Gayle Ditchburn
Partner, Head of Office, Birmingham
Gayle is a commercial partner specialising in advising universities, higher and further education institutions, private education providers and banks lending to the education sector on regulatory issues, commercial contracts, joint ventures, mergers and disposals, shared services, outsourcing, commercialising activities, student unions, charity law, corporate structures and constitutional and corporate governance matters.
Gayle's experience
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Advised the University of Greenwich, a Higher Education Institution on the trailblazing merger with the University of Kent, paving the way for the creation of the UK’s first “super university”.
- United Kingdom
- Technology, Science & Industry
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Advised a higher education institution, on the provisional decision by the Office for Students to impose a specific condition of registration and a potential future legal challenge against it
- United Kingdom
- Technology, Science & Industry
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Advised the University of London (City) on its merger with St George’s, University of London to become City St George’s, University of London, one of London’s largest universities.
- United Kingdom
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Advised KCL in relation to its ambitious long-term strategic relationship with The Courtauld Institute of Art, preparing and negotiating a bespoke Collaboration Agreement with a series of detailed schedules covering the responsibilities of the parties throughout the strategic relationship.
- United Kingdom
- Universities & Education
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Advised Aston University in their acquisition of 190 Corporation Street (formerly known as “The Citadel Building”, now known as the John Cadbury Building), which now acts as the university’s new Birmingham City Centre Headquarters.
- United Kingdom
- Real Estate
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Advised the new investment business Northern Gritstone, founded by the Universities of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield, on its £215 million fund raising.
- £125m
- United Kingdom
- Financial Services
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Advised a public research University on its sponsorship agreement for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, including advising on the key risks of entering into the agreement and working on negotiations and redrafts through to its conclusion.
- United Kingdom
- Universities & Education
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Advised University College London (UCL) on its debut issue of £300m 1.625% sustainability bonds due 2061 - the first publicly listed sustainability bonds in the higher education sector. The bonds are rated Aa3 by Moody's, with UCL allocating an amount equivalent to the net proceeds of the bonds to the acquisition, financing, or refinancing of new or existing eligible sustainable projects in accordance with its sustainability finance framework.
- £300,000,000
- United Kingdom
- Universities & Education
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Advised Bath Spa University on the termination of an agreement with UK College of Business and Computing Ltd. The College was to provide for recruitment of students who would register with the University but be taught by the College at its London campus for which the College received payment. The College experienced a number of difficulties which triggered a termination by the University in July 2020. The College argued that the University was stopped from terminating and sought an interim injunction which was granted. We acted for the University in the proceedings and related mediation/negotiations.
- £5m
- United Kingdom
- Universities & Education
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Advised a leading engineering company in relation to the regulatory aspects of establishing a higher education institution and its collaboration with a university.
- United Kingdom
- Universities & Education
Credentials
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2015Made Partner at Pinsent Masons
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2007Joined Pinsent Masons
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2001Qualified - England and Wales
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1999Nottingham Law School – Diploma in Legal Practice
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1999Shakespeares, Associate
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1998Nottingham Trent University – LLB (Hons)
Out-Law / Insight by Gayle Ditchburn
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