Education
Ashfords' Education Team has extensive experience of a range of education matters, from education PFI and Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects, to college merger due diligence issues, issues arising in the construction of new college campuses and advising on restrictive covenants which affect the educational use of premises.
The provision of legal advice in respect of education matters can span a vast array of different transactions which could require a variety of legal specialists' advice. For example, the scope of legal work involved in the construction of a new college building (particularly if the new building will be constructed in a sensitive location) is extensive - the depth of our practice allows us to create a specific Education Team, drawing on the knowledge and experience of relevant specialists across the firm including Projects / PFI, Construction, ICT Procurement, Procurement, Public Law, Planning, Commercial Property, Employment, Property Litigation and Charities.
In addition to transactional work we advise education clients on a wide range of matters including staffing restructures, the defence of claims in the Employment Tribunal, strategic HR issues, disputes with students, and the prosecution and defence of civil claims through the court system and mediation.
We are well placed to advise the education sector and those working in partnership with it. Many of our lawyers have advised the sector for many years, and further value is added by a number of our senior lawyers who have in-house public sector or City of London experience.
- charities;
- commercial contracts;
- commercial property;
- compulsory purchase;
- construction;
- data protection and freedom of information;
- debt recovery;
- development;
- employment;
- environmental health;
- intellectual property;
- judicial review;
- local authority powers;
- partnering and joint working;
- planning;
- ICT procurement;
- procurement;
- projects and PFI/BSF;
- property litigation;
-
rights of way; and
- secured lending.
- acting for various school governing bodies in respect of their interests arising under a ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (‘BSF’) Project for the redevelopment of a number of schools in Derby;
- advising on procurement issues on the award of a major construction contract by a FE college;
- acting on behalf of a college in the defence of unfair dismissal and detriment claims by a Trade Union representative;
- advising Coleg Gwent on boundary issues and land ownership on a significant commercially sensitive development project; and
- development finance facility to Swindon College for a £15m new campus and advising on the construction contract and associated documentation.
