Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP‘s education practice offers a wide range of expertise in educational matters, including freedom of speech, safeguarding, immigration, data protection, regulatory and employment disputes. The practice group is co-led by the Oxford-based Daff Richardson, who specialises in student matters, and the Cambridge-based Hilary Aldred, who focuses on contentious and non-contentious employment work. Pat Saini leads the immigration team and advises on student visas and compliance, while Anna Frankum leads the IP, IT and commercial practice. Sophie Whitbread is another key member of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This team is very friendly and practical in their advice. An absolute pleasure to work with, and I trust them.’
‘A strong education team with great institutional clients and a great breadth and depth of knowledge in the field.’
‘Daff Richardson is excellent, great with clients and a font of knowledge. Hilary Aldred is also very knowledgeable and able.’
‘Hilary Aldred is respected and known throughout the education law arena for being an expert, unpretentious specialist in her field. She gets straight to the point, and her experience is second to none.’
‘Sophie Whitbread is extremely calm under pressure. Her technical expertise makes her stand out from many competitors. She combines that with a pragmatic approach.’
‘Very good knowledge of the education and charities sector. On top of new legislation, particularly around employment.’
‘The team is uniquely experienced in the vagaries of Oxford and Cambridge colleges, their constitutions, and their ways of working. This means that time can be saved in explanation and PMC is able to assess issues quickly and efficiently.’
‘The partners of PMC with whom we interact are highly experienced and knowledgeable in the workings of Oxford and Cambridge colleges. This differentiates them significantly from other firms and means that the process of interaction is efficient, well-informed, and effective.’
Key clients
- American Institute for Foreign Study
- Arnold Lodge
- Chartered Association of Business Schools
- Christ Church, Oxford
- Churchill College, Cambridge
- Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
- Florida State University
- GGE
- Green Templeton College, Oxford
- ICMP Management Limited
- Instituto Maragoni
- Keble College, Oxford
Work highlights
Advising Christ Church on employment and regulatory matters, along with various other issues arising as a result of its governance review.
Advising a number of UK education providers who have faced compliance action or threat of action from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Advising the American Institute for Foreign Study in relation to its data protection compliance, including advice around a new IT system, data subject access requests, revising and updating its privacy policy, and advice on the transfer of student data to Eurail for travel purposes.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Daff Richardson; Hilary Aldred
Other key lawyers
Pat Saini; Anna Frankum; Sophie Whitbread