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How can our education solicitors assist your organisation?
Our partner-led, multi-disciplinary approach ensures we provide a full range of legal services to our clients including primary and secondary schools in addition to further and higher education settings across England and Wales. Below are some of the areas we specialise in.
Employment Law
Our dedicated team of specialist employment and regulatory solicitors have extensive experience in advising and supporting our education clients on all aspects of employment law, HR matters and related in house training requirements.
Advice ranges from day-to-day HR and compliance queries, contract and policy drafting, to leading large scale complex, sensitive and strategic projects and representing clients in Employment Tribunal claims.
Our expertise in action
Our employment solicitors have recently represented clients in the education sector in the following matters:
- Instructed by a school to advise a governor acting as a disciplinary officer in advance of a formal panel disciplinary hearing
- Trained school governors on the formal disciplinary procedures applicable to schools
- Advised a group of schools regarding the TUPE Transfer of teaching assistants from a local authority.
- Acted for a further education provider in a restructure which triggered collective consultation and also resulted in changing terms and conditions of employment.
- Advised a school through a safeguarding investigation
- Prepared and delivered a bespoke in-house mock Employment Tribunal for managers at a further education college
- Advised a school in dealing with a group bullying and harassment grievance
- Delivered in-house training for investigators dealing with complex disciplinaries and grievances
- Successfully represented several schools in Employment Tribunal proceedings
Learn more about our Employment Law services by clicking here
Real Estate
Our real estate solicitors have a wealth of experience across the education sector, offering practical, comprehensive solutions to your specific requirements.
With a team of over 20 property professionals, we have the breadth and depth of knowledge to be able to support you throughout each stage of your project no matter how complex it may be.
Our expertise in action
Our real estate solicitors have recently represented clients in the education sector in the following cases:
- Acted for a nursery school renewing the lease of its premises
- Dealt with the leasing, acquisition, and disposal of property for use as a residential accommodation by a school
- Acted for a school in refinancing its loan facilities
- Assisted a special school with conversion to academy status
- Advised a multi-academy trust on the grant of leases for solar panel leases across its estate
- Handled the transfer of a University Technical College to a multi-academy trust
- Secured the acquisition of a campus site for health sciences for a joint venture between a UK university and an international healthcare group
- Maintained our long association with a university, advising on site acquisition for new faculty buildings and general asset management
Learn more about our Real Estate services by clicking here
Construction
Our construction law solicitors act for a broad range of stakeholders within the education sector including schools, colleges and universities, funding institutions, developers, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants and private clients.
We regularly advise on industry standard and bespoke building contracts, development agreements, funding agreements, professional appointments, collateral warranties, and guarantees to ensure
As a team we also have a wealth of experience in construction disputes and claims such as adjudication, arbitration, court proceedings and mediation as well as the enforcement of adjudication decisions within the high court.
Our expertise in action
Our construction law solicitors have recently represented clients in the education sector in the following cases:
- Advised a college in relation to the construction of a new two-storey Advanced Engineering and Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence
- Advised a university in relation to the construction of a new data centre
- Advised a primary school in relation to the construction of a classroom extension and refurbishment of an existing hall
- Advised a university in relation to the refurbishment of a laboratory on a health science campus
- Advised a high school in relation to a claim against a building contractor for defective cladding works
Learn more about our Construction Law services by clicking here
Commercial Law
Our commercial lawyers have many years’ experience advising a large number of schools, further education institutions and universities in relation to student contracts and across the range of contracts with suppliers, joint ventures and collaborations.
We know that education institutions have to deal with their suppliers on a fully commercial basis just like any other business. Yet, they are often forced to operate within tight financial constraints. At the same time they must take into account the needs and interests of colleagues, students, parents and a wide range of stakeholders whilst still complying with the applicable strict regulatory framework.
We will work with you to help you navigate those challenges and put in place your arrangements on the best possible terms, whilst helping you manage risk.
Our expertise in action
- Advised a university on the establishment of Energy and Bio Research Institute and preparing and negotiating related documentation
- Advised FE College in relation to construction contractual arrangements
- Advised numerous schools on and drafting parent contracts
- Advised schools in relation to various procurement contractual arrangements including in respect of catering provision and IT services
- Advised universities on preparing collaboration agreements involving PhD students and private sector companies
- Advised on a variety of spin out arrangements and collaborations between HE organisations and industry
- Advised a private school in relation to a joint venture between it, an equestrian centre and a foreign investor and prepared related documents
- Prepared standard joint venture and collaboration agreements for university client
