England - London • Public sector

Browne Jacobson LLP

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Browne Jacobson LLP provides ‘exceptional advice and guidance’ to schools and academy trusts and is active on the full range of education matters, including safeguarding, data protection, Ofsted inspection challenges, responses to industrial action, and parental complaints. The team is particularly well-regarded for its close relationships with many of the country’s largest multi-academy trusts, who frequently instruct the team to provide corporate advice in the context of restructuring, academy conversion, and governance matters. The team comprises multidisciplinary specialists across the UK and is led by Nottingham-based lawyer Mark Blois, who handles a wide array of governance matters and is also highly recommended for his ability to provide advice on new DfE guidelines surrounding employment and safeguarding issues. Other key contacts in the team include the Exeter-based Julia Green, who is reputed for her expertise in academy conversions, Birmingham lawyers Richard Freeth and Philip Wood, who are key contacts for pastoral and admissions issues, and Nottingham-based Ofsted inspections expert Katie Michelon. In London, Charlotte Antoniou is noted for her close relations with academy trusts and her ability to handle restructuring matters and parental complaints.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The education team at Browne Jacobson offers exceptional advice and guidance to the sector, both in terms of paid legal advice and the pro bono support they provide to help build sector capacity.’

  • ‘Mark Blois, partner and head of the education practice, is exceptional. He is a national leader of governance, a disability champion, and a highly valued colleague. Nick Mackenzie is also a wonderful colleague - always on the other end of a telephone, he always offers caring, compassionate and astute advice.’

  • ‘We value the confidence of knowing we can be open and honest about any areas of concern we have. We work very closely with Mark Blois, who is our point of contact, and Katie Michelon. Both offer added value through providing insight into sector challenges and opportunities without compromising relationships with other clients.’

Key clients

  • Accord Multi Academy Trust
  • Achievement Through Collaboration Trust
  • An Daras Multi Academy Trust
  • Ansford Academy Trust
  • Arthur Terry Learning Partnership
  • Aspire Education Trust
  • Bath & Wells Diocesan Academy Trust
  • Beckfoot Trust
  • Believe Academy Trust
  • Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust
  • Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
  • Bright Futures Educational Trust
  • Brooke Weston Trust
  • Central RSA Academies Trust
  • Champion Education Trust
  • Changing Lives Learning Trust
  • Cheshire Academies Trust
  • Chiltern Learning Trust

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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Mark Blois

Other key lawyers

Julia Green, Richard Freeth, Kate Michelon, Nick Mackenzie, Charlotte Antoniou, Dai Durbridge, Philip Wood