Your challenges
Universities and higher education institutions are complex bodies, being self-governing organisations, yet most receive public funds and have charitable status. Public law and charity law require a university to act within its powers and to discharge its fiduciary obligations. Constitutional issues are integral to many projects undertaken by a university whether it be the establishment of a joint venture, a capital project for student accommodation, student disciplinary procedures or the arrangement of banking facilities. Higher education institutions need to have dealings with many outside organisations and regulatory bodies, such as the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Quality Assurance Agency, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator and professional bodies.
Achieving your ambitions
Our clients cover the full spread of constitutional arrangements, including those established by Royal Charter, statutory corporations and charitable companies. We have assisted clients to change from one status to another (for example, to become incorporated) and to modernise their constitutional documents, liaising with the Privy Council and other relevant agencies as appropriate. We regularly assist our university clients with urgent advice such as advising on judicial review and terrorism legislation.
The strength you need
Acting for the higher education sector has been core business for us for many years. Our specialist public law and regulatory team is led by two partners who are recognised as experts in this area. We have been involved in several test cases in the courts on public law issues over the years and worked with sector organisations on various guidance notes. Additional support on specific projects is also available from our charities, banking, PFI and corporate teams. We have excellent links with specialist public law barristers' chambers.
Lawyers you can trust
Gary Attle leads our University Business Group and is recognised by the independent legal directories as "one of the best education lawyers around" with a "grasp of education law that is second to none". He has also recently been a director and charity trustee of the Higher Education Academy, with hands-on experience of constitutional and regulatory matters. Richard Sykes leads our Birmingham public law and regulatory team and is also recognised as a leading individual in the higher education sector by the legal directories. In a recent client survey, one client commented: "an excellent working relationship over the last decade."