Education is such a dynamic and wide-ranging sector that it needs dynamic and wide-ranging legal advice to meet those needs. We have a large team of advisors who provide assistance to our university, further education, academy and other education sector clients.
Ward Hadaway’s education team is recognised as one of the strongest in the UK and its reputation for high quality work across a range of specialities has seen demand for its services surge.
The team and its key personnel are amongst the most experienced and highly rated around and are named as leading individuals in their practice areas by independent legal directories.
We have a particular expertise in academies, free schools, studio schools, university technical colleges and maintained schools and in large-scale development projects and locally funded capital and ICT projects.
For example, our portfolio includes more than 200 academies, including sponsored and school converter academies, and a range of multi-academy trusts across the country.
We are also specialists in supporting universities on research and development, clinical trials, technology licensing, spin-outs and international collaborations.
Our other work with universities and further education colleges includes redevelopment schemes, refinancing and funding, advising on contractual matters and providing full input and support on procurement issues.
The team also provides mentoring and support to student enterprise and entrepreneurship schemes run by universities and other business support organisations.
An in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of the education sector, combined with an astute awareness of commercial practices, makes the team ideally placed to offer the best possible advice to its clients.
Ward Hadaway has again been awarded the coveted title of PFI Law Firm of the Year, this time for 2016, having previously won the award in 2013 and 2014.
The award from industry publication Corporate INTL was based on the firm’s continuing input into making long term PFI contracts more efficient, operate more effectively and become considerably more cost-effective.
The services we provide include advice on:
- Academies
- BSF and PFI Schemes
- Child safety
- Church Dioceses
- Collaborative working
- Construction
- Corporate governance
- Data protection and FOI
- Education law
- Employment and HR support
- Environmental
- Fraud
- Free schools
- Funders
- Health and safety/Food safety
- Intellectual property
- IT contracts
- Joint ventures
- Local authorities
- Maintained schools
- Multi-academy trusts
- PFI/PPP
- Planning
- Private sector
- Procurement
- Property development
- Property disputes
- Regulatory
- Studio schools
- Umbrella trusts
- University spin-outs
- University technical colleges
For more details on how we can help you, please view our education services brochure, find out about our fixed fee packages or get in touch.
Insight: Commercial Education Newsletter July 2017
Insight: Education Newsletter July 2017
Insight: Education Newsletter June 2017
Insight: Education Newsletter April 2017
Insight: Commercial Education Newsletter April 2017
Insight: Education Newsletter March 2017
Insight: Commercial Education Newsletter January 2017
Insight: Education Newsletter January 2017
Insight: Commercial Education Newsletter December 2016
Education Newsletter November 2016
What Our Clients Say
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"We have received exceptional advice and support from the Ward Hadaway team with a number of our academy conversions. They have built up our trust and confidence over the years which we are assured will lead to an even stronger working relationship. We look forward to working with the team in the future on wider legal projects."
Karen Bromage, Finance Director, Delta Academies Trust.
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"The professional expertise, superb legal guidance and ready availability of staff from Ward Hadaway are significant factors in our decision to continue our ongoing relationship with the team. Issues are dealt with speedily and complex legal situations explained in a user-friendly manner. The staff are very approachable and provide an excellent and comprehensive service, meeting the many and varied needs of our busy academy."
Lesley Powell, CEO, North East Learning Trust.
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"We are a newly incorporated Multi Academy Trust, comprising of an Infant and Junior School on a shared site. Ward Hadaway have worked in partnership to ensure that all legal compliances have been fulfilled and to develop a positive, efficient working relationship which has smoothed the way as we have approached each new challenge. We look forward to working with Ward Hadaway in the future, as we begin to include other schools within the Trust and continue to grow as an innovative educational institution."
Carolyn Fox, Executive Headteacher, Rise Park Academy Trust.
Independent Verdict
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"Ward Hadaway’s education sector clients cite the practice's ‘outstanding response times’, ‘excellent knowledge and a network of extended expertise that is second to none’."
Legal 500
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"Outstanding multidisciplinary practice... advises educational institutions at all levels on a wide range of issues."
Legal 500
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"National education practice with a firm presence in the market and significant experience handling safeguarding and governance matters, among others. Also known for having extensive expertise in PFI/PPP projects and public procurement issues."
Chambers & Partners
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"Ward Hadaway’s practice provides ‘excellent’ advice to academies and schools."
Legal 500
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"They have got it together in the academy field, so it seems seamless when you are working with them. They all understand the principles of the law and can translate these well."
Client quote, Chambers & Partners
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"Strong performance in the academies sector, advising on transactional, construction and regulatory matters. Comprehensive service to independent, maintained and free schools."
Chambers & Partners
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"The ‘approachable and reliable’ team at Ward Hadaway ‘gives practical advice and guidance’."
Legal 500
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“Ward Hadaway offers an ‘all-round excellent service’ across the areas of education, health and local government."
Legal 500
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"Ward Hadaway is a leading presence on the public sector side, across health, education and local government."
Legal 500
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"They are fantastic."
Client quote, Chambers & Partners
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“Ward Hadaway’s ‘knowledgeable, reliable and responsive’ team
Legal 500
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"Ward Hadaway... continues to stand out for its public sector work."
Legal 500
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"Ward Hadaway's 'impressive' Education team..."
Legal 500
