Thomas Pollitt is a principal associate in our corporate education team with significant experience of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other corporate transactions in the education sector in the UK and internationally. Thomas also advises on collaborations, constitutional and governance issues and education regulatory matters.

Thomas’ recent and relevant experience includes advising:

Higher Education

• On university M&A, including acting for private capital. Thomas advised Vanta Education on its disposal of BPP University to TDR Capital.

• A UK university on the sale of its business to a European education group, transferring the UK university from the charities sector to the for-profit sector.

• On the merger of two higher education institutions (HEIs).

• An international pathway college group on collaboration agreements with partner universities.

• Universities on spin-out companies.

• HEIs on academic collaborations and trans-national education, including franchise, validation and articulation.

• On the set-up of an HEI registered with the Office for Students.

Further Education

• FE College mergers, FE/HE group structures, service sharing and staff subsidiaries.

• The establishment of Institutes of Technology.

• Apprenticeship funding rules and subcontracting.

Schools

• Independent school and nursery M&A, in the UK and overseas.

• UK schools on international expansion, including brand-licensing and joint ventures.

• Academy conversions and transfers.

Principal Associate