Hilary Aldred > Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP > Cambridge, England > Lawyer Profile

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is instructed by universities and Oxbridge colleges to handle ‘complex and cutting-edge cases‘ involving contentious employment and student disciplinary matters as well as handling a wide spectrum of governance and commercial matters in relation to data privacy, partnerships and contracts, and real estate. The team boasts notable expertise in issues related to safeguarding, student and staff misconduct, and industrial relations. Employment specialists Daff Richardson, who is based in Oxford, and Hilary Aldred, who practices from Cambridge, are regularly entrusted to act in complex mandates surrounding discrimination, freedom of speech, and no platforming. Oxford-based governance and student relations expert Sam Rose is also highly recommended. In London, immigration specialist Pat Saini and commercial expert Anna Frankum are further key contacts.

Under the joint leadership of Daff Richardson and Hilary Aldred, the multi-practice offering at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP advises a broad range of third sector clients including local and national charities, as well as education institutions, social housing and trade associations and religious organisations. The group has considerable strength in contentious side work, and Laura Dadswell advises many high-net-worth families on the creation of philanthropic structures, and ongoing compliance and governance issues.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP in Cambridge is noted as having impressive ‘commercial pragmatism‘. The Cambridge office is a key hub in the national, firm-wide employment practice, and the local team is a key advisor to major clients in the technology and education sectors in particular. ‘Pragmatic and decisive‘ practice head Hilary Aldred recently settled long-running, high-profile tribunal claims for Christ Church, Oxford concerning its former Dean. Managing associate and ‘very logical thinker’ Sophie Whitbread is described as ‘providing clear and succinct legal advice‘, and ‘responsive, indefatigable, innovative and supportive‘ senior associate Charissa Upton are highly recommended team members.

The team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is led partner Hilary Aldred who advises a wide-range of charity and not-for-profit clients, including some key to the education sector, on employment, education and charity law matters. The ‘hardworking, strategic, and highly commercial’ team acts for The Company of Biologists, National Oceanography Centre, and numerous Oxford and Cambridge colleges. Managing associate Sophie Whitbread and commercial and IP partner Rachel Bradley are also called upon by charity clients.