Browne Jacobson LLP’s education team advises on a broad range of complex issues affecting trusts, schools, institutions and students. The Manchester practice is led by Dai Durbridge, who focuses on safeguarding and governance audits for schools, academies and sixth form colleges. Polly O’Malley has a strong contentious and regulatory practice, advising on industrial action, trade union engagement and restructuring, alongside child safeguarding dispute advice. Claire Archibald has a core advisory role for schools and universities with a particular focus on Data Use and Access Act changes. Beth Paliga specialises in data protection issues, guiding clients through FOI campaigns brought by parents and staff.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The team (Bettina Rigg, Kate Gallagher, and Ben Greene) has a strong focus on client service and is very keen to understand and deliver against client priorities, both through fee-earning work and through value-added activities. They are careful in their work and transparent about fees.
- Ben Greene is very diligent and sensible. He has a good manner with clients, and his advocacy is excellent (for example, at preliminary hearings). Bettina Rigg is intelligent and gives good strategic direction. She has a good sense of when to become involved and when to trust her junior colleagues to ensure matters are handled efficiently and effectively. Kate Gallagher brings a wealth of experience in the higher education sector and an understanding of how to translate black letter law into pragmatic and workable solutions.
- The team is headed up by Dai Durbridge, and it has great access to lawyers who know the field of education very well. The team can cover all the bases, from safeguarding through to complex land transactions and everything in between. They are prompt at providing advice and action; the advice is considered and robust. The team is good at framing an argument but also challenging on outcomes that would not be in the best interests of the Trust.
- From my experience as a client, this practice stands out because it combines strong specialist expertise with a straightforward, organized way of working that makes even complex legal matters manageable; communication is consistent and clear, the team explains options without jargon, and work is handled efficiently without unnecessary delays. Potential clients would want to know that the advice is practical, realistic, and grounded in a solid understanding of the relevant processes, and that the team remains calm and solutions-focused even when issues are time-sensitive or high-pressure. Compared with larger firms, the service feels more consistent and personal, without losing the depth of knowledge you’d expect, and compared with smaller firms, there is a clear advantage in their specialist capability and procedural awareness. The practice also brings in sensible innovations, transparent and predictable fee structures, effective use of technology for document sharing and communication, and a collaborative, inclusive working style that supports both efficiency and a positive client experience.
- They are incredibly knowledgeable about all things education. They are approachable and caring to all clients.
Work highlights
Conducted an independent investigation for an independent school following complaints raised by solicitors representing two sets of high-profile parents.
Provided cyberattack support to a large number of trusts and schools, following a nationwide data breach to Online SCR.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Dai Durbridge
Other key lawyers
Polly O'Malley; Claire Archibald; Beth Paliga