Local government work is at the heart of Blake Morgan LLP‘s well-established public sector department, which is also reputed in the health and education sectors. Key contacts for the firm's specialism in local authority leisure projects include Penny Rinta-Suksi, Rajiv Joshi and Edward McMullen. Rinta-Suksi leads the local government team and is recommended by clients as ‘a star in the leisure procurement field’, while Bruce Potter is head of the firm’s nationwide health and care practice. Educational lead Matthew Smith and Vicky Schollar specialise in contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Jennifer Sore, who is ‘outstanding in Highway Law’, is a primary contact for the firm’s local authority clients in the Thames Valley.
Public sector in South East
Blake Morgan LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Penny Rinta-Suksi; Bruce Potter; Matthew Smith
Autres avocats clés:
Rajiv Joshi; Edward McMullen; Vicky Schollar; Jennifer Sore
Les références
‘Very experienced in the leisure contract procurement field. Great subject knowledge and understanding of the key commercial implications of contractual drafting.’
‘Penny Rinta-Suksi is a star in the leisure procurement field. Her contractual knowledge is unmatched and has a high level of commercial awareness.’
‘The subject knowledge of the team in an educational setting is a huge strength of the firm.’
Principaux clients
The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and The Metropolitan Police Service
Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Royal Borough of Kingston on Thames
Westminster City Council
Reading Borough Council
Surrey County Council
Oxfordshire County Council
Test Valley Borough Council
Mansfield District Council
West Berkshire District Council
Buckinghamshire County Council
North Norfolk District Council
Dover District Council
New College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Oxford Foundation for Theoretical Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence
Portsmouth Diocesan Trust
University of Reading
Christ Church College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Oxford University Development Limited
University of Chichester Multi-Academy Trust
The Portsmouth Grammar School
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
NHS Resolution
NHS England
NHS Wales
Principaux dossiers
- Advising New College on the procurement approach, appointment of its design team, and construction contracts in relation to its proposed redevelopment of a new Quadrangle within the College estate.
- Continued to provide advice to the NMC’s specialist services team, focusing on complex and high-profile cases, arising from health care settings that have been subject of major investigations and inquiries, for consideration by its Screening Decision Makers.
Brachers
Praised for its successful representation of NHS trusts and having ‘the highest standards of customer care‘, Brachers‘ multidisciplinary education, employment and healthcare team leverages the firm’s commercial property and planning teams, and is equipped to deal with the whole range of work in the public sector. Co-head Ash Jilani focuses on primary care property matters, while fellow co-head and healthcare expert Catherine Daw is praised by clients as ‘an outstanding employment lawyer’. Co-head Colin Smith and Abigail Brightwell are further key contacts for employment related matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Catherine Daw; Ash Jilani; Colin Smith
Autres avocats clés:
Abigail Brightwell; Lee May
Les références
‘High degree of technical knowledge of the law, combined with the highest standards of customer care. I’m really impressed with every single case that comes from Brachers because it is so well prepared. Their lawyers work as a team with counsel to produce the best result for the client.’
“Catherine Daw is an outstanding employment lawyer who is fiercely bright, very committed to her clients and completely on top of the law.’
‘Abigail Brightwell is another astute, very bright and perceptive lawyer who is similarly committed to her clients.’
Principaux clients
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
East Kent Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
MDU/MDDUS
Specsavers
Benenden Hospital
Medway Practices Alliance
Phoenix Medical Centre
Canterbury Medical Practice
Edenbridge Medical Practice
Five Acre Wood School
EKC Group
The Academy of Woodlands
Rivermead Inclusive Trust
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in a piece of litigation involving five claims against multiple respondents, ten appeals and tens of thousands of emails from the claimant.
- Advised Greensand Medical Practice on development agreements for a significant development of a primary care medical centre.
- Successfully represented Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in the widely reported case of Ibrahim v MTW, which has clarified the law in relation to the payment of bank/temporary workers at times when their ability to work via a temporary work bank was suspended.
Cripps
Cripps is sought out by a broad range of clients from the public sector, including central government bodies, local authorities and universities. The team is especially well versed in asset management, property dispute resolution, development and regeneration work. James Lee heads up the construction practice and specialises in non-contentious transactional work for a range of high-profile clients, while Miles Paffard leads the property dispute resolution team, and stands out for handling complex high-value landlord and tenant matters. Head of the planning team Beth Gascoyne is well equipped to work on an array of complex planning matters, such as Section 106 agreements for regeneration and development projects. In early 2024, the firm merged with Horsham-based firm PDT Solicitors, which added the expertise of James Clewlow, Holly Goacher and Oliver Parsons.
Responsables de la pratique:
James Lee; Miles Paffard
Autres avocats clés:
Beth Gascoyne; James Clewlow; Holly Goacher; Oliver Parsons
Les références
‘This team is always available when I need them, friendly and approachable.’
‘The solicitors are our ‘go-to’ lawyers.’
Principaux clients
Home Office
Crawley Borough Council
Canterbury Christ Church University
Ashford Borough Council
Eastbourne Borough Council
Runnymede Borough Council
Sevenoaks District Council
Slough Borough Council
Lewes District Council
South East Water
Town and Country Housing
University of Kent
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Slough Borough Council on its Urban Renewal Project alongside development partner Morgan Sindall; provided construction and property litigation advice for the creation of a new library and football stadium, four new leisure centres, school refurbishments, housing and infrastructure projects and advised on contentious employment matters.
- Acting for Sevenoaks District Council on the negotiation of a s106 agreement in connection with an application for 340 dwellings, land for a four-form entry secondary school, land for a community facility and improvements to the town railway station.
- Advising Runnymede Borough Council in relation to the development of a mixed-use urban regeneration scheme known as Egham Gateway West, with the intention to create a new cultural quarter in Egham Town Centre.
DAC Beachcroft LLP
Praised as ‘incredibly knowledgeable’, DAC Beachcroft LLP is sought out by high-profile healthcare clients, such as NHS England, and also counts the Department for Education on its roster. The firm’s public sector teams are led by Nigel Montgomery, Heather Durston-Hillyer, Gill Weatherill, Belinda Dix, Udara Ranasinghe and Stan Campbell. Dix is an expert for healthcare law, and covers patient care, regulatory and governance matters, while Durston-Hillyer leads the clinical negligence team in Winchester, and has particular experience in birth injury and wrongful birth claims. The firm’s infrastructure and projects team has grown significantly in recent years, and advises local authorities on complex redevelopment, regeneration and infrastructure schemes. Matthew McGrath retired in April 2022.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nigel Montgomery; Heather Durston-Hillyer; Gill Weatherill; Belinda Dix; Udara Ranasinghe; Stan Campbell
Les références
‘All team members are kind, considerate, responsive to queries, and incredibly knowledgeable in the areas they work in.’
Principaux clients
NHS Resolution
Medical Defence Union
NHS England
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
United Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (formerly Bournemouth and Poole Trusts)
Isle of Wight NHS Trust
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
South Central Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust
Solent NHS Trust
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Dorset County NHS Foundation Trust
Dorset ICB
National Highways
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Surrey County Council
Department for Education
Panel Appointments
NHS Resolution
MDU
NHS SBS
Crown Commercial Solutions
NHS Commercial Solutions
RSA Complex Loss
WR Berkley Themis
MS Amlin Casualty (inc Med-mal)
Principaux dossiers
- Advising multiple NHS providers on their responses to upcoming strike action from nurses and other health workers and in particular ensuring that hospitals ensure they can deliver emergency and urgent care on strike days.
- Advised University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust on the negotiation and completion of a development agreement with Prime in respect of a Park & Ride facility.
- Appointed by National Highways as its sole adviser for major projects and operations.
Birkett Long LLP
With a strong healthcare practice and an experienced education team, Birkett Long LLP broadens its offering with expert knowledge on regulatory law. Tim Field leads the business team, and excels in contractual matters, as well as high-value M&A. Expert for partnerships and corporate transactions Tracey Dickens heads up the firm’s commercial department, and is respected by clients for the ‘high standard’ of her advice. Head of education Thomas Emmett‘s recent workload includes advising on health and safety issues, discrimination law and issues of governance.
Responsables de la pratique:
Tim Field; Thomas Emmett
Autres avocats clés:
Tracey Dickens; Kimberley Hircock
Les références
‘Each team member I dealt with was efficient, polite and knowledgeable. Dealing with the problem I faced was made much easier with their calm and professional approach to the work they do. I would recommend the team to my own colleagues.’
‘Tracey Dickens was quick to grasp the difficulties I had, and readily responded to various questions that arose, as the matter was dealt with. She was easily contactable and prompt in her replies, and the work done was of a high standard.’
‘Approachable and efficient solicitors.’
Principaux clients
Healthcare Homes Limited
Healthcare Homes Group Limited
Healthcare Homes (2020) Limited
Healthcare Homes (LSC) Limited
Healthcare Homes (Genesis) Limited
Manorcourt Care (Norfolk) Limited
Runwood Homes Limited
St Helena Hospice
Birketts LLP
With a strong presence in Essex, Birketts LLP‘s public sector team is equipped to provide an all-round service to its local government, healthcare and education clients, by working closely with a number of the firm’s other specialist departments. Abigail Trencher leads the dedicated education team, while employment expert Matthew Newnham heads up the health team, and Ruth Neave leads the overall department, as well as the local government team. Neave’s practice extends to procurement, strategic partnership, and public sector governance mandates.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ruth Neave; Abigail Trencher; Matthew Newman
Autres avocats clés:
Charlotte Sloan
Principaux clients
Basildon Borough Council
Brentwood Borough Council
Rochford District Council
Chelmsford City Council
Epping Forest District Council
Broxbourne Borough Council
London Borough of Lewisham
The College of West Anglia
Teaching Regulation Agency
Diamond Learning Partnership Trust
Sempra Homes Limited
Seven Arches Investments Limited
Harlow Council
The London Borough of Haringey
Jesus College, Oxford
Anglia Ruskin University
Blandy & Blandy LLP
Led by Nick Burrows, Blandy & Blandy LLP‘s charities and education team in Thames Valley is well versed in advising clients such as local governments, schools, colleges and universities on an array of matters, including mergers, joint ventures, and restructurings. One of the team’s standout features is its expertise in complex property and development deals. Several solicitors also have experience of working in public sector organisations, including universities and local authorities, giving the team in-depth knowledge of the market.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nick Burrows
Principaux clients
University of Oxford
University of Reading
Reading Borough Council
St Joseph’s College
The Abbey School
The Oratory School
Pangbourne College
Career Connect
CXK
Prior’s Court Foundation
Martin Searle Solicitors
Reputed for its expert advice in the healthcare sector, Martin Searle Solicitors' community care law team in Brighton specialises in representing individuals and their families against decisions made by health service providers, and has a proven track record of Court of Protection work. Department head and ‘go-to person for complex funding cases’, Cate Searle is regularly instructed by professional clients, such as personal injury litigators, professional deputies and attorneys, while Paula Jones has specialist knowledge of mental capacity law. Chartered legal executive Clare English also contributes to the practice’s community care work.
Responsables de la pratique:
Cate Searle
Autres avocats clés:
Victoria Crick; Clare English; Paula Jones
Les références
‘The company is professional, prompt and highly efficient.’
‘They have carved out a niche practice helping clients and professionals fight for the rights of individuals. They are influencers in change and a go-to for comment on any new developments. Cate Searle is unashamedly the market leader and go-to person for complex funding cases.’
‘Paula Jones is a pleasure to work with. She is extremely knowledgeable in the care act as well as the complexities of deputyship work.’
Principaux dossiers
- Advising on safeguarding a vulnerable man’s right to be cared for in his own home and to inform the settlement of his personal injury claim.
- Challenging Social Services on behalf of a learning disabled young adult with significant care and support needs, ensuring that he was able to move to his preferred residential placement.
- Representing a client in successfully challenging the NHS CHC team over its underfunding of her care package, which left the client at risk of her care package becoming unsafe and unsustainable, and securing a package worth £185,000 per year.
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
Described by clients as ‘one of the top firms working in the public sector’, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP education department is equipped to advise a broad range of higher and further education clients. Led by employment expert Daff Richardson in Oxford, the team’s areas of work also include real estate and regulatory law as well as reputation management issues. The ‘truly outstanding’ Sam Rose is a key contact for consumer law, public law challenges, governance issues and disputes relating to teaching and assessment.
Responsables de la pratique:
Daff Richardson
Autres avocats clés:
Hilary Aldred; Sam Rose; Sophie Whitebread; Gemma Woodhouse
Les références
‘Highly responsive and client focused. Experts in their field who show wide industry knowledge.’
‘Sam Rose is a truly outstanding lawyer who we instruct on a repeat basis because of her wide knowledge, breadth of experience, responsiveness, excellent client care and sound judgment. Sam has proved a very safe pair of hands for the most complex and sensitive cases.’
‘An incredibly hard-working team, creative with their legal arguments and unflappable under pressure. They are one of the top firms working in the public sector.’
Principaux clients
Jesus College, Oxford
Green Templeton College, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Hampstead Hill School
ICMP Management Limited (Institute of Contemporary Music Performance)
The Institute of Leadership and Management
Independent Schools Association
Beaconsfield Educational Trust (Davenies)
Brampton College
Wellington College
Haberdashers’ Schools Elstree
Caversham Preparatory School
Nuffield
City & Guilds
Principaux dossiers
- Providing day to day employment advice to Christ Church, Oxford, in respect of academic and non-academic staff, including advice on the settlement of the Employment Tribunal claims brought by long running disputes with its former Dean, which has been widely discussed and reported in the national press.
Boyes Turner
Boyes Turner exclusively advises on SEN and related matters, and specialises in working with Court of Protection deputy clients. The team is led by Laxmi Patel in Reading, who has more than 15 years of experience in this area of work. Rachael Allison's practice includes clinical negligence cases, while Lydia Dunford has a track record of running appeals, including representation. James Pantling-Skeet, an expert in SEN and community care matters, joined the team from Lester Aldridge LLP in April 2022.
Responsables de la pratique:
Laxmi Patel
Autres avocats clés:
Rachael Allison; Rachel Baxter; Lydia Dunford; James Pantling-Skeet; Janata Ali
Les références
‘Laxmi Patel is extremely knowledgeable and proficient. She is excellent at keeping you updated and keeping an eye on the costs.’
‘The team has a lot of collective knowledge around special educational needs, so when you deal with an individual solicitor, you also get the collective wisdom of the team.’
‘They have the unique ability to run complex cases involving community care issues as well as education and disability law. James Pantling-Skeet is absolutely stellar. One to watch for sure.’
Carter Bond Solicitors
Carter Bond Solicitors‘s healthcare department is jointly steered by Harrow-based Reena Popat and Kate Beech; Beech splits her time between Sheffield and Harrow, and is noted for her specialism in the sale and acquisition of dental practices, pharmacies, care homes and GP practices. Popat has expertise in international transactions, and focuses on pharmacy and dental acquisitions, refinancing work and disposals, and Hammad Naveed‘s practice covers regulatory, corporate structuring and commercial contract advice.
Responsables de la pratique:
Reena Popat; Kate Beech
Autres avocats clés:
Hammad Naveed
Les références
‘They are very professional and efficient.’
‘They are hardworking, very helpful and understanding.’
‘Hammad Naveed is very quick to respond to all of my queries, and was always very helpful.’
Principaux clients
Canary Trading Company Ltd
Dental Beauty Partners Group
West Ewell Ltd
4 Court Ltd
Mims Health Ltd
Lockpharma Ltd
Nursery Elite Ltd
Saryan Care Ltd
Tooth Club Ltd
Principaux dossiers
- Advised APS Estates Ltd on its £2.3m pharmacy share purchase acquisition of Filterlight Ltd with funding from Wesleyan Bank as one of the last loans ever given by the healthcare division of Wesleyan.
- Advised West Ewell Ltd on the million-pound share purchase acquisitions of Gaiger Limited and Ricky’s (Ewell) Ltd.
- Advised Dental Beauty Partners Group on its share acquisition of St John’s Dental Practice Ltd.
Howes Percival LLP
Howes Percival LLP’s varied education, health, and regulatory department has specialists in an array of matters, including corporate, employment, construction, and commercial contract work. One of the team’s standout features is its established experience in advising on different structures available to schools, including converting schools into multi-academy trusts. The team is led by Oliver Pritchard in Norwich and Graham Irons in Northampton, with Irons being especially recommended for contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Oliver Pritchard; Graham Irons
Autres avocats clés:
Simon DeMaid
Principaux clients
Anchor Carehomes Limited
Anchor Hanover Group
BHR Pharmaceuticals Limited
De Montfort University
EMCare
Learners Trust
Medigold Health Consultancy Limited
Milton Keynes College
P J Care Limited
Polyco Healthline
St Matthews Healthcare
The Insolvency Service
The Official Receivers for England and Wales
University of Coventry
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Milton Keynes College in relation to College’s successful application for Government funding for the creation of a new Institute of Technology.
- Advising on a major procurement for the supply of medical products to NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership.
- Advising a care sector operator in relation to an investigation involving serious whistleblowing allegations relating to the safety of residents.
Thomson Snell & Passmore
Thomson Snell & Passmore is sought out by a range of clients from the education sector, including public and private schools, single and multi-academy trusts, and further education colleges. Kent-based dispute resolution expert Douglas Skilton is praised by clients for his ‘amazing eye for detail’, while department head Nick Hobden in Thames Gateway works with various state schools on strategic and high-risk issues, such as defending parental complaints, restructuring issues and teachers' pay and conditions interpretation.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nick Hobden
Autres avocats clés:
Douglas Skilton
Les références
‘Nick Hobden is experienced, thorough, and calm.’
‘Leaders in using their existing expertise in commercial, employment, and Equality Act cases to assist clients primarily in the education sector.’
‘Douglas Skilton has amazing eye for detail, and a great tone when dealing with clients.’
Principaux clients
North Kent College
MidKent College
Avante Care & Support Ltd
The Incorporated Rochester Diocesan Board of Education
Governing Body of the Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
Birtley House (Kent) Limited
Parallel Learning Trust
Rivermead Inclusive Trust incorporating Academy of Woodlands
Skills for Life
St Edmund’s School Canterbury
Principaux dossiers
- Taking enforcement proceedings following a successful judgment to enforce security over the defendant’s property for The Incorporated Rochester Diocesan Board of Education and the Governing Body of the Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School.
- Advised Cranbrook Academy Trust School in connection with a funding agreement with the UK government.
- Advising North Kent College on the operational issues pursuant to the funding agreement that it has with the UK Government.
Irwin Mitchell
Jenny Arrowsmith heads up Irwin Mitchell‘s national education sector group from Leeds, working with Esmat Faiz and Poppy Ford in the South East. Notable recent work examples include handling mergers, advising on the significant changes in law regarding holiday pay, and acting in trade disputes regarding pay and hours.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jenny Arrowsmith
Autres avocats clés:
Esmat Faiz; Poppy Ford
Les références
‘The team are very personable, and they present the information in ways which make sense to all. They’re always available and extremely happy to help, no matter the query.’
‘I immediately knew I would not be happy going anywhere else; the team being so readily available, easy to speak to and their knowledge of the legalities within our sector are second to none.’
‘Poppy Ford and Esmat Faiz have been outstanding with their support.’
Principaux clients
Bedford College
Weymouth College
Chichester College Group
Eastleigh College
Reigate Learning Alliance
Buckinghamshire College Group
Bridgwater and Taunton College
Principaux dossiers
- Appointed as the sole legal provider of employment law support to the Association of Colleges (AoC), with over 300 AoC member colleges cross the UK.
- Supporting Chichester College Group with day-to-day employment law advice.
- Supporting Reigate Learning Alliance with the full suite of employment law advice.
Tees Law
Special educational needs matters are at the core of Tees Law‘s Royston-based education law team, which is also experienced in advising schools on discrimination disputes and safeguarding issues. The department is led by Polly Kerr, who is well regarded for her experience in working with vulnerable clients, and covers the full spectrum of SEND related matters, including assessments, school placements, and Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP).
Responsables de la pratique:
Polly Kerr
Les références
‘They are incredibly experienced in working with families on appeals to the SEND tribunal, and Polly Kerr is quite simply, outstanding.’
‘They stand head and shoulders above the rest because they take the time to get to know their clients. Polly Kerr embodies all the qualities that makes the team unique. She puts the client at ease with her friendly nature and razor-sharp legal knowledge.’
‘Polly Kerr is a rockstar. Quite aside from her incredibly personable approach to the law and her clients, she’s fundamentally decent, kind, intelligent and passionate.’
Principaux dossiers
- Successfully defended parents who had been prosecuted by the local authority for failure to ensure attendance of an unwell child at school.
- Advised a parent on a successful application for transport of their vulnerable child to and from school, and recovery of transport costs for the preceding five years, together with recovery of legal costs.
- Successfully represented parents whose twins had been refused a place at parental preference special school, despite professionals repeatedly raising concerns regarding their safety in a mainstream setting.