Education

The education sector has never been under greater pressure to respond effectively to the triple challenge of reduced funding, greater competition and the uncertainties of the longer term impact of Government policies.

While universities and private colleges are looking to develop new sources of revenue and build new business relationships, the independent schools sector is increasingly affected by parents' struggle to afford tuition fees. They all recognise the imperative to develop growth strategies to ensure future survival in a more commercialised marketplace – and to protect their existing revenue streams – and are seeking external specialist advice across a range of disciplines.

Penningtons Manches Cooper's education group comprises a multidisciplinary team of corporate, commercial, charity, dispute resolution, employment, immigration, real estate, regulatory, pensions and tax lawyers. Working closely together to provide an integrated service, we support HE, FE and other education clients across a wide range of issues including sponsor licensing, student contracts, disputes, reorganisations, joint ventures, student accommodation issues, property transactions and employment tribunals.

We are increasingly being instructed by universities and private colleges to help protect them from commercial and reputational damage. Our clients welcome our ability to resolve any contractual disputes including employment, regulatory and charity issues relating to students, academic staff or education partners as well as corporate development challenges such as restructuring, overseas development and governance.

In addition to many of the UK’s leading universities, we also advise many independent schools, assessment and examinations bodies, educational publishers, national research councils and academic research associations. Our education group's immigration and employment partners are consistently ranked as leaders in their field by The Legal 500 and Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession.