Department profile
Eversheds Sutherland

Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education)

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide


Eversheds Sutherland

Rankings

About

Provided by Eversheds Sutherland

Our Education practice is the largest education legal team and advises HE and FE institutions including private providers. Our dedicated team of experienced education lawyers have a thorough understanding of the legal, regulatory and reputational challenges faced by our education sector clients. We provide “one stop shop” advice and support, including employment, student matters, governance, litigation and dispute management, real estate, corporate and commercial, banking, intellectual property, health and safety, constitutional issues and regulatory advice.

When working on leading edge projects, our vast experience and collective insights allow us to identify what will work and successfully navigate complexity and risk.

Globally, we have education lawyers in Shanghai, Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Doha, Hong Kong, Amman, US and Riyadh. These resources and our comprehensive relationship firm network means that we can support our clients wherever in the world they need our help.

Highlights in the last 12 months include helping clients meet financial challenges and new legal and regulatory obligations and supporting their strategic goals in the UK and overseas. This includes advice on organisational change, estates rationalisation, health & safety concerns, data privacy issues and governance and reputational risk. We continue to be at the forefront of advising the HE sector on free speech and the new OfS regulatory condition related to sexual harassment and misconduct.

Clients (10)

  • University of Manchester
  • University College London
  • Leeds Trinity University
  • University of Salford
  • University of Portsmouth
  • Universities and Colleges Association
  • University of Nottingham
  • De Montfort University
  • Wirral Metropolitan College
  • Sandwell College

Industries (2)

  • Higher Education
  • Further Education and private education providers

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education) - UK-wide

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Eversheds Sutherland possesses significant expertise in the education sector and frequently assists with international collaboration arrangements and campus redevelopment projects. The team advises leading research universities, further education colleges and sector associations. The firm is steeped in all facets of governance and regulatory compliance, as well as the full spectrum of contentious matters. The team often advises university clients on pensions, employment, charity and intellectual property matters.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Eversheds Sutherland advised various universities on change programmes, including voluntary severance schemes, redundancies and restructuring exercises.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Eversheds Sutherland's service level is excellent.

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education) respondentUK
  • Eversheds Sutherland has, without any doubt, the best education lawyers.

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education) respondentUK
  • Eversheds Sutherland has an excellent understanding of the sector and is well connected.

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education) respondentUK
  • Eversheds Sutherland has excellent comprehension of the interconnected components of changing legislation in the areas the firm support us with.

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education) respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Eminent PractitionersDiane Gilhooley
    Eminent PractitionersDiane Gilhooley

    Diane Gilhooley

    Diane Gilhooley possesses considerable experience in the education sector and acts for many leading higher-education institutions. She is particularly well-versed in governance and employment matters, including discrimination claims and industrial relations issues.

  • Band 2Glynne Stanfield
    Band 2Glynne Stanfield

    Glynne Stanfield

    Glynne Stanfield focuses his practice on corporate and commercial matters in the education sector. He is particularly well-known for advising further education colleges and universities on mergers, acquisitions and joint venture arrangements.

  • Band 3Christopher Mordue
    Band 3Christopher Mordue

    Christopher Mordue

    Christopher Mordue specialises in providing employment advice for education-sector associations and universities. He has vast experience handling sexual harassment complaints and advising on Equality Act issues.

    • Chris has been really responsive and has provided advice in a really user-friendly way.

      Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education) respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at Eversheds Sutherland (3)

UK-wide

  • Profile image of Diane Gilhooley

    Diane Gilhooley

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Glynne Stanfield

    Glynne Stanfield

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Christopher Mordue

    Christopher Mordue

    Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education)

    View profile

Members

Provided by Eversheds Sutherland

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