising Partnerships for Schools on the Free Schools Programme. Practice head Rowan Ferguson is ‘a very talented lawyer’ with ‘a well-deserved national reputation in the field’, and Kevin Robertson has ‘excellent interpersonal skills’. Clients include the Higher Education Authority and a number of Diocesan Boards of Education.

Melanie Pears heads an ‘excellent’ 12 partner-team at Ward Hadaway. In 2011 it assisted Nottingham City Council with a judicial review regarding the Building Schools for the Future programme, and also advised the Northumberland Church of England Academy on the complex changes planned for the Church of England Academy scheme. New arrival Graham Shaw is ‘accurate, experienced and succinct’.

Watson Burton LLP’s team is ‘outstandingly prompt, decisive and very strong’. The group has been active on academy and free school conversions, and recently advised the Newcastle College Group on its Work Programme with the DWP. Gillian Hall is ‘extremely helpful, and an excellent team leader’, and Warren Kemp is ‘brilliant’.

Burnetts provides an ‘outstanding’ service to its further education sector clients, recently advising on campus redevelopments and employment restructuring programmes. John Morris has ‘considerable knowledge of issues in the sector’, and Caroline Redhead is a ‘lateral thinker and a problem-solver’.

Muckle LLP’s schools and institutions practice is led by the widely regarded Tony McPhillips. In 2011 it advised London South Bank University, Northumbria University and Newcastle University of a range of matters. Alan Grisedale has ‘superb technical knowledge’.

Health

DAC Beachcroft LLP is hugely experienced in Transforming Community Services (TCS) programmes. It recently acted for three local FTs, and advised Northumbria Healthcare Trust on its formation of two joint venture companies. The group has also been advising Spire Healthcare on potential claims arising from the purchase of PIP breast implants. David Weatherburn is ‘insightful and heavily engaged in the market’.

Ward Hadaway’s recent appointment to the Health Trust Europe’s panel is indicative of the team’s nationwide presence in the healthcare sector. It has recently advised various trusts in high-profile inquests and on the development of four new primary care centres in Sheffield. Jeffrey Keeble is recommended.

Eversheds LLP’s key contacts in the North East are national head of healthcare Bill Gilliam and Shirley Wright. The group recently advised in the Mid-Staffordshire Inquiry, and assisted NHP – Southern Cross’ largest landlord – in relation to the closure of the care home.

Hempsons’ ‘swift and proactive’ team is led by Janice Barber, and includes Carol Bailey and associate Stephanie Green. Highlights included acting on three local TCS programmes.

Samuel Phillips Law Firm’s highly esteemed Barry Speker advises on real estate, risk management and medical law matters. The team has strong ties to a local NHS trust.

Sintons LLP has a strong offering across a range of areas, including dental, life sciences, pharmacy and care homes. Practice head Hilary Parker is well connected, and predominantly advises on the procurement and development of healthcare premises. Amanda Maskery is the key figure for dental work, and regularly advises Lloyds TSB on the funding of dental practice acquisitions.

Andrea Ward’s team at DWF LLP provides an ‘exceptional’ service, and has ‘extensive’ knowledge and understanding of the health and social care sectors. David Gibson is recommended for employment and pensions matters, and Paul Earnshaw for real estate.

Local government

Ward Hadaway’s team further strengthened its profile in the market, acting in the successful judicial review on behalf of Nottingham City Council in relation to the Building Schools for the Future programme. The group’s strong client base includes a number of councils nationally.

DWF LLP has a strong local authority client base, and advises on health and safety and employers’ liability matters. Team head Rod Searl and Sue Howes are noted for their ‘exceptional attention to detail’. David Drewe is also recommended.

Dickinson Dees LLP acts on a range of high-value procurement, waste regeneration and education matters; clients include the London Fire Authority, Newcastle City Council and Durham County Council. Iain Greenshields heads the practice.

Eversheds LLP has a strong cross-office team which has recently advised on a range of police authority strategic partnerships and waste procurements in the North West.

Watson Burton LLP’s Roddy Gordon advised on the development of North Yorkshire County Council’s waste management PFI. Other clients include Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside County Council.

Jacksons Law continues to act for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

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