United Kingdom - Scotland • Public sector
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Education

Brodies LLP

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Praised for its ‘deep knowledge of the sector’, Brodies LLP's education practice counts several of Scotland’s leading universities among its clients, which reflects its particular strength in the higher education sector. The team receives frequent instructions on a wide range of sector-specific work, including employment, governance and sensitive student matters. Brenda Scott and Niall McLean jointly head the team; Scott frequently handles transactional and commercial work and McLean receives regular instructions on governance and student matters. Lynne Marr specialises in employment law and acts for higher education clients and independent schools. Associate Kirstyn Burke is another key member of the team.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Great knowledge of the HEI sector. Responsive and reactive - always. They are almost an extension of our own in-house team. They understand our business and are able to provide legal advice in context.’

  • ‘Niall McLean and Kirstyn Burke - both of these individuals are outstanding and a pleasure to work with. They are pragmatic, responsive and understand the HEI sector tremendously well.’

  • ‘Deep understanding of the sector combined with a broad range of experience within the team.’

  • ‘Niall McLean is a standout - extremely responsive and knowledgeable about the sector and gives clear and strategic advice.’

Key clients

  • Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
  • Queen Margaret University (QMU)
  • University of Dundee
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Aberdeen
  • London Universities Procurement Consortium (LUPC)
  • Newbattle Abbey College
  • Stirling, Falkirk and Argyll and Bute Councils
  • Inverness College

Work highlights

  • Retained by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the national qualifications body in Scotland, as its sole supplier of legal services. Recent work includes advice on the impacts of Covid-19 and on proposed changes to the framework for Scottish qualifications made by the independent Muir Report that there should be a new education agency to replace SQA.
  • Advising the University of Edinburgh on a wide range of employment, governance and student issues.
  • Assisting the University of Dundee with student issues.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Brenda Scott
Brodies LLP
Brenda is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer. Her practice focuses on corporate governance, education and charities. She is a great lateral thinker and gives assured incisive advice.Brenda leads Brodies' education team acting for many clients across the education sector which is described in Legal 500 as a ‘responsive‘ team regularly advises higher and further education sector clients as well as local authorities and government agencies on various governance structures, including new governance arrangements and sensitive reputational matters, sector-specific employment, immigration and corporate issues.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Niall McLean
Brodies LLP
Niall is co-head of our Government and Business team and is part of Brodies' Government, Regulation and Competition practice. He gives both public and private sector clients advice in a broad range of areas including: environmental law, governance, defamation and reputation management, public law and statutory interpretation. Niall has experience advising on the data protection and reputation management issues that arise from cyber attacks. Niall is a solicitor advocate with extended rights of audience in the Court of Session and has extensive advocacy experience, regularly appearing in court for clients. He is also regularly instructed to manage significant pieces of litigation in the Court of Session including judicial reviews and statutory appeals primarily focusing on planning & environment, local government and education law.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Brenda Scott, Niall McLean

Other key lawyers

Kirstyn Burke, Lynne Marr

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