Muckle LLP’s education team is known for providing comprehensive support to clients across the education sector, including higher and further education institutions, multi-academy and single-academy trusts, maintained and independent schools, nurseries, and training providers. The practice is co-led by Tony McPhillips, who oversees key client relationships across the sector; Joanne Davison, who advises on complex and high-profile projects including academy conversions; and Jill Donabie, who leads on both contentious and non-contentious matters. The wider team includes Richard Nixon, Samantha Pritchard and Chris Hook, who respectively bring property, charity law, and governance expertise to education clients.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Tony McPhillips is a highly experienced and able lawyer. He is always focused on solutions and resolution, explains clearly and articulately the potential risks and benefits of alternatives before proposing an approach. He has been a most trusted adviser over many years, and his knowledge of our business has been a critical part of our success in overcoming challenges in recent years.’
- ‘The team has provided a full service with expertise across our needs from employment and industrial relations to policy formulation and contract disputes.'
- ‘I always get a clear response from Chris Hook, Tony McPhillips, and Jill Donabie. They are able to give me a sound understanding of the risk and a way forward. They also take some of the strain and deal with things directly, which saves me a job.’
- ‘I find the range of legal expertise to be very helpful and a core strength of the team. They also know our needs well and clearly communicate with each other.’
- ‘Joanne Davison is our specialist business area contact partner, her knowledge is second to none in her specialism, and her easy and relaxed manner makes her a pleasure to work with.’
- ‘The team at Muckle that we work with regularly have excellent knowledge of our business area - they can always answer those specialist questions that are unique to our business area.'
Key clients
- NCG
- Tyne Coast College
- Bishop Auckland College
- Bournemouth and Poole College
- New College Durham
- Newcastle University
- University of Northumbria
- Sunderland University
- Spurgeon’s College
- Smart Multi Academy Trust
- Sedbergh School
- Dame Allan’s Schools
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Tony McPhillips
Joanne Davison
Practice head
Tony McPhillips; Joanne Davison; Jill Donabie
Other key lawyers
Richard Nixon; Samantha Pritchard; Chris Hook