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Education

The ‘outstanding’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP provides education and procurement clients with ‘exceptional support’. The team is currently advising Newcastle County Council on the conversion of Gosforth School to an academy, and has a substantial practice advising university, college and school clients. ‘Education expert’ Rowan Ferguson, who is ‘second to none’, heads up the team.

The ‘excellent’ team at Ward Hadaway recently advised Nottingham City Council on the delivery of new projects through its Local Education Partnership, which included an £8m ICT facility to a local school. It also acted for The Northumberland Church of England Academy on a broad range of complex matters.

Watson Burton LLP has an ‘outstanding’ education practice led by Gillian Hall, whose project management skills are ‘first class’. Key highlights included advising Gosforth School on its conversion to academy status, and University of Sunderland on the sale of two halls of residence to U Student (Sunderland).

Burnetts’ team counts UCLan, 12 active further education colleges and all of the academies in Cumbria as clients. Recent highlights include advising Seaton Infant School in Workington on its transfer to academy status. John Morris is the key contact.

The highly regarded Tony McPhillips leads the team at Muckle LLP, which advises London South Bank University and Emmanuel Schools Foundation, and new clients such as City of Sunderland College, on property and employment matters, among others. It is also advising a number of schools considering a conversion to academy status.

Health

Beachcroft’s recent appointment to City Hospital Sunderland NHSFT as one of two full-service providers is a further endorsement of its capabilities in the healthcare sector. Other recent highlights include handling three of the largest Transforming Community Services programmes in the region, and advising a group of 13 GP practices on their proposals for a federated business model. The firm continues to act for various other NHS trusts across a wide range of areas including clinical risk, inquest and employment matters.

Jeffrey Keeble’s team at Ward Hadaway is currently advising NHS Rotherham on the development of joint service facilities for Rawmarsh and Kimberworth, and NHS Doncaster on the development of a new local GP surgery and a healthcare hub. It also advised North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust on its contribution to the Redfern Inquiry.

Eversheds LLP’s Bill Gilliam handles healthcare disputes.

Key highlights for Hempsons included its appointment to the North East Hub (NHS Procurement North East), and defending NHS North of Tyne in its first procurement challenge, brought by a PCT, to the Cooperation and Competition Panel. Janice Barber is the key figure in the team, which was recently joined by Stephanie Green from Ward Hadaway, and also handles commercial property and employment matters.

At Samuel Phillips Law Firm, the well-respected Barry Speker was recently involved in several High Court applications for treatment orders, including an application for consent to conduct open-heart surgery on a baby. Speker also advises on the acquisition of healthcare premises and the preparation of partnership agreements, as well as providing training on medical law and advice on risk management matters.

Amanda Maskery at Sintons LLP specialises in the dental sector, recently advising on a record number of sales, acquisitions and incorporations. Practice head Hilary Parker advised GPs and consultants, including Matrix Orthopaedics, on entrepreneurial projects and partnership agreements.

Crutes Law Firm broke into the sector with the hire of health sector specialist Alison Oliver from Lockharts.

Local government

The team at Ward Hadaway is said to ‘add value by going the extra mile when needed’. It recently won a competitive tender to advise Eden District Council on the renewal of a £17m refuse, recycling, cleaning and leisure contract. Melanie Pears, Robert Glassford and Karen Andrews are highly regarded.

Crutes Law Firm currently advises 55 local authorities, including Stockton on Tees Borough Council, and remains on the panel of three public sector insurers. Recent highlights include successfully defending Northumbria Police against various claims.

Eversheds LLP is currently advising Cleveland Police Authority on its ten-year, £175m strategic partnering agreement with Steria UK, which involves the outsourcing of a wide range of back office functions.

Watson Burton LLP continues to advise Nottingham City Council on its proposed development of a £60m football stadium, and handles high-value public sector outsourcing matters for Eaga plc and North Yorkshire County Council.

The team at Jacksons Law advises Stockton on Tees Borough Council on a wide range of matters, and was recently appointed to the panel of Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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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
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