Education: Institutions (Schools): London & UK-wide

Sources agree that this group has a stellar reputation, particularly for its work with independent schools. A key highlight is a judicial review in which the Independent Schools Council is challenging the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. It has also recently been advising on a disability discrimination claim and a number of parental appeals. Its high-profile client list includes Highgate School, Benenden, Radley and Uppingham.

Client Service "It provides an undeniably strong quality of work."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Leading lawyer David Smellie specialises in pupil disciplinary matters, employment, child protection, and special educational needs (SEN) and disability work. Sam Macdonald is widely respected for his expertise in constitutional and charity law, and impressed clients comment that "he is very intuitively in tune with the schools market." Jonathan Eley is commended for his experience in contentious matters relating to staff, pupils and parents.

This team works out of offices in London, Cambridge and Bath and it is considered a market leader for its expert advice to both independent and maintained schools. Academy work is a dominant area of focus for the team, and it is also involved in a number of initial free school projects. In addition, it continues to act as the sole legal adviser for FASNA. Of late it has been appointed to advise the New Model School Company, which is a group providing low-cost preparatory schools in London. 

Client Service "It provides a less formulaic and more tailored approach than others in the sector."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael King is head of the charity and education group and he is well recognised for his long-standing commitment to education. The "absolutely excellent" Richard Gold is a consultant at the firm with over 30 years' experience in the sector. Roger Inman specialises in school governance, reorganisation, admissions and pupil/parent issues. Sources praise him for "providing reliable and measured advice that considers the wider implications of a legal issue and not just the legal technicalities."

This group is acclaimed for its work on behalf of independent schools and has advised on the rescues, mergers and insolvencies of ten schools in the past year alone. It also assists in restructuring and redundancies and handles fee disputes and child protection incidents. In addition, it continues to increase its work on academy projects for local authorities and the sponsors of group academies. Noteworthy clients include Rugby School, Manchester Grammar, Millfield and North London Collegiate School.

Commercial Awareness "It is proactive, technically competent and hands-on - it is very commercial and willing to get stuck into the issues."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Employment partner Simon Bevan specialises in advising independent schools on the full range of employment and discrimination issues. Clients praise his "sound knowledge of the subject," and "practical understanding of the commercial realities." Barney Northover heads the team and is highly esteemed for his charity expertise. Impressed sources comment that "he can spot a commercial aspect and edge to an issue, and is therefore capable of bringing a wider perspective to the issue." Yvonne Spencer is commended for her work in the pastoral area, counselling schools on legal matters concerning pupils, parents, regulators and the media.

This multidisciplinary team operates out of a network of offices throughout London, Birmingham and Nottingham, and it earns substantial praise for its education work. It advises across a broad spectrum of matters including pastoral issues, SEN, employment and litigation. It is also noted for its expertise in schools converting to academy status.

Client Service "It is extremely client-focused."

Commercial Awareness "An excellent group that is on top of its subject and that we have a proper commercial relationship with."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Group head Mark Blois has a wealth of experience in the sector and wins plaudits for his academies work. Clients appreciate him for being "responsive to what we need and providing good timely advice."

This long-established education team is traditionally best known for its work with independent schools. It continues to grow its profile in the area and recent work includes academy conversions and related land issues, unpaid school fee recovery, calculation and payment of holiday pay for teachers and review of a school's staff handbook and regulatory policies.

Client Service "It understands the sector and listens carefully to what we have to say as the client."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The "friendly and approachable" Alice Reeve is head of education. She is particularly noted for the strength of her employment-related advice, and she regularly works in close conjunction with the Independent Schools Bursars' Association.

This team maintains its strong sector presence, with a long-standing tradition of acting for faith schools and handling work relating to the ecclesiastical sector. A recent highlight was representing the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese against the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in a dispute over the bishop's appointment of foundation governors to the school. Of late it has seen an upsurge of academy conversion instructions, and it also works with a number of education support establishments such as Strictly Education and the Centre for Education & Finance Management.

Client Service "It is client-focused, professional and well organised."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Owen Carew-Jones is commended for his commitment to the sector. He also has expertise in charity, property, ecclesiastical and employment law.

The education team is part of the firm's larger government, energy and infrastructure practice. It is particularly well regarded for its work on Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes, and it continues to work for a wide range of sponsors, subcontractors and funders. It has also been busy advising schools on real estate and construction-related matters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Fleetwood is the key contact.

This cross-departmental team sits within the firm's highly regarded charities practice. It has had a busy year advising on the academies and free schools programme; a recent highlight was establishing the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust, which is a unique umbrella body for academies. It also acts for independent schools and has recently been assisting the Independent Schools Council in policy issues relating to public benefit.

Client Service "It solves complex legal problems on schedule and on budget." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Julian Blake is a key contact.

This group was recently instructed in the high-profile BSF litigation which challenged the Secretary of State's decision to halt funding across a number of schemes. It has also been advising the Partnerships for Schools and the Department for Education on national standard documentation. Appreciative clients note: "It is very responsive and turns things around very quickly."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Martin Howe is a key contact.

This team operates from within the firm-wide charities group and offers a full service to clients, covering litigious, commercial, trust, real estate and employment matters. It is best known for its work in the independent schools sector; notable clients include Eton College, Merchant Taylors School Northwood and Bradfield College.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mike Scott is the key contact.

This Newcastle-based team offers expertise across the education sector, and is particularly well versed in advising school and local authorities on academy conversions. It recently handled an especially complex academy conversion involving a school site containing PFI facilities. It also continues to assist in the setting up of trust schools.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Rowan Ferguson is the main contact.

This group has been heavily involved in academies work over the past year, particularly when it comes to ongoing operational advice covering governance, restructuring and Freedom of Information Act issues. It is also well equipped to handle employment, business and corporate finance-related matters. Key clients include Oasis Community Learning, Westminster Academy, Future Academies and United Learning Trust.

Client Service "It has outstanding people working there - it is punctual with the delivery and timing of everything that you would want from it."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Team leader Geoffrey Davies is popular amongst clients, who agree that "he has a forensic understanding of what is going on and a huge level of recall" and that "he defends clients to the last breath."

This "well thought-of" team is best known for its academies work. It is able to draw on resources from across the firms's corporate, charity, real estate, planning and employment teams to advise on a comprehensive range of issues arising from academy conversion projects. It also offers experience of acting for faith schools.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Eugene O’Keeffe heads the team and is praised for his deep understanding of academy work. Clients particularly appreciate his commitment, noting that he "always has the interests of the organisation totally at heart."

This group stands out for its work in the BSF programme; it continues to be retained on a number of schemes for Westminster City Council, Kent County Council and the London Borough of Wanstead. It has also seen a general uptick in work for academies, free schools, local authorities and governing bodies. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Associate to watch Janet Lewis specialises in major public sector projects. One client is impressed "with her ability to deliver and drive the programme," adding that "without her proactivity, we would not be where we are."

This growing team advises a comprehensive range of clients, including state and independent schools, colleges, institutions and teaching unions. A key highlight was a test case in the Supreme Court on behalf of two major teaching unions regarding teachers employed in European schools. It has also been handling academies and merger work, and the group has recently been further strengthened with three new hires from Wragge & Co.

Client Service "It is great at keeping in touch, it pays attention to its instructions and it doesn't charge for the sake of it."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Litigator Geraldine Elliott handles employment and employee benefits for clients in the education sector. Peers recognise senior associate Simon Henthorn for the strength of his advocacy in the Supreme Court case mentioned above. Clients also praise his style, with one commenting that "it is such a good working relationship that it feels like a partnership," whilst another particularly appreciates "his clear communication and good response times."

The team's main strength lies in advising local authorities and schools on education infrastructure investment projects, offering expertise in PFI and BSF schemes and academy conversions.  It also works cross-departmentally to provide education clients with a comprehensive service across procurement, pensions, employment, construction and banking-related issues.

Client Service "We are impressed at how helpful and focused on the work the team is. It provides practical, workable solutions to problems and we value the support we get."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Helen Randall is the key contact.