Pinsent Masons advises on landmark university merger

The universities have worked with the Office for Students and the Department for Education to gain approval for the first-of-its-kind model – a significant move that enables the establishment of the new multi-university group as a legal entity whilst allowing the two universities to continue trading under their individual names.

The Pinsent Masons team advised the University of Greenwich, led by Partner Gayle Ditchburn, with key support from Senior Associate Rebecca McCall, Associate Rhiannon Robinson and the wider Universities and Higher Education team.

Gayle Ditchburn, Partner at Pinsent Masons, said: “This merger represents one of the most significant structural developments the UK higher education sector has seen in decades. Our specialist higher education team is proud to have supported the University of Greenwich in bringing forward a new legal model for the sector, designed not only to safeguard long term resilience but to enhance academic excellence, research capability and regional opportunity.

“The formation of the London and South East University Group by the two universities has required innovative legal thinking from advisers to both universities. We are delighted to have worked in partnership with the two universities, regulatory bodies and other advisers to navigate the legal complexities involved in such a merger.”

Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the University of Greenwich, added: “We are delighted that the University of Greenwich and University of Kent have formally exchanged contracts and are now legally committed to establishing the UK’s first ever “super-university”. This is a crucial step in the process and one that will allow us to retain the strength of our individual trading names and longstanding university identities.

“This is a truly groundbreaking moment for the sector that has required innovative work from our valued expert legal partners, Pinsent Masons, alongside colleagues across Greenwich and Kent. Gayle and the team at Pinsent Masons have been truly excellent to work with. They have been professional, pragmatic and very focussed on our needs throughout this process. It really has felt like a collaboration from start to finish and we are extremely grateful for the expertise they have brought to it.”

The proposed name of the London and South East University Group (LASEUG) is currently going through a formal consultation by the Office for Students, expected to conclude in the next few months.

The trailblazing multi-university group will come into effect as a legal entity from 1 August 2026. The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will continue to operate as two distinct academic divisions within the new structure, whilst retaining their individual names, identity and brands. Students will continue to apply to, study at and graduate from their chosen university. All staff from both universities will be employed by LASEUG.

The combined entity will provide a strong financial foundation to weather current and future economic challenges, widen access to higher education across South East London and Kent, address skills gaps and inequalities, and increase research capacity, particularly in shared priority areas, such as food security and sustainability, health and wellbeing and the creative industries. Its collective power will enable it to tackle real world issues with greater impact locally, nationally and globally.