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Education

Veale Wasbrough Vizards’ reputation in the education sector ensures a stream of high-profile and high-value work. Clients include the University of Bristol, Partnerships for Schools and over 900 schools and colleges. Team head Barney Northover is ‘technically very capable and an excellent presence in meetings’. Simon Bevan advises on employment issues, and Yvonne Spencer and John Deakin are pastoral experts.

Emma Honey heads the department at Michelmores LLP, which acts for London Metropolitan University, the University of Exeter and Plymouth College. Carol McCormack OBE, who advised Aberystwyth University on a £100m student residence project, is highly respected and Samantha Billingham is also recommended.

Rickerbys LLP has broadened its education offering, and has now advised on a host of successful academy conversions. Clients include Cheltenham College and The King’s School, Gloucestershire. Department head Alice Reeve is well regarded, and Matthew Wolton joined the team as senior counsel.

Stone King LLP advises independent and maintained schools on a range of employment, health and safety, admissions and pastoral issues. Michael King’s team is highly regarded for its academy work, and senior associate Michael Brotherton is also recommended.

Ashfords LLP’s team has acted for Swindon Borough Council and Bishop Fox’s Community School in relation to academy conversions. Helen Tucker leads the team, which includes the ‘superb’ Rhiain Lewis.

Martin Howe at Bevan Brittan LLP provides construction law expertise to education sector clients. His team is advising the University of Bristol in its £50m Life Sciences project, and acting for North Somerset District Council on academy conversions.

At Burges Salmon LLP, employment specialist Roger Bull acts for Cardiff University. The universities of Exeter, Bath and Bristol and the Higher Education Funding Council for England are also clients.

Julia Green’s team at Foot Anstey is noted for its ‘superb response times’ and ‘thorough and professional’ approach. Newton Abott and Exmouth College are among 60 new school clients instructing the team.

Maitland Walker LLP advises on governance, charity, pastoral and employment issues. Department head John Clarke is ‘tremendously user friendly’.

David Harris at Stones Solicitors LLP acts for individuals in litigation about bullying, exclusion or the provision for special needs.

Wilsons’ Stephen Oxley is ‘calm, pragmatic and responsive, with a wealth of experience’. He ‘keeps a firm hand on the tiller’ of the dedicated schools team.

Health

Sharon Renouf and Stephen Hughes jointly head the department at Bevan Brittan LLP. Highlights included acting for the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust on a £175m children’s health park PFI project, and advising Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on a significant public/private joint venture. Vincent Buscemi made partner in 2011.

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s team is chaired by the renowned Nigel Montgomery. It advised Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust in relation to two complex jury inquests; acted in a large health PFI project; and completed various transactions under the Department of Health’s Transforming Community Services programme. Allianz and Bupa are also clients. Corinne Slingo and Susan Thompson are recommended for healthcare risk matters.

Lester Aldridge LLP advises care homes, NHS organisations, equity funds and a wealth of GP practices nationally on health and social care regulatory matters and other issues. Highly acclaimed team head Peter Grose ‘will take time to really listen to the issues’, and Guy Morgan and Susan Cowan are also recommended.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards’ Ben Willis has particular expertise in healthcare property matters. His team is noted for its ‘professional, fair and straightforward’ approach. Clients include Assura Medical and Avon Care Homes. Oliver Pool is well liked.

Recently merged firm Deighton Pierce Glynn acts for claimants against NHS trusts in judicial review cases. Clients recommend the ‘enthusiastic and knowledgeable’ Adam Hundt and the ‘determined, committed’ Sue Willman.

Osborne Clarke’s lifescience and healthcare department acts for clients including Castleoak Care Developments and The Co-operative Bank. Janita Good heads the team, which includes Catherine Wolfenden, who assisted Bromley PCT with the procurement of major contracts for drugs support services.

Rickerbys LLP acts on the sale and purchase of care homes, and advises on regulatory and compliance issues. Louise Crook heads the team, which acts for clients including Blanchworth Care Limited, Barclays Bank and NatWest Bank.

Local government

Bevan Brittan LLP’s local government team, led by the widely acclaimed Bethan Evans, remains unrivalled in the region. Shared services, outsourcing and employment advice account for a large part of the team’s work, and it also saw an increase in litigation for local authority clients in 2011. Clients include Bristol and Plymouth City Councils, Cornwall Council and Devon County Council. Peter Keith-Lucas and David Hutton are highly recommended.

Ashfords LLP’s team is led by the recommended John Bosworth, who represents many local authorities. Elizabeth Gibson acted for the London Borough of Lambeth in its Total FM facilities management project, and assisted Derbyshire County Council with a £5m strategic procurement project. Devon County Council and Plymouth City Council also instruct the firm.

Bond Pearce LLP is representing West Berkshire District Council on the regeneration of Newbury Town Centre, and successfully represented Bristol County Council in a High Court statutory challenge. Jonathan Bower leads the team, and Charles Robson is noted for his energy expertise.

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s team, headed by the very experienced Giles Taylor, advised Core Cities – a group representing the councils of the eight largest city economies – on its proposed amendments to the Localism Bill. Zurich Municipal refers many local authority clients to the team. Tom Baker is recommended for public sector litigation, and Ben Pariser joined from Clarke Willmott LLP.

Burges Salmon LLP’s Gary Soloman has experience in mixed-use developments and regeneration projects; he has acted for East Devon District Council on matters including a proposal for more than 2,900 new homes and a new business park.

Davitt Jones Bould acts on a range of commercial property and planning matters for local authority and central government clients, recently advising on procurement for a South West town regeneration project. The vastly experienced Madeleine Davitt leads the team.

Michelmores LLP’s Carol McCormack OBE is experienced in advising on all aspects of PPP and PFI projects for government departments and other public sector organisations.

David Hansom joined Veale Wasbrough Vizards from Eversheds LLP in June 2011, and heads the public sector practice. The team advised Plymouth City Council on a range of procurement matters, and also advised Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council.

Commercial property partner Stephen Rosser at Clarke Willmott LLP advises local authorities on regeneration schemes.

Deighton Pierce Glynn represents claimants in judicial review proceedings against local government bodies. Adam Hundt is well regarded nationwide.

Follett Stock’s Richard Scrase has ‘excellent working knowledge’ and provides ‘clear and prompt’ advice. The team has had notable success in public law litigation, particularly in the context of community care services.

Gareth Pinwell at Foot Anstey gives advice that is ‘very commercial and good value for money’. He specialises in planning and development, with an emphasis on environmental and highway matters for public sector clients.

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