Ben Wood > Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP > Leeds, England > Lawyer Profile

Counting higher education and further education providers, schools, academies and private education institutions among its key roster of clients, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP advises on employment matters, charity law issues, litigation and dispute management cases, real estate mandates, corporate and commercial matters, health and safety issues, and regulatory work, among others. The practice is also well-placed to leverage the firm’s international footprint to act for education institutions globally. Praised as ‘incredibly knowledgeable and technically excellent’, Chris Mordue spearheads the offering in Leeds alongside ‘standout partner’ Ben Wood. Charlotte Tanikal, who advises independent schools, academies, further education and higher education clients on real estate matters, is another key contact in the group.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP attracts a range of high-profile clients through the combination of its ‘commercial and practical understanding’ of employment law matters and the firm’s international footprint. Industrial relations, board-level exits, and tribunal work are particular strengths of the practice, as is the education sector, which is managed by its own separate team. Operating out of Leeds, practice head Paul Cotton specialises in the employment aspects of M&A transactions, particularly TUPE matters, reorganisations, and redundancies, while Chris Mordue remains eminent nationally in the higher education space, with recent activity in industrial action mandates. Other lawyers of note include Simon Rice-Birchall and his work around minimum wage compliance; Lousie Lightfoot, whose strengths are in immigration and multi-jurisdictional projects; and Ben Wood, who specialises in the education sector.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides ‘knowledgeable, professional, and pragmatic‘ advice to a wide range of state and private schools across the full range of education law, with a particular capacity for advising multi-academy trusts on conversions and acquisitions, restructuring matters, and contentious and non-contentious issues in relation to safeguarding and student inclusivity. The team is also well-regarded for its advice on employment matters, having been instructed to advise on industrial actions, restructuring programs, exits from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, and employment tribunal claims. The team is co-led by Diane Gilhooley, who has vast experience handling high-profile education governance and employment matters, and Ben Wood, who regularly handles academy conversions and is also a key contact for contentious student and staff matters. Further key contacts in the team include Nicola Bennison, who has advised on complex safeguarding and admissions issues, and real estate expert Charlotte Tanikal.