Education
Our education specialists act for several local education institutions. Our solicitors spend time getting to know you to understand how your organisation works so that we can deliver the tailored support you need to help you achieve your objections.
We have a wealth of specific experience in the sector with a number of our solicitors sitting as governors at local schools. With the ability to draw on expertise from across the firm, the team is able to provide comprehensive advice to our education clients with the following:
We act for clients in education sector in all areas of employment law, including preparing bespoke employment contracts and policies tailored to the unique needs in this arena; managing staff; advising on employment disputes, termination and recruitment; acting in employment tribunal litigation and immigration assistance.
With our comprehensive understanding of the sector, we swiftly navigate complex workplace matters to ensure, where possible, a swift, practical resolution is reached. Our experience in the sector means our solicitors give relevant, specialist, practical and up to the minute advice on situations in your business as they develop.
Our team advises on an array of day-to-day requirements in the education industry, including data protection, safeguarding and associated policies and procedures, supplier agreements, intellectual property registrations and portfolio management, along with ad-hoc advice as required, including data subject access requests and freedom of information requests.
Our team look to ensure that clients are well placed to provide their teaching services to students, whilst also being confident that their schools and institutions are able to operate in a compliant and sustainable manner, providing confidence to parents, students and teachers alike.
We work with our education sector clients on all of their commercial property requirements, including strategy, leasehold and freehold disposals and acquisitions, options and financing.
Our Education Team advises schools, academies, educational trusts, universities, colleges, students, parents and governing bodies in dealing with disputes in the education sector. Our team is able to carefully consider the added complexities involved in education disputes such as safeguarding, regulatory obligations and reputational risk. Leathes Prior can assist with the following:
- Advising on challenges to suspensions, exclusions and admissions decisions
- Debt collection – we have extensive experience of recovering fees for schools
- Charity and trust issues
- Discrimination claims
- Complaints regarding pastoral care and safeguarding
- Governance disputes
- Data protection and GDPR disputes
Our Regulatory and Criminal Defence Team provides advice and representation to businesses and individuals operating in the education sector, for example those facing HSE, Trading Standards, DVSA, Police, HMRC, GLAA and Environment Agency investigations and prosecutions, or Coroner’s Investigations and Inquests in the event of fatalities.
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What our clients say
Leathes Prior’s Polly Langford advises many independent schools in Norfolk. She represented a school in admissions policy and Equality Act matters.
Mike Barlow’s team at Leathes Prior provides exemplary service and extremely quick responses.
Approachable and responds readily to clients’ requests with clear advice. A boon to education clients.
Leathes Prior provides an excellent, prompt and professional service; it is incredibly difficult to find any fault.
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