Birketts LLP has a multi-disciplinary team that acts for a diverse range of clients in the health and education sectors. 'The employment team is always available to support and give advice and are very knowledgeable', remarks one client. Head of public sector and local government Ruth Neave works across all five of the firm's offices, calling upon the expertise of head of education Abigail Trencher in Cambridge and head of health Matthew Newnham in Norwich. Charities partner Liz Brownsell in Ipswich takes the lead on matters concerning academies. Trencher and legal director Tom Sharpe in Norwich are 'very helpful and their advice is always sound'. Corporate partner Ed Savory, also based in Norwich, advised South Norfolk Council on a joint venture arrangement with five other local authorities in Norfolk and Anglian Water.
Public sector in East Anglia
Birketts LLP
Practice head(s):
Ruth Neave; Abigail Trencher; Matthew Newnham
Other key lawyers:
Liz Brownsell; Tom Sharpe
Testimonials
‘The employment team are always available to support and give advice and are very knowledgeable about us.’
‘Their knowledge, and the availability of the individuals I work with, are key benefits to managing our casework. In particular Tom Sharpe (Norwich) and Abigail Trencher (Cambridge) are very helpful and their advice is always sound.’
Key clients
South Norfolk Council
Breckland Council
The Broads Authority
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council
East Suffolk Council
Babergh District Council
Mid Suffolk District Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
East Coast Community Healthcare
East Anglian Air Ambulance
Teaching Regulation Agency
CIFCO Capital Limited
Diamond Learning Trust
Anglia Ruskin University
Sapientia Education Trust
Big Sky Living
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
College of West Anglia
Boudica Schools Trust
Lewisham Council
Newham Council
Seven Arches Investment Limited
West Suffolk College
Mills & Reeve LLP
Notably capable in both education and health sector work, Mills & Reeve LLP provides ‘expert advice in a timely way‘. Gary Attle in Cambridge, who is known for his ‘calm expertise and excellent focus on the relevant issues‘, is joint head of the education and research sector group, working with partners in Leeds, while the health and care sector group is led from Birmingham. Attle advises numerous universities on contentious and governance issues. Partner Richard Noble and principal associate Kimbra Weston, both based in Cambridge, are key advisers to education and charity clients on property matters and are ‘always available and willing to discuss any issue with great expertise‘. Health and care M&A specialist Natalie Wade in Norwich and, in Cambridge, employment partner Nicola Brown and principal associate Poppy Short also play pivotal roles in the practice.
Practice head(s):
Gary Attle
Other key lawyers:
Richard Noble; Nicola Brown; Natalie Wade; Poppy Short; Kimbra Weston; Emma Tuck; Kate Allan
Testimonials
‘The practice is excellent – always respond to requests for advice very quickly, however obscure and hurried these may be. We are always confident that we will get expert advice in a timely way, and that all members of the team that we deal with have a good understanding of the higher education sector.’
‘Gary Attle always responds to our ad hoc and urgent requests promptly, providing his calm expertise and excellent focus on the relevant issues for a higher education institution. Kate Allan and Emma Tuck have provided prompt and expert advice for a number of challenging issues in recent years.’
‘M&R has a full service team which means they can offer advice in all areas required.’
‘We work together as professionals but also as friends which is vitally important. Richard Noble and Kimbra Weston are always available and willing to discuss any issue with great expertise.’
Key clients
Academies Enterprise Trust
Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
Arden University Limited
Birmingham City University
Bolton College
Bournemouth University
British Council
Buckingham New University
Cardiff University
Christ Church, Oxford University
Christ’s Hospital
Coventry University
Cranfield University
Dragon School Trust Limited
Exeter College Oxford
Francis Crick Institute Ltd
Harrow School
King’s College London
Linacre College Oxford
London Business School
LTE Group
Manchester Metropolitan University
Merton College Oxford
Nottingham Trent University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford University Endowment Management
Peterhouse College, Cambridge
Queen Mary University of London
Royal Veterinary College
Sheffield Hallam University
Solent University
St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation
St Edmund Hall Oxford
St John’s College, Oxford
St John’s College
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
The United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation
The University of Birmingham
The University of Northampton
The University of Nottingham
TOF Corporate Trustee Limited as Trustee of The Oxford Funds
Trinity College, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
University of Bath
University of Bedfordshire
University of Derby
University of East Anglia
University of Exeter
University of Hertfordshire
University of Huddersfield
University of Hull
University of Kent
University of Lancaster
University of Liverpool
University of London
University of Manchester
University of Oxford
University of Salford
University of Southampton
University of Surrey
University of Worcester
University of York
Wellcome Sanger Institute
West Thames College
University of York
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
BMA Law
Vita Health
NHS England
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board
Health Education England
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care
Board
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Property Services
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Shaw Healthcare (Northants)
Sussex Health Care
Operose Health
Elysium Healthcare
Department of Health and Social Care
UK Health Security Agency
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Supply Chain Coordination Limited
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
Supply Chain Coordination Limited
Cygnet Health Care
Work highlights
- Advising UK universities on a range of significant contentious and governance issues.
- Supporting the UK Health Security Agency as one of the Core Participants in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
- Advised the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on the development of the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, a new world-class hospital, to be built at the current Addenbrooke’s site.
Greenwoods
The education sector group at Greenwoods supports clients with a diverse range of issues, ranging from corporate and governance matter, HR and immigration, property deals and regulatory matters. Clients are 'incredibly impressed with the attentiveness to detail and the availability of the team'. Head of the Cambridge employment team Joanna Scally leads the education practice, working closely with senior associate and employment specialist Siobhan Thomson. Senior associate Claire Banks in Peterborough is 'knowledgeable, helpful and great to work with' on corporate matters.
Practice head(s):
Joanna Scally
Other key lawyers:
Siobhan Thomson; Claire Banks
Testimonials
‘The team understood our area – public sector – they were helpful to us as novices and explained the terminology clearly. They were collaborative and responsive even if we took time to return or review documents.’
‘Claire Banks was great to work with. She was knowledgeable and helpful in all our dealings.’
‘We were incredibly impressed with the attentiveness to detail and the availability of the team. It was also impressive as they were able to work with several queries and help us quickly by utilising their own internal networks.’
Key clients
Christ’s College
Bedford Borough Council
Churchill College
Jesus College
Clare College
Uppingham
Work highlights
- Successfully defended a Tribunal claim by a teacher who was dismissed for long-term sickness absence in a local authority-maintained school and brought claims of unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and breach of contract.
- Supported Churchill College following a student complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for disability discrimination.
- Advised Cambridge Colleges and other education institutions on the implications of holiday pay for part-year workers following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Harpur Trust v Brazel.
Howes Percival LLP
Howes Percival LLP's education, health, social housing and government group brings together experts in corporate, employment, insolvency, property, construction, commercial contracts and data protection. It is 'knowledgeable, well run and proactive', according to clients. Land development partner Michaela Henson in Cambridge and insolvency expert Morris Peacock in Norwich oversee the practice, which includes Norwich-based corporate partner Oliver Pritchard. Peacock acted for the The Insolvency Service/Secretary of State for Business, Energy And Industrial Strategy in potential director disqualification proceedings arising out of the failure of Bell Pottinger LLP. Emerging partner talent Nicola Curle in Norwich is a key adviser on surplus land disposals, enabling developments and student accommodation projects. Planning specialist Jamie Childs provides 'timely and usually very swift responses'.
Practice head(s):
Michaela Henson; Morris Peacock
Other key lawyers:
Oliver Pritchard; Nicola Curle; Jamie Childs
Testimonials
‘Jamie Childs is knowledgeable, good at describing legal matters in plain English, adaptive to innovative and new arrangements. Timely and usually very swift responses. A great team worker.’
‘The team is knowledgeable, well run and proactive.’
‘Jamie Childs is an impressive lawyer: knowledgeable, pragmatic, on the ball, true to his word. He gave us good advice and we all had confidence in him.’
Key clients
Anchor Care Homes Limited
Anchor Hanover Group
Braintree District Council
Breckland Alliance / Breckland Surgeries Limited
Cambridge University Endowment Fund
Enterprise Retirement Living
E-Surgery / Total Access Health
Girton College, Cambridge
Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind
Norse Care Limited
Norwich University of the Arts
South Holland District Council
South Norfolk Healthcare C.I.C
Suffolk County Council
University of Cambridge
East and Central Brighton Primary Care Network (PCN)
BHR Pharmaceuticals
Work highlights
- Regularly instructed by South Holland District Council to provide a range of specialist planning law support on applications, appeals and enforcement matters which South Holland are dealing with.
- Advising Braintree District Council for a number of years in respect of its acquisition and commercial development of land at Great Notley known as “Horizon 120”.
JG Poole & Co. LLP
JG Poole & Co. LLP in Ely is a specialist higher education firm that provides 'thoughtful and considered advice, and excels in problem solving'. The firm is 'fundamentally geared toward being able to provide high-quality, commercial legal advice, at a price point that is accessible to public sector clients'. Practice head Jason Poole and finance partner Helen Bolton 'have exceptional understanding of complex commercial matters and brilliant at stress-testing client strategies to ensure optimum way-forward'. Up-and-coming partner Katherine Souter, who is a qualified NEC3 project manager with ECC Project Manager Accreditation, is highly experienced in construction matters and 'takes a solution-focussed approach to all of her advice'.
Practice head(s):
Jason Poole
Other key lawyers:
Helen Bolton; Katherine Souter
Testimonials
‘The team excels in problem solving and identifying ways to accomplish their client’s aims. Thoughtful and considered advice.’
‘Jason Poole and Helen Bolton have exceptional understanding of complex commercial matters and brilliant at stress-testing client strategies to ensure optimum way forward.’
‘I use JG Poole & Co for contract advice on FM services. The team exhibits a high level of knowledge, not only on the legal issues, but also on how the contract will work operationally, adapting their advice accordingly to achieve the best outcomes for their clients. They have a habit of raising important issues that we have not considered but are key in the running of any individual contract.’
Key clients
Harper Adams University
Belmont School
Epsom College
University of York
University of East Anglia
London Metropolitan University
University of Hertfordshire
University of Essex
Canterbury Christ Church University
University of Cambridge
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
The Cambridge office of Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has 'an incredibly hardworking team, creative with their legal arguments and unflappable under pressure'. Regarded as one of the leading practices for employment matters in the education sector, it has a 'pragmatic and succinct approach'. Lead partner and employment specialist Hilary Aldred, who is co-head of the firm's national education practice, is 'the go-to solicitor on the intersection between public sector work, employment law, and education law'. Managing associate Sophie Whitbread, who acts for education institutions and charities, is 'a rising star, hardworking with terrific judgement'.
Practice head(s):
Hilary Aldred
Other key lawyers:
Sophie Whitbread
Testimonials
‘An incredibly hard-working team, creative with their legal arguments and unflappable under pressure. They are one of the top firms working in public sector work.’
‘Hilary Aldred is the go-to solicitor on the intersection between public sector work, employment law, and education law. She knows everything there is to know in this area. Sophie Whitbread – a rising star. Hardworking with terrific judgement.’
‘Excellent quality of legal advice. Pragmatic and succinct approach, which keeps the firm excellent value for money.’
Key clients
Christ Church, Oxford
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Oxford
Green Templeton College, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Florida State University
American Institute for Foreign Study
ICMP Management Limited
Unifrog Education Ltd
UCL Business
Work highlights
- Day to day employment advice to Christ Church, Oxford in respect of academic and non-academic staff. This included advice on the settlement of the employment tribunal claims.
- Acted for a higher education institution when they found themselves in the middle of a “Twitter storm” as a result of polarised views. This involved balancing freedom of expression and free speech on campus against the need to protect staff for unlawful harassment.
- Acting for Fitzwilliam College in defending a claim under the Equality Act brought by the campaign group Christian Concern. This matter has been subject to press interest, involving the tension between the holding of religious beliefs and the need for an institution to protect its integrity and the health and safety of its students where those beliefs are at odds with the institution’s ethos.
SEN Legal
SEN Legal is a highly specialised boutique practice focused solely on special educational needs and disability work. Acting for a national client base, the firm is a key adviser to appellants in SEND Tribunal appeals, disability discrimination, judicial review, deputyships, social care, personal budgets, exclusions and admissions appeals. Practice head Haley Mason and key partner Melinda Nettleton in Bury St Edmunds are acknowledged experts in the needs of families with SEN children, and clients note that they have 'genuine passion for the best interests of the children and parents whom they represent'. 'Professional and compassionate' senior solicitor Nicole Lee in Cambridge is also recommended for her 'patient, kind and understanding' approach to cases and clients.
Practice head(s):
Haley Mason
Other key lawyers:
Melinda Nettleton; Nicole Lee; James Brown; Richard Nettleton; Idhren Drew
Testimonials
‘Every member of the team is an expert in the field and their expertise is combined with genuine passion for the best interests of the children and parents whom they represent.’
‘Hayley Mason – a star in the field. Melinda Nettleton – remains a force to be contended with. Nicole Lee, Richard Nettleton and James Brown are all highly recommended.’
‘The team is always approachable, friendly and professional. The billing is timely and clear and regular, very important for bills that can become quite large over time. The support through a complicated and stressful process has been appropriate and very welcome.’
‘Special educational needs issues tend to be very emotive – our case was always handled with complete care and understanding of what was a very difficult and stressful time for us as parents of an autistic child.’
‘We have always found that SEN Legal have been so supportive to us and they understand what we need and what our young person needs to have a good life and to get the right provision. Nicole Lee has been absolutely fabulous with us, she keeps in contact with us and lets us know what we need to do, what the rules are, and I know we can call her at any time and she will take the time to talk to us.’
‘Hayley Mason has dealt with my son’s case for many years and she has been excellent every step of the way. She always takes the time to explain every situation clearly and is clearly compassionate whilst remaining professional. Her breadth and depth of knowledge is excellent as is her dedication. I have complete confidence in her abilities and determination to achieve the best outcome for my son.’
‘Haley Mason is wise beyond her years and an extremely capable solicitor. She works tirelessly for her clients, securing extremely good outcomes in the vast majority of her cases. Richard Nettleton has a keen eye for detail and is kind, empathetic and patient with all of his clients. He is a pleasure to work with. James Brown is an extremely hardworking individual who has a significant amount of experience in this field. He will go far in this profession.’
‘Hayley Mason: extremely professional, prompt and clear guidance and explanations. She has been very effective in holding the local authority to account for their responsibilities.’