Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education): London & UK-wide

Beachcroft maintains an enviable reputation as a first-choice team for numerous institutions and regulators across a wide range of education law issues. Recent notable work has included advising health authorities on the commissioning of medical education, advising on pension liabilities funding, and working on the establishment of both the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) and the Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA). It also continues to handle a variety of issues on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. One source summed its service up as the "Beachcroft security blanket," adding that it is a group of "solid, reliable and incredibly bright lawyers." On November 1st, Davies Arnold Cooper will merge with Beachcroft. The resulting firm will be known as DAC Beachcroft LLP.

Client Service "It is extremely responsive and technically very knowledgeable."

Commercial Awareness "The group is right on the button commercially."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Julian Gizzi is well regarded for his public sector work on behalf of higher education institutions. Sources describe him as "incredibly academic and learned" as well as praising his persistence when it comes to solving complex problems. Team head Stephen Hocking is a highly experienced practitioner, particularly when it comes to strategic issues in higher education; clients agree that they have "utter confidence" in his advice.

This team draws compliments for its breadth of sector knowledge, its high-profile work and its increasingly international scope. Over the last year it has assisted several UK universities in their international partnerships and collaborations; work in this area includes advising UCL on establishing a Qatari campus. In terms of further education work, it is advising colleges on shared services and outsourcing and has added numerous new clients to its roster including Barnet College, Stockport College and Leeds City College. It also regularly acts for private sector providers such as The Apollo Group.

Commercial Awareness "It is one of the few firms to have a real pedigree in this specific area."

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Boardman has been advising education clients for over 30 years, and is particularly highlighted for his expertise in governance issues. Interviewees agree that nationwide group head Diane Gilhooley deserves recognition for her work on education-related employment matters. Glynne Stanfield leads the governance and international education departments, and sources are enormously impressed with his experience handling mergers, whilst Siân Jones-Davies is admired for her student disputes and regulations practice. Senior statesman John Hall earns admiration for his long-established reputation in the field.

This team is a major national player in the education sector. It operates out of offices in Cambridge and Birmingham, and areas of expertise include employment, student disputes, joint ventures, IP and data protection. Recent highlights include acting for Imperial College London in its recently announced Qatari biobank, handling several student accommodation projects and developing a business structure to support one of the first further education institutions to be run as a joint venture. It also regularly acts for private education providers such as BPP.

Client Service "It takes a seamlessly helpful, friendly and responsive approach."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Gary Attle is head of the university business group, and sources praise his client relation skills, commenting that he is "extremely attentive and proactive." Clients are quick to recommend Richard Sykes for his work in student disciplinary matters, saying he "bends over backwards to accommodate us."

This team has built an impressive reputation in the higher and further education sector for its high-quality offering at both the domestic and international levels, with overseas networks and offices throughout the Middle East and Asia. Recently it has been advising a China-based business school on establishing an institution in London. As it's a full-service firm, clients can also draw on expertise from its pensions, financial services, banking, tax, charity and property teams.

Commercial Awareness "It doesn't just stop at the letter of the law, but takes it through to what the given situation demands."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The highly esteemed and "extremely approachable" Nicola Hart heads the group, and is particularly highlighted for her advice to universities on mergers, joint ventures, student disputes and governance issues. Stefan Paciorek is a skilled litigator who receives client recognition for "providing a lot of very helpful support."

This dedicated group of specialists has a high profile in the further and higher education sector. It has advised on several joint ventures and demergers, and is appointed to numerous education panels including the London Universities Purchasing Consortium. Recent new client wins include the University of Cambridge and Nottingham University. In terms of international work it has assisted two universities in setting up bases in China, as well as advising on collaborations in Greece and Italy and handling a college's establishment of an academy in India. On 1st December 2011, Martineau merged with Sprecher Grier Halberstam to form SGH Martineau LLP.

Client Service "It is responsive, practical and ready to assist in a client-oriented way."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Team leader Smita Jamdar has a great reputation for her constitutional and governance-related work on behalf of higher education institutions. Sources describe her as "proactive, easy to work with and practical." 

This team's varied workload includes advising colleges, universities and local authorities on capital and construction projects, PFI deals, campus developments, procurement, employment and charity issues. It continues to represent ten universities in a class action relating to the recovery of funds invested with Icelandic banks, and is also advising a number of local authorities on generating revenue from their education services. Clients are keen to add that "the firm has a realistic approach to fees and recognises from the start that its task is to add value."

Client Service "A pleasant, friendly, and utterly dependable bunch to deal with."

Commercial Awareness "Its industry knowledge is huge, and it is very good at explaining the practical effect of complicated issues in a helpful and relevant way."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Martin Howe is the key contact. 

This cross-departmental team draws on various disciplines to offer its education clients expertise in charity, constitutional, regulatory, property, IP and immigration law. It is also handling an increasing amount of pension work for universities. Noteworthy clients include the University of Reading and over 30 of the colleges forming Oxford University.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Martin Kay heads the team.

This group is well placed to handle a broad range of matters; recent highlights include acting in complex real estate transactions, advising institutions on the implementation of the Equality Act, and providing counsel on other general governance, discrimination, regulation and employment issues. Its varied client base includes research student unions, the University of Southampton and the University of Portsmouth.

Client Service "It is personable and precise in its advice - it doesn't waste time."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Christina Tolvas-Vincent is a key contact.

This firm has a huge presence in the North East, and clients appreciate the broad spectrum of work it is equipped to handle. Recent key highlights include the team's appointment as lead adviser to the University of Durham on all employment law matters and its appointment to the panel for King's College London. It also continues to deal with property development for universities and is assisting in structures to support the University of York's public sector work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS As head of education, Rowan Ferguson has a substantial caseload, which includes advising Middlesbrough College on joint ventures and providing support to Northumberland College on governance issues.

This team is recognised as a leading education practice in Wales. It has been advising on several further and higher education mergers and also offers in-depth advice on employment, discrimination and procurement issues.

Client Service "Excellent overall - it gives sensible advice, falls in line with deadlines and is very responsive."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Emyr Lewis is the key contact.

This team is based in both London and Cambridge and is part of the firm's wider charity and non-profit group; its work is typified by its recent advice to over 30 Cambridge colleges on their transition to charity status. Clients include a raft of further and higher education institutions as well as numerous organisations that count education as a core activity such as Cancer Research UK and the Animal Health Trust. It also assists with the full range of employment, commercial, governance, property, planning and IP work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Christine Berry is group leader.

This firm is traditionally renowned for its charity and social enterprise expertise although it is also increasingly recognised as a mainstream education law provider, acting for numerous colleges, universities and further education bodies in governance, employment, property and corporate issues. It was recently appointed to the first panel of the London Universities Purchasing Consortium, and other noteworthy clients include the National Union for Students and King's College London.

Client Service "This team is a centre of excellence with outstanding client care and exceptional value for money."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Julian Blake is a key contact.

This practice has a considerable reputation for higher education work, particularly when it comes to contentious matters such as judicial reviews and discrimination claims. It acts for universities, colleges, examination boards, and private and state sector schools in cases involving student disputes, bullying, failure to educate, exclusion and abuse. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Charlotte Capstick leads the department, using her experience as the head of the professional indemnity team to resolve high-profile education-related disputes.

This Carlisle-based team is particularly strong in employment-related education issues, as well as continuing to develop its specialism in freedom of information and data protection law for further and higher education institutions. The University of Central Lancashire is a major client, and it also regularly acts for another 12 nationwide further education clients.

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Morris is the key contact. 

Education clients appreciate this practice as a one-stop shop with expertise in charity and commercial issues, as well as IP, media, employment and governance law. Of late it has also been increasing its international work and has advised Imperial College London on its collaboration to launch a joint undergraduate medical degree programme in Singapore. The team was recently appointed to the London Universities Purchasing Consortium legal panel, and other significant clients include Oxford University, London Business School and the Institute of Cancer Research.

Client Service "I was very impressed with the group because it oriented its advice to the university's needs."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Wienand is the key contact.

This cross-disciplinary team draws on the wider firm's expertise in litigation, trusts, commercial property, employment and regulatory work to advise a range of clients including teachers, academics, academic institutions and research councils.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Daff Richardson heads the group.

This group has a solid reputation in the market for its work across a comprehensive range of issues. Recent highlights include advising on a £76 million building for the University of Greenwich, handling a blue-chip banking client's lending within the education sector, and creating a rescue package for the City of Westminster College following the collapse of its building contractor.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Colin Mackenzie-Grieve is the key contact.