VWV‘s Bristol-led education team is recognised for ’the strength, breadth and depth that provides total confidence’, advising schools in the independent and state-funded sectors in a variety of matters, including advice on future regulations, inquiries, governance, employment, and on the establishment of new trusts, school mergers and acquisitions, school conversions, as well as in judicial reviews, and in cases such as sexual assault allegations. The group is jointly headed by Barney Northover, who leads the advice on independent schools and Chloe Brunton, who heads the academies and maintained schools work. With a background in litigation, Tabitha Cave is the key advisor on regulatory compliance, while Alice Reeve covers safeguarding issues and provides employment advice during industrial actions. Other key members of the team are property experts Robin Rajanah and Jon Durham , employment specialist Richard Hewitt, and Sian Champkin and James Garside.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Oustanding sector knowledge and insights.’
‘Tabitha Cave, Ben Holt, Alice Reeve, Yvonne Spencer, Barney Northover, Kris Robbetts are all excellent.’
Key clients
- The Merchant Company Education Board
- Harris Federation
Work highlights
- Advised the Independent Schools Council on the risks and recommended mitigations in respect of Labour Party policy statement on regulation and taxation of independent schools.
- Acted for The Treloar Trust in the Infected Blood Inquiry.