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1
- Bond Dickinson LLP (Newcastle)
- Burnetts (Carlisle)
- Muckle LLP (Newcastle)
2
- Ward Hadaway (Newcastle)
- Watson Burton LLP (Newcastle)

Bond Dickinson LLP’s robust client base includes Northumbria University, Gateshead College, and Durham University, while new clients for 2015 include St Hilda’s Academy Trust, Arnold Hill Academy Trust and St Thomas of Canterbury Academy Trust. Recent highlights include advising 12 schools on a £100m pathfinder project led by the Education Funding Agency under a new version of PFI. Kevin Robertson, Emma Moody and Claire-Jane Nicol are the key contacts.

At Burnetts, Natalie Ruane advises head teachers and governing bodies of schools and academies, and recently advised the governing body of a school in the dismissal of its head teacher on grounds of gross misconduct. The highly experienced Kuba Strycharczyk heads the team and acts for longstanding client the University of Central Lancashire. Joanne Stronach’s primary focus is on the further education sector.

Muckle LLP’s team is singled out for its ‘superb’ reputation on academy conversions. Highlights included advising East Durham College on the £12m redevelopment of its Houghall campus, and advising an academy trust on a challenge to the outcome of an OFSTED inspection. Practice head Tony McPhillips attracts praise for his ‘incredible breadth of knowledge’.

Ward Hadaway’s education-sector clients cite the practice’s ‘outstanding response times’, ‘excellent knowledge and a network of extended expertise that is second to none’. PFI and academy conversion specialist Tim Care leads the team, which includes Karen Andrews, who advises on regeneration projects, and Paul Scope, who is experienced in advising on staffing strategies.

David Jenkins leads Watson Burton LLP’s practice, which acts for academies, universities and further education institutions. Recent work includes numerous conversions for multi-academy trust Wellspring, and acting for a further education college on the procurement of two new education centres.

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Testing Times

Why the VW emissions-testing scandal is as much about fraud, compliance and liability as it is about clean air.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
Going to ground

Arrests over alleged landfill tax fraud have put environment-related business crime in the spotlight. Aziz Rahman explains how such accusations can be challenged.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
EXPLANATIONS NECESSARY

Government moves to force people to justify the source of their wealth will make the right legal representation even more crucial.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
ACT NOW

One third of small and medium-sized businesses do not know about the Bribery Act. Here’s what you need to know to avoid falling foul of it.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
STAY CLEAN

London has been called the capital of money laundering. So how can you avoid being implicated in it?

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
HONESTY AND INVESTMENT FRAUD PROSECUTIONS

How to build an investment fraud defence case that disproves prosecution allegations of dishonesty.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
FRAUD, LARGE ORGANISATIONS AND THE INDIVIDUAL

With a town council now officially facing a fraud investigation, we examine what individuals in such a large body should do if they come under suspicion.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
The risks of liberation

The dangers that pension liberation and money laundering pose to those involved in pension funds and management.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
SHARED INTELLIGENCE

The Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce is an attempt to tackle money laundering in the UK. But it poses challenges for bankers, who have to be sure they respond appropriately if they are to be above suspicion.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
FOREX AND RISK

Five banks being fined £3.6 billion in the US for manipulating forex is a stark reminder of the legal risks involved in currency trading. Here, Aziz Rahman of Rahman Ravelli examines how the brokers and the traders in forex can avoid legal problems.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

Press Releases in the UK