Nicola Bennison > Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP > Nottingham, England > Lawyer Profile

A heavyweight in the Midlands, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s practice is led out of Birmingham by Audrey Elliott, with the support of Nottingham-based partner Mark Fletcher, who heads the employment litigation team and is noted for his expertise in the retail and consumer sectors. Focusing on employment issues in the education sector, litigator Nicola Bennison is the go-to counsel for senior management issues, equality and diversity, including dealing with complex grievances and strategic human resources matters. Clare Ward is an expert in labour relations and supports restructuring and TUPE exercises.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP continues to excel at advising higher and further education clients on a wide range of regulatory and commercial matters, leveraging its national strength to maintain close relationships with universities and sector associations across the UK. The team is well-regarded for its expertise in contentious and non-contentious employment matters, having provided advice on major higher education employment frameworks in addition to handling large-scale restructuring programmes, unfair dismissal and discrimination claims, and strike action responses. Universities also frequently instruct the firm to advise on mergers, expansions, sales, and international activities. Nicola Bennison, an employment and discrimination specialist, divides her time between London and Nottingham and co-leads the practice with London-based lawyer Diane Gilhooley, who has handled a number of sexual harassment claims and regularly advises on industrial relations. Other key contacts in the team include London- and Cambridge-based governance expert Glynne Stanfield, who has advised on major mergers and expansions, and experienced litigator Alison Oldfield, who divides her time between London and Leeds and has a record of handling protestor disruptions.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides ‘knowledgeable, professional, and pragmatic‘ advice to a wide range of state and private schools across the full range of education law, with a particular capacity for advising multi-academy trusts on conversions and acquisitions, restructuring matters, and contentious and non-contentious issues in relation to safeguarding and student inclusivity. The team is also well-regarded for its advice on employment matters, having been instructed to advise on industrial actions, restructuring programs, exits from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, and employment tribunal claims. The team is co-led by Diane Gilhooley, who has vast experience handling high-profile education governance and employment matters, and Ben Wood, who regularly handles academy conversions and is also a key contact for contentious student and staff matters. Further key contacts in the team include Nicola Bennison, who has advised on complex safeguarding and admissions issues, and real estate expert Charlotte Tanikal.