Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has built a strong reputation for its higher education focus, advising across employment, immigration, litigation, real estate and governance mandates. The national education sector group is led by Nicola Bennison, while Diane Gilhooley chairs the group, advising on employment matters and the related litigation, both nationally and internationally. Robert Gray leads the Manchester education practice, with a focus on complex university employment issues, spanning tribunal claims, restructurings, governance issues and workforce compliance. Laura Marsh advises on both contentious and non-contentious discrimination matters, organisational changes and TUPE, with regular Employment Tribunal work. Kim Findlow is regularly instructed on discrimination issues ranging from misconduct issues to mental health and suicide risk. Carly Fishwick primarily acts in class actions and judicial review proceedings for education institutions.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The team is very responsive, providing pragmatic advice and highlighting the legal risks around various possible courses of action. Communications are very clear and timely. The team is adept at digesting large amounts of material in complex cases and distilling the main issues.
- Rob Gray is readily available, often at short notice, and always provides thoughtful, well-balanced advice. Rob really understands our organization and its culture and can adapt his advice to reflect our style and preferred approaches to difficult employment issues.
- The team assigned to us is really responsive, knowledgeable, and considerate in their advice and approach. We have always been able to get clear advice in a timely manner that has enabled us to manage risk. The team is always clear in presenting us with risk-based options to enable us to make informed decisions.
- Chris Mordue for superb insight and understanding of the sector and ability to translate to commercial advice. Kuljeet Gill for the ability to deal with complex projects and focus on key commercial points to help achieve objectives. Rob Gray for approachability and for helping us to problem-solve.
- The sector insight and breadth of experience in the HE sector are extremely valuable.
Key clients
- University of Manchester
- Telford College
- Lancaster University
- Independent Higher Education
- London South Bank University
- University of Salford
- Loughborough University
- University of Lancashire
- Middlesex University
- the Trafford and Stockport College Group
- Bolton Sixth Form College
- The Sixth Form Colleges Association
- Grwp Llandrillo Menai
- Hugh Baird College
- Wirral Metropolitan College
Work highlights
Advised a number of the UK’s leading universities on their implementation of a range of institution-wide redundancy, restructuring and outsourcing arrangements, as part of their response to sector-wide funding pressures.
Represented a UK university in a major £12m development dispute.
Advised multiple universities nationally on their response to the implementation of broad-ranging and inter-related new regulatory obligations relating to sexual harassment and freedom of speech.
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.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Robert Gray; Diane Gilhooley; Nicola Bennison
Other key lawyers
Laura Marsh; Kim Findlow; Carly Fishwick