Daff Richardson > Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP > Oxford, England > Lawyer Profile

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a well-known name among universities, for whom it handles banking and finance, dispute resolution and employment law work. Led by the ‘outstanding‘ Daff Richardson in Oxford, the practice has a niche reputational management sub-group, which assists clients with student-related issues and social media matters. In Cambridge, Hilary Aldred is a go-to for advice on contentious and non-contentious employment issues. Also recommended are immigration head Pat Saini and Hazar El-Chamaa, who advise London-based universities on student visa matters.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP advises a diverse range of clients, including educational institutions and training providers, public service and membership organisations, and ecclesiastical and faith-based organisations, as well as private individuals and philanthropic bodies. The team’s expertise spans constitutional and governance advice through to serious incident reporting and safeguarding issues. Other strengths lie in advising on data protection and complex legacy disputes. Henrietta Mason heads the team, which also includes Daff Richardson, who predominantly acts for higher education institutions.

At Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, the education group has a wide offering spanning areas such as employment, data privacy and data protection, immigration and corporate governance. The firm also has a specialist safeguarding sub-group that acts for schools and individuals in contentious student issues and historical abuse. The practice is jointly led by Hilary Aldred, Daff Richardson and Reading-based Gemma Woodhouse. Pat Saini and Hazar El-Chamaa are also recommended.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP‘s standout education practice is known for handling matters for higher education clients including several Russell Group universities. The team’s offering covers the full gamut of issues from corporate mandates to litigation, and also assists clients requiring governance and regulatory expertise. Practice head Daff Richardson also has employment law experience and undertakes advisory and data protection mandates.

With offices in Oxford and Reading, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP offers comprehensive employment advice to clients from sectors including social housing, education, technology and construction. Daff Richardson co-leads the education sector group and provides guidance on business protection issues, reorganisations, restructurings, and senior executive appointments and departures. Eugene Wojciechowski advises on employment tribunal hearings, including those relating to complex unlawful discrimination and whistleblowing claims. David Bickford, Chris Syder  and Gemma Woodhouse  all joined the team in 2019, having relocated from the Basingstoke office. Senior associate Victoria Spires is a name to note.