Education

Education - illustration

The UK education and research sector is internationally renowned. Our market-leading team assists clients in managing the complexities of the rapidly changing legal, commercial and regulatory landscape.

Education and research transform lives and play a vital role in the flourishing of the UK economy and civic society, operating at the forefront of scientific, medical and technological development.

Educational institutions inhabit the intersection of the public, private and charity sectors, creating a unique combination of legal and regulatory issues.

We have the breadth of experience to help our clients operate successfully in this challenging environment.

Our team of education lawyers are recognised as a leading provider of legal services to the sector, acting for over 120 universities, colleges, national agencies, academies, educational businesses and charities across the UK.

Our education lawyers

Our lawyers invest in long-term client relationships and in understanding the policy, regulatory and commercial context our clients need to operate within.

Our education sector experience

As market-leading advisors to the sector, here are some examples of our work:

  • Strategy and conduct of matters: We advise on new institutions, commercial operations, acquisitions, finance/banking, campus redevelopment, student disciplinary issues, research misconduct, FOI and data protection issues, equality and human rights, consumer law, immigration compliance, fitness to practise, pensions and employment issues, charity law, education regulation, procurement, health and safety/inquests, mergers and restructuring, student union issues, litigation.
  • International issues: We collaborate with overseas partners, set up international campuses and handle contentious matters involving jurisdictions around the world. We guided London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in acquiring African research units and advise King’s College London on its international collaborations.
  • Bonds and private placements: We have developed these for the universities of Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Manchester and Southampton, and a number of leading schools.
  • Student accommodation projects: Work in this area includes a £130million project for the University of Hull in collaboration with student accommodation provider, UPP and a £90million project for UCL.
  • Mergers: We helped the Institute of Education merge with University College London. We advised on the merger between St George's, University of London and City, University of London to create a 'health powerhouse'.
  • Academies: We have acted for Academies Enterprise Trust and London Academies Enterprise Trust on every one of their academy conversions and rebrokerages.

The clients we have provided education law advice for

We act for over 120 education institutions, including universities, colleges, independent schools and academies. Clients having received our education legal advice include:

  • University of Cambridge
  • Birmingham City University
  • The Royal Veterinary College
  • The University of Manchester
  • The British Council
  • The Association of Colleges
  • Bolton College
  • Academies Enterprise Trust
  • Uppingham School

Legal resources for the education sector you may find useful

Education blog: bringing together the latest public, private and charity law updates for the education sector.

We are also a corporate partner to the Higher Education Policy Institute, the only independent UK HE policy think tank.

We are proud to be national sponsors of AHUA (the Association of Heads of University Administration) and, as part of that, we prepare a bi-monthly Education and Research Sector Legal Update for their members. Please click here for access to these.

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