With ‘extensive expertise in higher and further education’, the market-leading team at Anderson Strathern is regularly instructed by Scotland’s major universities, colleges, and local authorities on the full range of contentious, non-contentious, and administrative matters. Key areas of expertise include college mergers, restructurings and asset transfers. Practice leader Alun Thomas specialises in litigation and mediation, while Catriona Watt spearheads the regulatory team and handles governance and safe guarding issues in the private school sector. Audrey Cameron is another key contact in the group, advising on commercial and procurement-related mandates.
Education in Scotland
Anderson Strathern
Practice head(s):
Alun Thomas
Other key lawyers:
Catriona Watt; Audrey Cameron
Testimonials
‘The team are always responsive and give us helpful, practical advice. They will always provide an assessment of options for each case and will advise on tactics and strategy when asked.’
‘Anderson Strathern have extensive expertise in higher and further education, making them ideal advisers as their knowledge and experience is provided proactively in order that we are best advised.’
‘A well-established team of lawyers, who understand the education sector and the difficulties of operating in the public sector.’
Key clients
University of St Andrews
University of Edinburgh
University of Strathclyde
University of the Highlands and Islands
Glasgow Caledonian University
Edinburgh Napier University
University of West Of Scotland
Glasgow School of Art
Ayrshire College
Edinburgh College
Fife College
Glasgow Clyde College
New College Lanarkshire
North Highland College
Moray College UHI
South Lanarkshire College
West College Scotland
Inverness College
Gateshead College
Independent Schools
Fettes College
St Leonards School
Gordonstoun
Merchiston Castle School
St George’s School
Bellhaven Hill School
Fairview International School
Loaningdale School
Glasgow College Regional Board
Skills Development Scotland
Out of School Scotland
College Development Network
Local Authorities
City of Edinburgh Council
Midlothian Council
Fife Council
West Lothian Council
Falkirk Council
North Lanarkshire Council
Brodies LLP
Brodies LLP is noted for its ‘excellent technical expertise’ in handling a broad range of matters for major Scottish higher education institutions. Niall McLean jointly leads the team alongside Brenda Scott, providing support on commercial mandates and student misconduct cases. Chair Christine O’Neill
is another active member of the team, advising educational authorities on IP, employment and regulatory matters. Showcasing a ‘breadth of expertise’, Kirstyn Burke assists on major governance issues and Lynne Marr advises on discrimination-related matters.
Practice head(s):
Niall McLean; Brenda Scott
Other key lawyers:
Christine O’Neill; Kirstyn Burke; Lynne Marr
Testimonials
‘The Brodies team provide both sage advice and excellent customer service. They marry the ability to help steer through complex legal matters with a can-do approach to client work.’
‘Christine O’Neill is always a pleasure to work with, as she marries sound advice with a real sensibility for both the legal and non-legal aspects of the matters in hand. She is also unfailingly patient with our questions and offers a flexibility and availability that, for someone so eminent, is both remarkable and highly valued.’
‘The team at Brodies are excellent at working in partnership and have developed a genuine and deep understanding for the work we do.’
‘Niall McLean is impressive, with excellent technical knowledge and a calm demeanor.’
‘Kirstyn Burke is a pleasure to deal with and always has the answers to questions. She has a real breadth of expertise and works tirelessly to help clients achieve their aims.’
‘The Brodies team is extremely responsive, even where time is of the essence. They have excellent technical expertise and deliver clear, concise, pragmatic advice.’
Work highlights
- Advising the University of Edinburgh across a broad range of matters, with particular experience advising on governance and student issues.
- Advising the SQA as a core participant in the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry.
- Advising University of Aberdeen on a wide range of real estate and construction related matters.
Burness Paull LLP
Burness Paull LLP stands out for its expertise in public law and regulatory compliance matters, regularly advising higher education institutions, funding councils and colleges on a range of advisory and transactional mandates. Practice leader Hazel Moffat’s client roster includes student loan companies and educational regulatory bodies. Scott Peterkin leads the property department and handles real estate transactions, while James Forbes focuses on construction and infrastructure projects within the education sector. The team is also well-equipped to advise on immigration compliance cases, joint venture interests, and sales and purchases of land. Fiona Killen departed for Harper Macleod LLP in June 2023.
Practice head(s):
Hazel Moffat
Other key lawyers:
Scott Peterkin; James Forbes
Testimonials
‘The team are responsive and knowledgeable.’
‘Knowledgeable, helpful, professional and responsive.’
Key clients
University of the West of Scotland
University of St Andrews
Robert Gordon’s College
North East Scotland College
The UNITE UK student Accommodation Fund
University of Dundee
Work highlights
- Advised University of Dundee on immigration-related matters.
- Advising Harlow College on employment advice, immigration, and nationality matters in respect of staff and students.
- Advising University of St. Andrews in respect of their interests in joint ventures for the development of land for University facilities.
CMS
CMS is well-regarded for its experience in servicing both Scottish and English higher education clients on a wide spectrum of commercial law and IP matters. In addition to advising on strategic partnerships and technology transfers under the leadership of Carina Healy, the team also handles commercial property transactions and property portfolios for local councils. Darina Kerr regularly assists with negotiating contractual leasing and developmental frameworks, while antitrust and competition expert Graeme Young assists with subsidy control mandates.
Practice head(s):
Carina Healy
Other key lawyers:
Darina Kerr; Graeme Young
Testimonials
‘The team know the sector well and are always happy to look at innovative ways to get projects and work completed.’
Key clients
University of Glasgow
University of Sheffield
University College London
Heriot-Watt University
University of St. Andrews
University of Durham
Fife College
Glasgow School of Art
Work highlights
- Advising UCL on high profile academic research collaborations.
- Advised the University of Sheffield on a high value disposal of patents.
Shepherd and Wedderburn
The education practice at Shepherd and Wedderburn is situated within the firm's wider immigration, infrastructure, and employment offering. Jointly steered by Neil Maclean, Malcolm Rust, Joanna Boag-Thomson, Keir Willox and Matt Phillip, the practice is well-equipped to advise major Scottish universities and councils on pension schemes, venture investment funds and IP matters. Additionally, the group advises on the full scope of regulatory compliance matters. Private client specialist Heather Bird is also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Neil Maclean; Malcolm Rust; Joanna Boag-Thomson; Keir Willox; Matt Phillip
Other key lawyers:
Heather Bird
Testimonials
‘Good knowledge of the education sector.’
‘Neil Maclean provides clear and useful advice, and when in-person makes appropriate use of good humour and approachability which can make sometimes challenging topics more accessible and palatable.’
‘The team are always available. They respond to e-mails and make themselves available for a call when required.’
Work highlights
- Advising West Lothian Council on a number of projects involving Design and Build Development Agreements in respect of new schools.
- Advising South Ayrshire Council in relation to the variation to the Design and Build Development Agreement for Maybole Community Campus.
- Providing immigration advice to a number of Russell Group universities.
Thorntons Law LLP
Thorntons Law LLP showcases ‘specialist knowledge of the sector’, advising numerous Scottish higher education institutions on a broad range of corporate governance issues. Robbie Francis jointly leads the team alongside head of employment Noele McClelland, assisting clients with mergers, restructurings, and structural and funding matters. Accredited employment law specialist Debbie Fellows handles contentious discrimination cases and is another key contact in the group.
Practice head(s):
Robbie Francis; Noele McClelland
Other key lawyers:
Debbie Fellows
Testimonials
‘Specialist knowledge of the sector.’
‘The practice has a diverse range of skills and expertise.’
Key clients
Abertay University
University of Stirling
University of the Highlands and Islands
Glasgow School of Art
Robert Gordon University
University of St Andrews
The James Hutton Institute
City of Glasgow College
Dundee & Angus College
Perth College
Borders College
Dumfries & Galloway College
Glasgow Kelvin College
The High School of Dundee
Colleges Scotland
Work highlights
- Advised West Highland College UHI on their tripartite merger with North Highland College and Lews Castle College.
- Advised Glasgow School of Art on sale of two buildings to a developer of student accommodation.
- Advising the James Hutton Institute on development of a solar energy project.
Morton Fraser MacRoberts
Morton Fraser MacRoberts counts schools, colleges, and various education boards among its key roster of clients, advising on international partnership, brand protection matters, and governance matters. The team also acts for student financial services clients in employment tribunals and, in addition to representing clients in Court of Sessions proceedings regarding occupational hazards on campuses. David Gourlay leads the team, with other key contacts including, Kenny Scott, Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor and Sarah Gilzean.
Practice head(s):
David Gourlay
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Gilzean; Kenny Scott; Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor
Testimonials
‘A group of high calibre professionals, consistently able to provide advice on a wide range of matters. They know our school well and tailor their advice accordingly.’
‘Sarah Gilzean knows our business, our ethos and our approach, and she consistently delivers advice in line with our appetite for risk. An exceptional professional.’
‘Commercially astute and responsive to the client’s needs.’
‘Strong team of individuals across all areas relevant to education and they interact extremely well with each other and with clients.’
‘David Gourlay always comes in with a positive mindset, really focusing on how to help and how to solve things. He is calm, professional and friendly.’
‘A medium-sized practice with wide experience of the independent education sector in Edinburgh, with long experience and knowledge of our school.’
Key clients
Ministry of Defence
Student Loans Company Limited
University of West of Scotland
Dollar Academy
Community Enterprise in Scotland
Sumdog Limited
Work highlights
- Assisted the Ministry of Justice and a school with legal issues arising from the historic treatment of children.
- Acting for Student Loan’s Company on a variety of matters, including an Employment Tribunal involving a claim for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claims and on all aspects of the development and lease of a new 75,000 sq ft Headquarters building and contracts for the subsequent fitting out of the building.
- Acting for University of West of Scotland in relation to multiple Court of Session proceedings concerning nickel sulphide inclusion defects in the glazing units at their Lanarkshire Campus and in relation to the sale of part of the former university campus at Hamilton Green, Almada Street, Hamilton for redevelopment.
Pinsent Masons LLP
Pinsent Masons LLP maintains a strong educational offering catered to higher education institutions in Scotland and England, advising on strategic and transformational technology matters. Praised as ‘personable and knowledgeable’, Chris Martin leads the team, and infrastructure specialist Chris Owens’ ‘experience and commercial know how is second to none’ in public and private sector transactions. Joanne McIntosh is another key member of the group.
Practice head(s):
Chris Martin
Other key lawyers:
Chris Owens: Joanne McIntosh
Testimonials
‘A very experienced, friendly and impressive team, with the geographical reach and in-house resource and expertise to be able to deliver effective end-to-end services to education sector clients. The team is proactive and good at anticipating client needs.’
‘Chris Owens is a standout individual.’
‘Chris Martin is very personable and knowledgeable. He is adept at anticipating client needs and leads a responsive team.’
Key clients
University of Edinburgh
Jisc
Roslin Institute
University of Birmingham
Coventry University
University of Sussex
University of Lincoln
University of London
University of Manchester
Old College Capital LP
Smart Data Foundry
Heriot-Watt University
Aston University
University of Nottingham
Manchester Metropolitan University
Work highlights
- Advising the University of Manchester on a student accommodation project.
- Advising on an academic collaboration agreement with the University of Sussex, Queens University Belfast, and a student clinical placement agreement in Morocco.