OVERVIEW

Our Higher Education team has a long history of acting for a large number of leading establishments across the education sector, including state and independent schools, further education colleges, and universities.

The team comprises leading lawyers with relevant expertise from across the firm, from charities, governance and pensions, employment and immigration, to commercial, GDPR, property and construction specialists.

We provide strategic and expert advice to guide institutions through any issue they face, no matter how complex or sensitive. We ensure our advice is solution-focused and provides practical recommendations on how best to proceed. We work in genuine partnership with our clients, building long-term trusted adviser relationships with them to best understand their objectives and help them achieve their goals.

Our specialisms include:

Employment and Equality Law Matters

  • Advising on employee relations matters, including Trade Union recognition, collective bargaining, managing strikes and action short of strikes
  • Discrimination matters involving both staff and students
  • Unfair dismissal and other Employment Tribunal claims
  • Dealing with allegations of bullying and harassment
  • Academic Freedom
  • Research and other misconduct
  • Advising on contracts and other legal and regulatory issues for employees working abroad
  • Pensions

Immigration

  • Hiring non-UK national employees
  • Advising in relation to non-UK student issues

Construction & Property

  • Acting for local authorities, funders or developers building new schools
  • Acting for student accommodation providers
  • Acting for parties in disputes regarding PFI contracts

Corporate/commercial

  • Assisting with spin-outs and restructuring
  • Mergers, acquisitions and disposals
  • Research contracts and funding agreements

Data Protection and Intellectual Property

  • GDPR, privacy and subject access requests
  • Impact of Artificial Intelligence
  • Protecting and commercialising IP

Charities and governance

  • Advising on legacy and donation issues
  • Advising on Charitable Trustee duties
  • Compliance with procurement and other regulatory requirements
  • Student disciplinary matters
  • Compliance with, and making changes to, Ordinances
  • Election, roles and responsibilities of Senior Governors

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.