Education: Institutions (Schools)
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(0115) 976 6000Chambers Review
Browne Jacobson offers a stellar education practice providing in-depth advice and support to a wide range of schools and academies across the country. The team is particularly well-known for assisting with academy conversions and various issues concerning students, including work relating to safeguarding, exclusions and placements. The team also regularly assists clients with governance and data protection matters, as well as Equality Act and discrimination claims. The firm works in close partnership with a number of sector organisations, including the National SEND Forum, the National Association for Special Educational Needs and various Roman Catholic dioceses.
Work Highlights
- Browne Jacobson represented a multi academy trust in a discrimination claim that included six heads of claim within it about alleged disability discrimination by a special school.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Browne Jacobson are market leaders in education."
"Browne Jacobson have an outstanding team with high-quality and consistent leadership. They are well respected in the sector."
"I can't think of any technical legal discipline where Browne Jacobson's team could not cover all aspects required."
"Thanks to Browne Jacobson's professional understanding and reactive nature, they were able to steer us to a much more comfortable position."
"Browne Jacobson are market leaders in education."
"Browne Jacobson have an outstanding team with high-quality and consistent leadership. They are well respected in the sector."
"I can't think of any technical legal discipline where Browne Jacobson's team could not cover all aspects required."
"Thanks to Browne Jacobson's professional understanding and reactive nature, they were able to steer us to a much more comfortable position."
Notable Practitioners
Mark Blois possesses an exceptionally well-regarded practice that focuses on assisting clients with an array of issues affecting academies. He has a strong reputation for his expert handling of academy conversions and reorganisations, governance reviews, discrimination claims and student exclusion cases.
"Mark Blois is very approachable and knowledgeable in the education sector."
"Mark is very approachable and knowledgeable and has always ensured there was capacity to meet demand."
"His awareness and wealth of knowledge of the education sector has been incredibly helpful in steering and supporting us."
"Mark is an excellent lawyer with vast experience of the education sector."
Nick Mackenzie is a respected lawyer with a strong reputation for representing multi-academy trusts. He frequently assists with governance arrangements, as well as academy transfers and conversions.
"Nick is simply outstanding. He is much more than a lawyer, he is a counsel on many things with huge knowledge. He is a deep thinker."
"Having Nick at your back means you sleep a little better at night."
"Nick Mackenzie has the remarkable ability to help you see other perspectives without pain and delivers wise counsel with a smile, so even difficult news is bearable."
From Browne Jacobson's Manchester office, Dai Durbridge leads the firm's education offering in the North West. He has significant experience in assisting with various education sector issues, including admissions and exclusions, safeguarding matters and data protection issues. He represents a range of clients including schools, academies and sixth form colleges.
"Dai is an excellent speaker and writer, and provides nuanced and researched insights."
"We take comfort from Dai being there."
"Dai Durbridge is an excellent person to work with and understands his area of law very well."
Vicky Wilson is a senior associate in the education team at Browne Jacobson. She assists independent and academy schools with operational and safeguarding issues, including admissions, exclusions and discrimination matters.
Ranked Lawyers at
Browne Jacobson LLP
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Browne Jacobson LLP