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Education

Martineau represented the University of West London on the demerger of its further education provision to a joint venture, and handles contentious employment work for Bournemouth University. New clients include the University of Cambridge, Nottingham University and De Monfort University. Smita Jamdar leads the team.

Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘a variety of departments engaged in the education sector, so has a depth of knowledge across a broad range of subjects’. The team advised the University of Lincoln on establishing a foundation college. Nicola Hart’s ‘advice is sound and practical’, while Linda Jones on the employment side has ‘huge knowledge of the education sector’. Selwyn Blyth is also recommended.

Eversheds LLP recorded expansion in the university and further education sectors, adding new clients such as Manchester Metropolitan University, City University London and Barnet College. Highlights included advising UCL on the establishment of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation. Clients appreciate Janet Knowles’ ‘knowledge and breadth of experience’.

Mills & Reeve LLP’s ‘advice is specific, well thought through and delivered promptly at a realistic price’. It advised Oxford and Cherwell Valley College on a joint venture to provide further education services to Reading College. Nick Abbott is ‘good at identifying practical resolutions’, and Richard Sykes ‘brings technical expertise and great energy to contentious issues’.

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP is ‘very responsive at a reasonable cost’, and ‘the service is extremely good’. The firm acts for education institutions and also for disabled individuals seeking access to education. ‘Knowledgeable’ associate Richard Freeth is recommended.

Band Hatton LLP acts for a number of local schools, as well as further education institutions, advising on property, employment, charity and contractual matters as well as disputes. Haydn Jones leads the team.

Bevan Brittan LLP has been very active in BSF projects, acting for clients such as the London Borough of Camden. Other clients include the University of Oxford and the University of Southampton.

Phil Clissitt’s team at Wragge & Co LLP advised King’s College on the purchase of a number of houses to facilitate the development of a clinical neuroscience research institute, and acted for Birmingham City University on the sale of Hamstead Hall.

Health

Browne Jacobson LLP’s ‘overall level of service runs from good to excellent’. The firm is best known in the health sector for its clinical negligence work, but also regularly handles inquests, general health law, and commercial, property and employment matters for NHS trusts. It advised numerous trusts on Transferring Community Services projects. Oliver Pritchard took over as head of the commercial health team following the departure of Melanie Print.

Mills & Reeve LLP, which offers a full service to NHS clients, has ‘excellent working knowledge, and is responsive and creative’. Jill Mason advised Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust on a judicial review application and a threatened injunction. Tim Winn ‘finds workable, inventive solutions’; Jog Hundle is ‘extremely sensible and down to earth’; and Dawn Brathwaite is ‘reliable’ and gives ‘sound advice’.

Wragge & Co LLP continued to act on firsts for the NHS, with notable work including advising on the franchising of Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust and the sale of Bedford & Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership Trust. The team is also advising Health Authority Abu Dhabi on the review of the regulatory healthcare regime and drafting new legislation.

Bevan Brittan LLP ‘consistently delivers exactly what is required’ to its impressive client base; nationally the team acts for 162 NHS clients and the NHSLA. The team, led by David Owens and London-based John Chapman, is representing 27 of the 105 schemes involved in the TCS programme.

Capsticks is ‘excellent value for money’; ‘advice is clear, concise and limited to the issue in terms of the scope’. The team is advising the NHS in North East London on the first major scheme to reach public consultation since the new tests for reconfiguration of services were introduced.

Pinsent Masons LLP is advising Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust on its £450m new hospital project, and continued to act for CareTech Holdings plc, Craegmoor Healthcare Company and Avery Healthcare on their expansion plans. Joanne Ellis heads the team.

Weightmans LLP has ‘provided a significant level of input regarding the transfer of community services’. The firm acts for 153 NHS bodies, including the Healthcare Purchasing Consortium and South East Hub. Tony Yeaman and Melanie Isherwood are recommended.

Local government

Pinsent Masons LLP is noted as having ‘the leading practice in waste management projects’, and recently advised Lincolnshire County Council on its procurement of an energy-from-waste treatment facility, which will be the first project to be 100% funded by prudential borrowing. It is also acting for Bath and North East Somerset Council regarding the Bath Transport Package. Alan Aisbett is ‘a top PFI lawyer’.

DLA Piper UK LLP was appointed to the East Midlands LawShare panel; advised Coventry City Council on the Far Gosford Street regeneration project; and acted for Blackpool Borough Council on the redevelopment of the sea front. Robert Norris and associate David Brammer are the key contacts.

Eversheds LLP provides ‘timely, professional and appropriate advice’. The group advised Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council on the introduction of single status terms, and acted for Birmingham City Council on the development of Eastside. Mark Hammerton is recommended for employment matters for local government clients.

Wragge & Co LLP was reappointed to the Birmingham City Council consortium of 38 West Midlands authorities, and to Croydon Council’s four panels, as well as winning a spot on Oxfordshire Council’s legal services framework. The group advised Amey on the £2.7bn Birmingham Highways PFI. Mark Greenburgh leads the practice.

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP was appointed to the EM LawShare panel, and acted for Stockton-on-Tees Council on the transfer of its housing stock (over 10,000 homes) to Tristar Homes. Senior associate David Hall ‘works tirelessly, to extraordinarily tight deadlines’. Chris Plumley, also a senior associate, leads the team.

Bevan Brittan LLP advised Staffordshire County Council on its commercial activities, and acted for Birmingham City Council on its Schools Project. The team benefited from the recruitment of Olwen Dutton, previously chief executive of the West Midlands Local Government Association.

Martineau is known for handling general property and urban regeneration work for public and quasi-public sector clients. It has acted for Birmingham City Council and Wolverhampton City Council. Clive Read leads the team.

Mills & Reeve LLP is acting for Telford and Wrekin Council on all aspects of its £350m Southwater Town Centre regeneration scheme. Nathan Holden is ‘very strong in Teckal/public sector procurement’, and Tim Winn ‘in governance’.

Beachcroft’s Birmingham local government practice largely focuses on contentious work. Clients include Knowsley Council and Liverpool Library. Martin Cannon and Paul Leighton are the key contacts.

Caroline Coates’ team at Buller Jeffries has a ‘very good understanding of the public sector, and the quality of advice is first class’. The firm largely focuses on handling abuse claims for local authorities.

Cobbetts LLP acts for clients such as London Universities Purchasing Consortium, Birmingham City Council and Renewable East. Tiffany Cloynes leads the team.

KJD Freeth LLP advised a consortium of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, High Peak Borough Council and Lichfield District Council on outsourcing arrangements, and acted on the Stoke-on-Trent University Quarter development. Michael Servian is recommended.

Squire Sanders Hammonds’ work is heavily weighted towards property matters, particularly regeneration projects. Anne O’Meara advised Advantage West Midlands on its joint venture with Stoke City Council to develop the Stoke Business District.

Weightmans LLP nationally has over 150 local authority clients, and sits on eight local authority consortium panels. The team advised Gwynedd Council on the transfer of its housing stock. Andrew Cooper heads the team.

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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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