Engaged by multi-academy trusts, sixth form colleges and maintained independent schools, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP handles academy conversions, governance and regulatory matters. Ben Wood advises across governance and employment for a diverse range of school types. Nicola Bennison specialises in student issues and employment law, with depth in senior management, equality, admissions, exclusions and SEND. Diane Gilhooley covers contentious and non-contentious employment law and education governance. Carly Fishwick focuses on judicial review, Equality Act challenges and estate management. Christine Pilbrow handles mergers, joint ventures and commercial contracts. Alice Townley Smith advises on education, student and employment matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Education and real estate practices are good. Responsiveness and effectiveness are better than other firms we have used.
- Clear and relevant guidance is provided, with paraphrasing and explanations in layman's terms.
- The service always feels personal. The team consists of specialists within key areas, and thus you feel supported by experts. The service we experience is extremely efficient, and we have confidence in all advice given.
- Understanding the education sector and the ability to quickly grasp the organization's culture and policies.
- The team's understanding of the education sector is very beneficial. The team is very responsive, which is what is needed when dealing with legal matters.
- Charlotte Tanikal, who is our school's link for liaison, is brilliant at listening to the school's needs and advising accordingly. She takes the time to fully understand issues and connects us with appropriate colleagues quickly. She adopts a partnership approach to working, which really gives me confidence in her. I'd also like to thank Marc Moutran -fantastic attention to detail. He resolved a potentially difficult issue with great planning and a meticulous and careful approach.
- The team possesses a wealth of expertise and experience across a vast spectrum of education-based matters. The response time is exceptional, especially in time-critical environments. The guidance and support we have received have always been clear, practical, and supportive. Eversheds stands out for its level of partner involvement, responsiveness, and consistency of service. Matters are not delegated and forgotten; partners remain actively engaged, while associates operate with a high degree of autonomy. Advice is concise, decisive, and focused on achieving outcomes rather than generating unnecessary complexity.
Key clients
- LEAD Academy Trust
- Nova Education Trust
- ASC International Schools
- Beacon Multi Academy Trust
- Batley Multi Academy Trust
- Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust
- Frontier Learning Trust
- The Wensum Trust
- Haberdashers’ Aske’s Federation Trust
- Trinitas Academy Trust
- Twyford Church of England Academies Trust
- Windsor Learning Partnership Beyond Schools Trust
- The Harmony Trust
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Ben Wood; Nicola Bennison
Other key lawyers
Diane Gillhooley; Carly Fishwick; Christine Pilbrow; Alice Townley-Smith