Back to rankings
England - North West • Public sector
1

Education

Forbes Solicitors

More information
Praised for being ‘consistently pragmatic, thoughtful and solution-focused’ Forbes Solicitors routinely provides employment, dispute resolution, governance, procurement, contracts, safeguarding and risk management advice. The practice represents a range of further education colleges, multi-academy trusts, schools and independent schools. Jonathan Holden leads the national education practice, while key names in the Northwest include Ruth Rule-Mullen, who is highly experienced in public sector employment including various employment tribunal claims, Laura McHugh, who also handles employment claims and governance matters, whilst Gemma Duxbury advises on regeneration and development schemes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The solicitors are friendly and professional. They are readily on hand to answer any queries. they speak in plain English - not overly legal jargon.’

  • ‘Ridwan Omaar is the main solicitor I deal with. He has been a huge support to the defendants and has kept me informed at all times over several years.’

  • ‘They are incredibly responsive - they can be out at a conference but will try to accommodate your request to speak to them. Very friendly and personable and provide clear options for us as the client to consider.’

  • ‘The speed of response for me is second to none - either the offer of a teams call to discuss or a detailed email response but always very responsive. The practice is thorough and diligent in their work and get to understand the trust they are working with.’

  • ‘The detail and thoroughness of the work done is very high. The practice is responsive to requests and deals with the others parties in an ongoing basis without the need to constant refer back to the client, other than when it is necessary to do so.’
  • ‘Forbes provides highly responsive and reliable legal support to our Multi-Academy Trust. What sets their practice apart is not only their strong sector knowledge, but the way they apply it in a thoughtful and practical manner, with a clear understanding of the education landscape.’

Key clients

  • Bishop Frazer Trust
  • Blackburn College
  • Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
  • Bolton School
  • Calday Grange Grammar
  • Chaigeley School
  • Chesterfield College
  • Cidari
  • Community First Academy Trust
  • Edapt
  • Education Partnership Trust
  • Lostock Hall Academy

Work highlights

Acting for the lead supervising teacher on an organised school trip to France, who faced involuntary manslaughter charges when a student tragically drowned whilst swimming in a lake.
Instructed to act for Cidari Multi Academy Trust in defending claims brought to employment tribunal by the Deputy Head teacher of one of the schools within the trust, including claims for disability discrimination, unfair dismissal by reason of redundancy, breach of contract and personal injury.
Advised Herts for Learning on a complex matter concerning the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Practice head

Jonathan Holden

Other key lawyers

Ruth Rule-Mullen; Laura McHugh; Gemma Duxbury; Ridwaan Omar