Morgan West > Harrison Clark Rickerbys > Cheltenham, England > Lawyer Profile

Led by Ben Thomas, the Cheltenham real estate team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys has a focus on real estate finance and education sector mandates, advising independent schools, academies, and further education providers. This forms a cornerstone of the firm’s broader practice that covers commercial property transactions, such as leases, acquisitions and sales, and development work. Thomas specialises in a range of asset management and landlord and tenant issues, particularly in the retail sector, while Mark Carter handles development, finance, and refinancing mandates, and Morgan West is central to the practice’s education and charity sector offering.

Highly regarded for representing various independent schools in a wide range of matters, including Teachers’ Pension Scheme withdrawal, sensitive safeguarding issues and the issue of national strike action, Harrison Clark Rickerbys‘ education department is adept in transactions, trustee advice, data protection, employment and specialist education sector legal and regulatory counsel. Cheltenham-based Kristine Scott leads the practice, advising on a range of specialist education matters, in safeguarding, including sensitive dismissals, pupil exclusions and parental complaints. Rachel Parkin and Oliver Daniels are recognised for their expertise in employment law and teachers’ strike guidance. Emma Swann assists maintained schools, academies, independent schools and colleges on a wide range of issues, while real estate specialist Morgan West is a key figure for land transactions and academy conversions. Senior associate Paul Watkins is noted for his data protection work.