Higher education institutions and universities
Our team of dedicated and trusted higher education lawyers understand the globally competitive and challenging environment in which you operate and know you need pragmatic and practical solutions for your institution. In the ever-changing world of higher education, it is more important than ever that you have access to specialist higher education legal advice that you can rely on.
Our team of higher education solicitors will work with you to help you make and take opportunities in the rapidly changing legal, regulatory and commercial landscape you operate in, both domestically and internationally.
We’ll do this by providing genuine insight into current higher education law and a fresh perspective on the issues you face, as well as delivering client-focused solutions rather than technical answers to defined legal questions. We’re always looking to influence, innovate and challenge the status quo. We add value wherever we can.
Our clients choose us because of our sector expertise and intrinsic knowledge of higher education law, but they stay with us because of our exceptional service.
Browne Jacobson’s higher education legal advice
We work with senior leadership, management teams and in-house legal teams in higher education institutions (HEIs), supporting them with informed and strategic decision-making as well as the identification and management of risk.
We also engage with sector organisations to support their work and contribute to debate and policy.
Our expertise
What others say...
"Browne Jacobson are hungry for education work, and provide a wealth of knowledge. They are expanding into the higher education sector and spend a lot of time getting to know the client and how it works."
The hiring of Bettina Rigg has brought strong sector experience and understanding to the firm.
Key contacts
Bettina Rigg
Partner
Mark Blois
Partner
Selina Hinchliffe
Partner
Dominic Swift
Partner
Nick MacKenzie
Partner
Sam Sharp
Senior Associate
Nick Smee
Partner
James Tait
Partner
Anja Beriro
Partner
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Stephanie McGarry
Partner
Latest insights and events
Legal Update
New support launched to manage school complaints
Legal Update
Government introduces first Streamlined Subsidy Schemes under new regime
On-Demand
The Subsidy Control Act 2022. Putting the new regime into practice
Opinion
Consultation on holiday entitlement – part-year and irregular workers
Guide
FAQs - becoming an academy sponsor
Legal Update
The importance of understanding the transitional provisions under the Electronic Communications Code
Legal Update
Biodiversity Net Gain: positive for nature and an opportunity for landowners
Legal Update
Discrimination comes of age
Press Release
Law firm picks up record breaking sixth Education Investor Award
Browne Jacobson’s education team has been named as winner of the ‘Legal Advisors to Education Institutions’ category at the Education Investor Awards 2022 for a record sixth time.
Press Release
Thousands take part in virtual careers event to help increase diversity in the legal profession
Over 3000 young people from across the UK and Ireland took part in a virtual legal careers insight event, aimed at making the legal profession more diverse.
Press Release
Education team maintains clean sweep of top rankings in latest legal directories
Browne Jacobson’s education team has again been confirmed as a national powerhouse after securing five Tier 1 rankings relating to Education in the latest edition of Legal 500 and maintaining a Band 1 UK-wide ranking for Education in Chambers & Partners UK 2023.
Legal Update
be connected newsletter for higher education - Autumn 2022
Press Release
Browne Jacobson and The University of Nottingham announce Knowledge Transfer Partnership to promote greater equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal sector and beyond
Law firm Browne Jacobson and the University of Nottingham are launching a ground-breaking two and a half year Knowledge Transfer Partnership which aims to develop and embed long-lasting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles and learnings into the firm’s practices and processes, amongst its key client-bases and the national legal sector.
Legal Update
Authorship disputes and employment claims
In an academic environment, there can be pressures to publish, particularly where funding is dependent upon research and reputation. Whilst there can be competition between Higher Education establishments to be the first to publish, there can also be internal conflicts over authorship rights where several individuals have contributed to the work.
Legal Update
Subsidy Control Act 2022: economic queries
In July, the long-awaited statutory guidance on the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (Act) was published in draft form (Draft Guidance). A consultation on the draft guidance has recently ended and the results have not yet been published – it may therefore change before the final version is published.
Legal Update
Changes to holiday pay for part-year workers
In July 2022, the Supreme Court handed down its long-awaited Judgement in the case of Harpur Trust v Brazel relating to the correct calculation of statutory holiday pay for part year workers. This decision has implications for all part year workers on contracts which subsist all year round, whether their hours are normal or irregular.
Legal Update
Facing the threat of cyber security breaches
Universities and colleges are not immune from deception by unscrupulous bad actors. The extent to which educational institutions can manage and control risk not only depends on financial management and internal controls, but also the robustness of security and processes which can be exploited from outside the organisation.
Opinion
Internal reports and privilege
In University of Dundee v Chakraborty, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) considered whether a first draft of a grievance report could retrospectively be deemed to be privileged.
Legal Update
Data reform in the UK
Since the UK left the EU and are now able to move away from the EU data protection regime, the UK government have implemented a national data strategy with the aim of reducing the burden on organisations but maintaining a high data protection standard.
Legal Update
What opportunities do the REF 2021 results offer universities?
The long-awaited publication of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 provides universities with opportunities to generate additional income and build upon the quality of their research output.
Legal Update
be connected newsletter for higher education - May 2022
In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.
Legal Update
Harassment and sexual misconduct in Higher Education
Cases involving the handling allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct by Universities continues to hit the news. They are clearly difficult issues for Universities given the competing duties owed to both the reporting individual and the alleged perpetrator and the inevitable sensitivities around the nature of these matters.
Legal Update
ICO consultation on research provisions guidance
The data protection legislation (namely, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) contain various provisions that deal with the processing of personal data for research purposes.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson’s C-suite exec level coaching team appoints two new education specialists
National law firm Browne Jacobson has grown its team behind its dedicated Space + Time executive coaching programme with the addition of two more qualified coaches who will work with clients in the education sector.
Legal Update
be connected newsletter for higher education - February 2022
In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.
Legal Update
Digitising the student experience in higher education: Some practical tips for procurement
Five considerations for HEIs when undertaking an IT procurement for largely “off the shelf” small-scale student-facing applications for online teaching, knowledge stores and document repositories etc.
Legal Update
How will HSE’s focus on occupational health affect UK HE institutions?
What does the HSE's decision to prioritise occupational health inspection & enforcement activities mean for higher education institutions?
Published Article
Implications of the amended public procurement thresholds
To continue to meet legal obligations, higher education institutions must consider threshold figure changes in the Cabinet Office review.
Published Article
Fire safety in the higher education sector: looking back and looking forward
Fire safety regulation is undergoing a period of evolution, with many new & far-reaching fire safety developments having significant implications for those responsible for educational premises.
Legal Update
National Security and Investment Act: key points you need to know
The new regime is of direct relevance to the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) which work within many of the areas covered by the Act.
Opinion
Asbestos: Still the UK’s number one occupational killer
A ResPublica report highlighted that asbestos continues to be the UK’s number one occupational killer, with nurses and teachers 3 to 5 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general UK population. The House of Commons Work & Pensions Select Committee is investigating how the HSE manages the continued presence of asbestos in buildings.
Legal Update
be connected newsletter for higher education - November 2021
In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.
Legal Update
Supporting disabled applicants to higher or degree apprenticeships
Our top tips for Higher Education Institutions supporting disabled students on higher or degree apprenticeships.
Legal Update
Digital transformation in higher education: things to consider
What does digital transformation (DT) mean to you? Because as it turns out, it means different things depending on who you ask.
Legal Update
Quashing the rebellion – or inciting it?
Following the defeat of the Government in respect of the prorogation case in 2019, the Government commissioned an Independent Review of Administrative Law in 2020.
Legal Update
The DfE’s draft education and sustainability strategy: for higher education institutions
We consider each of the ‘action areas’ of the draft strategy & what it might mean for higher education.
Guide
MAT mergers - a guide for academy trust leaders and trustees
A joint guidance paper written in collaboration between Browne Jacobson and the National Governance Association (NGA) on academy mergers within the education sector has been released today.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson hosts UK’s largest virtual legal careers event to boost access to careers in law
Tomorrow, (Wednesday 27th October), national law firm Browne Jacobson will host its second FAIRE: virtual work experience and legal careers insight event, in partnership with Young Professionals.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson education practice achieves six top tier positions in Legal 500 and Chambers rankings
Browne Jacobson’s education team has been confirmed as a national powerhouse after securing five Tier 1 rankings in the latest edition of Legal 500 for the very first time, and maintaining its Band 1 UK-wide ranking for Education (Institutions – Schools) in Chambers & Partners UK 2022.
Published Article
Women in knowledge exchange and spinouts
Women may have broken down many professional and personal barriers, but significant gender disparity remains in the research and development community.