Univ Prof Dr Virginia Cooper > Bevan Brittan LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Bevan Brittan LLP‘s education team provides ‘high quality advice and an excellent service‘ across the full range of education matters, with clients such as Swansea University and the University of West London instructing the firm in contentious and non-contentious mandates related to procurements and campus construction projects, student safeguarding issues, educational partnerships, and Equality Act compliance. The nationwide team is co-led by London-based lawyer Virginia Cooper, who acts for universities in sensitive contract disputes and student claims, and employment specialist Ashley Norman, who practices from Birmingham. Educational governance and regulations expert Amy Tschobotko is also recommended.

Bevan Brittan LLP retains a ‘very skilled and knowledgeable‘ local government practice that counts London Boroughs as well as city and councils across the country in its client roster. The team is particularly experienced at advising on development and infrastructure projects and is regularly instructed to handle the construction, procurement, and property aspects of educational and cultural projects. Birmingham-based partner Ash Woodcock leads the team, which also handles contentious and non-contentious work in relation to external audits as well as disputes related to local government powers. In London, Steven Smith is a key contact for development and regeneration schemes, while David Moore is noted for his public finance experience and Melanie Carter regularly acts on high-profile auditing matters. London-based partners Virginia Cooper and Olivia Carter are also recommended for their experience acting in disputes and judicial reviews related to jurisdictional and statutory power matters. Longstanding team member David Hutton retired in May 2023.

Having established a leading reputation for high-profile public work spanning both advisory mandates and judicial reviews, Bevan Brittan LLP offers specialists across a number of key sectors, including local government, healthcase, financial services and education. Inquiries and investigations are another key area of strength. Practice head Virginia Cooper has extensive experience handling complex regulatory matters, jurisdiction consultation duties and judicial review challenges. Melanie Carter joined from Bates Wells in August 2022 and is a leading authority on public sector audit governing, while Olivia Carter has developed a specialism in NHS commissioning issues. Amy Tschobotko regularly handles public law and regulatory cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Stuart Marchant has particular expertise in healthcare and social care.