Browne Jacobson LLP has a full-service practice that encompasses all areas of public sector law. Simon Tait (who heads up the health team) has particular expertise in NHS mergers, and acts for NHS Resolution and private healthcare providers, such as Bupa and Spire. The education team, which is led by Mark Blois, has a 'wealth of expertise' in academy conversions, multi-academy trusts and PFI schools. Also notable is that it launched an innovative digitalised GDPR toolkit for clients. Richard Barlow and others act on high-profile social care matters and major regeneration projects, including ‘One Cathedral Green’ in Derby.
Public sector in East Midlands
Browne Jacobson LLP
Practice head(s):
Peter Ware (local government); Mark Blois (education); Simon Tait (health)
Testimonials
‘The wealth of expertise in the education team is fantastically reassuring and way superior to another firm that we have tried for conversions.’
Key clients
Academy Transformation Trust
Apollo Partnership Trust
Archdiocese of Birmingham
Archway Learning Trust
Ashfield Academy
Aspire Multi-Academy Trust
Atlas Multi-Academy Trust
Believe Academy Trust
Boarding Schools Association
Central Learning Partnership Trust
Derby and Derbyshire CCG
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Trust
East midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust
NHS England
NHS Leicester City CCG [on behalf of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) STP]
Nottingham City CCG
Nottingham City Care Partnership
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Broxtowe Borough Council
Cheshire East Council
Devon County Council
Herefordshire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Enfield
Miller Birch (Nottingham City Council)
Nottingham City Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
Work highlights
- Advising the Department for Education on claims brought against academy trust members of Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA).
- Assisted with the restructure of Worcestershire County Council’s children services into an independent entity in a project with an estimated value of £1.2billion.
- Advising an NHS Trust facing an investigation by the Care Quality Commission for providing suspected unsafe care and treatment leading to avoidable harm, in the context of an incident where a patient fell and sustained fatal injuries.
Freeths LLP
Freeths LLP serves as a key adviser to local authorities, education and other public bodies. Reflective of its excellent reputation, the firm is on the legal panels of the universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, among others. Stephen Pearson is the head of the education team. Nathan Holden, who is a 'pleasure to work with', leads the local government team, which advised Leicester City Council and Rushcliffe on major expansions. Other key highlights included advising Derbyshire Dales District Council on a new system for waste collection and processing (including green waste).
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘We’ve found members of the Freeths team very willing to engage with us and have constructive discussions.’
‘Nathan Holden and Gillian Roberts are a pleasure to deal with. Gillian’s pragmatic support, constructive challenge and good humour are particularly valuable.’
Key clients
NHS Property Services Limited N
NHSSS County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation
Birmingham City Council
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Derby City Council
Derby College
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority
Leicester City Council
Leicester College
Leicestershire County Council
Nottingham City Council
Nottingham High School
Nottingham Trent University
Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Services HQ
Nottinghamshire Police Authority
Oxford Brookes University
University College London
University of Birmingham
University Of Leeds
University of Leicester
Work highlights
- Assisted Derbyshire Dales District Council with a contract for long-term waste collection / processing garden/green waste processing.
- Advised Loughborough College on contract for “BEST” Swim Academy
- Assisted Newark & Sherwood District Council with contract for new HR / Payroll Software System for a consortium of 3 Local Authorities.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP acts for a broad range of clients in the education sector, including higher and further education institutions, schools, academies and private education institutions. Noted for its national reach, the team offers clients a full range of services, including employment, student matters, health and safety, and regulatory issues. The main contact in Nottingham is Nicola Bennison, who co-heads the practice with Manchester-based partner Diane Gilhooley, and is known for her expertise in contentious employment work.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team is very responsive, understands our key concerns and has really taken time to understand our business and what matters to us in the long term. The team is pragmatic and realistic about what can be achieved, and this also saves time and money by not flogging points which are unattainable. Great to deal with, always available.’
‘Excellent attention to detail, and a very firm grasp of our business. Not just looking at getting a deal over the line but actually taking care to see that the terms fit with our overall long term business plan.’
Key clients
De Montfort University
University of Derby
Loughborough University
University of Essex
Nottingham College
West Nottinghamshire College
New College Stamford
Peterborough Regional College
Trent College
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Trust Federation
Sandwell College
Shrewsbury Colleges Group
Work highlights
- Advised on the conversion of Bilborough College into a 16-19 academy forming part of the Coventry based Better Futures Multi Academy Trust.
- Advised Greshams School on a pioneering project and cutting-edge proposal to close membership of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
- Assisted University of Derby with the disposal of former sports complex at former Buxton College site by the University to Persimmon for a housing development.
Geldards LLP
Geldards LLP has a well-established reputation in the public sector, where it advises local authorities, central government and regulatory authorities. The firm has been appointed to several local government legal frameworks, including East Midlands Law Share consortium and the North West Legal Consortium. Practice head Tiffany Cloynes and her team have a strong reputation in major regeneration projects and public services. Other key areas of work include planning, employment, state aid and public procurement. Clients praise the group for its 'good knowledge and understanding' of public sector work.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team has a good knowledge and understanding of the factors and constraints of public sector work.’
‘The team are easy to deal with, very responsive with good attention to detail. Their level of engagement in projects and willingness to work alongside in-house lawyers is valuable.’
‘Quick to understand the brief, reactive and flexible.’
Key clients
Belper Town Council
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Carlisle City Council
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Charnwood Borough Council
Cheshire East Council
Daventry District Council
Derby City Council
Derbyshire County Council
Dronfield Town Council
Gedling Borough Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
Kettering Borough Council
Leicester City Council
Leicester University
Lincolnshire County Council
Liverpool City Combined Authority
Llanrhidian Higher Community Council
London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Merton
Ludlow Town Council
Milton Keynes Council
Norfolk County Council
Newark and Sherwood District Council
Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Homes
Nottinghamshire County Council
Old Bolsover Town Council
Oxford City Council
Work highlights
- Advising Derby City Council as part of its strategic plans for the redevelopment of Becketwell in the City Centre.
- Advising Warrington Borough Council in connection with the acquisition of two solar farms in Hull and York.
- Advising Cheshire East Council in relation to the CPO and judicial review proceedings and subsequent settlement agreements to facilitate the development of a new link road.
Flint Bishop LLP
Flint Bishop LLP acts for a wide range of clients in the education sector, including secondary schools, further education providers and colleges, universities, nurseries and infant schools. Reflective of its strong credentials in the education arena, the firm was recently appointed to a University of Derby panel. The team has an excellent record in academy conversions, and acts for a number of large multi-academy trusts, many of which the firm has advised since their initial single-school academy conversions. Louise Easthope heads up the practice.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Embark Federation
Derby College
The Rutland Learning Trust
Central Co-operative Learning Trust
The SENAD Group
The University of Derby
Derby Teaching Schools Alliance
Odyssey Collaborative Trust
Birkett House
Work highlights
- Advised Embark Federation on trust set-up, conversion of seven academies and currently advising on two further conversions.
- Advised The Rutland Learning Trust on 6 academy conversions joining the trust, across two counties and with complex diocesan land issues.
- Advised Central Co-operative Learning Trust on incorporating the trust, advising on five academy conversions and one rebrokerage into the trust.
Howes Percival LLP
Howes Percival LLP has considerable expertise in the education sector, particularly in relation to academy conversions. The team has experience of advising on different structures available to converting schools, including single academy conversions and converting schools to multi academy trusts. Mark Davies, Daniel Banton, and Graham Irons are the main contacts in the East Midlands.
Practice head(s):
Oliver Pritchard (Norwich); Mark Davies (Northampton/Milton Keynes); Daniel Banton (Leicester); Graham Irons (Northampton)
Testimonials
‘Howes Percival LLP is well placed to provide us with legal advice on care regulation matters, I recommend them for their insight and expertise.’
‘Rob Starr is our key contact and comes with a wealth of knowledge in relation to the care services sector, he understands how our business works and how we are regulated. This enables them to provide high-quality advice. Rob has good relationships with colleagues is trusted to provide good advice and assists us with a number of matters and helps colleagues through legal processes.’
Key clients
Anchor Hanover Group
P J Care Limited
Anchor Carehomes Limited
Learners Trust
Work highlights
- Acted for Learners’ Trust on the conversion of 5 schools to academy status.
Langleys Solicitors LLP
Langleys Solicitors LLP acts for local authorities, academy trusts, independent schools and further education colleges. It advises clients on all aspects of the academy conversion process, drafting all relevant funding agreements, changing articles of association and setting up new entities with Companies House. Kate Hindmarch leads the team, which provides 'excellent guidance and information'.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The Langleys team are a trusted group of people who have helped me and my organisation . Working with Langleys you feel that you can overcome any problem in a constructive way. They help with all areas and provide us with incisive and robust advice. On a personal note it helps me to avoid sleepless nights but as an organisation they help provide a deep-rooted security. I would highly recommend the Langleys team.’
‘Such a friendly team – from the receptionist to solicitors. So very supportive, knowledgeable, emphatic and kind. Always a warm welcome and respectful service. Excellent guidance and information throughout the process.’
Key clients
Priory Federation of Academies Trust
Lincoln College
Aspire Multi Academy Trust
Work highlights
- Advised the Priory Federation of Academies on its acquisition of 12 secondary and primary schools in Lincolnshire, including a mixture of community schools and existing academies.
Nelsons Solicitors Limited
Nelsons Solicitors Limited provides a wide range of advice to schools, academies, education providers and senior employees operating in the education sector. The firm handles academy conversions and the formation of multi academy trusts, investigations into misconduct and employment-related matters. Laura Kearsley is the head of the practice.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Communication is a real strength of the teamwork and as a result, service is very rapid and responsive, even when one team member isn’t directly available.’
‘Incredible responsiveness to our individual cases and need. We can always be confident that we have access to timely support. The advice is concise, confident and well explained, but most importantly it responds to the priorities we have when there are alternative choices or options.’