England - London • Public sector

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Education: institutions

Mills & Reeve LLP

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The education practice at Mills & Reeve LLP comprises a large team of multidisciplinary lawyers who are well-equipped to advise a range of universities and Oxbridge colleges on high-value and complex strategic and contentious matters spanning employment, regulatory compliance, freedom of speech, and commercial issues. The national team is jointly led by Cambridge-based lawyer Gary Attle, who has acted in a variety of high-profile contentious mandates under the Equality Act 2010 and is also a key contact for regulatory matters related to data protection and freedom of speech, and Martin Priestley, who practices from Leeds and is active across a range of high-value mergers, acquisitions, and procurements for higher education clients. Other key contacts in the team include Cambridge-based lawyers Sarah Seed, a higher education financing and banking specialist, Jens Henniker Heaton, an expert on student accommodation projects, and Poppy Short, who advises on a wide range of academic partnerships and arrangements.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent market knowledge, with a finger on the pulse of change.’

  • ‘Gary Attle is a first-rate lawyer in this area. He knows education inside-out and also brings a wide and pragmatic perspective to difficult problems.’

  • ‘The team we work with at Mills & Reeve are experts in higher education, so they can provide relevant and up-to-date advice and guidance on real sector issues. This is incredibly helpful.’

  • ‘Alex Russell always provides timely and insightful advice.’

Key clients

  • Academies Enterprise Trust
  • Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
  • Arden University Limited
  • Birmingham City University
  • Bolton College
  • Bournemouth University
  • British Council
  • Buckingham New University
  • Cardiff University
  • Christ Church, Oxford University
  • Christ’s Hospital
  • Coventry University
  • Cranfield University
  • Dragon School Trust Limited
  • Exeter College Oxford
  • Francis Crick Institute Ltd
  • Harrow School
  • Institution of Engineering and Technology
  • King’s College London
  • LTE Group
  • Linacre College Oxford
  • London Business School
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Merton College Oxford
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • Oxford University Endowment Management
  • Peterhouse College, Cambridge
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • Royal Veterinary College
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • Solent University
  • St Dunstan's Educational Foundation
  • St Edmund Hall, Oxford
  • St John's College
  • St John’s College, Oxford
  • TOF Corporate Trustee Limited as Trustee of The Oxford Funds
  • Trinity College, Cambridge
  • United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation
  • University of Bath
  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Derby
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Exeter
  • University of Huddersfield
  • University of Hull
  • University of Kent
  • University of Lancaster
  • University of Liverpool
  • University of London
  • University of Manchester
  • University of Northampton
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Salford
  • University of Southampton
  • University of Surrey
  • University of Worcester
  • University of York
  • University of York
  • Wellcome Sanger Institute
  • West Thames College

Work highlights

  • Advised Sheffield Hallam University on the site for its new campus in London, as part of the £8bn Brent Cross Town development.
  • Assisted Kingston University with the drafting and negotiation of construction documents for its new School of Art.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Gary Attle

Hall of fameMills & Reeve LLP

Head of education and governance. Gary leads the firm’s national practice in the higher education sector, which advises on all areas where universities need legal advice, ranging from spin outs to student accommodation developments to international joint ventures. His own specialist area relates to governance and student issues. Gary’s recent work involves advising universities on allegations of research misconduct, the student-university legal relationship, the regulatory framework for higher education, defamation and freedom of speech. Many of his matters have an international element to them.

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Gary Attle, Martin Priestley

Other key lawyers

Poppy Short, Jens Henniker Heaton, Sarah Seed, Alex Russell

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