Our mission is to provide an outstanding service to leading and ambitious universities and higher education institutions. Built on our deep sector knowledge and experience, we have a track record of innovation, thought leadership, and getting things done.
Our Universities & Higher Education group includes over 150 lawyers based in our offices in the UK, Middle East and Asia Pacific. We draw on the full resources of Pinsent Masons to cover the range of legal disciplines. We advise both UK and international institutions - whether publicly funded or private, charitable or for-profit.
UK universities are at an evolutionary turning point. The era of generous state support is over. As the funding of HE transforms, students and student demand will have a greater influence on the shape of the sector and of individual institutions. The UK government is using policy changes and legislation to create a more favourable environment for private, for-profit and international institutions to set up in competition with existing, state supported and charitable universities.
UK universities are strongly autonomous institutions with the ability to develop their own institutional and collective strategies in response to this changing environment. Strategic thinkers will see opportunities to make significant operational reforms which will stand them in good stead for the challenges of the future.
At the same time, there is increasing interest by reputable international institutions in entering the UK market. We have helped two of them to do so, and to establish themselves as charities. We also advise UK institutions on HE collaborations and joint ventures with partners worldwide.
Our advisers act on domestic and international projects of all shapes and sizes, working with many of the leading names across this diverse sector. Browse our experience below, or use the filters to look-up recent work in particular geographies and legal disciplines.
Represented a London Russell Group University in the defence of an Employment Tribunal claim involving whistleblowing, disability discrimination and breach of contract allegations.
Advised The University of Manchester, a leading UK University on the largest student accommodation design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) project ever undertaken by a UK university.
Advising a higher education client on the regime known as Martyn’s Law which requires venues of certain capacities to take anti-terrorism measures for the protection of public safety.
Advised the management team of Knovia, one of the UK’s leading apprenticeship and vocational training providers, on the terms of the MBO by Eureka Education, backed by French PE firm, Naxicap Partners.
Advised Unipol Student Homes, a prominent student housing provider, on an underwrite arrangement with a university involving an agreement for lease and lease for student accommodation.
Advised a leading London university on the procurement and implementation of business-critical cloud-based HR, finance and payroll software, ensuring compliance with public procurement frameworks and achieving a favourable outcome through complex contractual negotiations.
Advised a leading contemporary student accommodation provider on their land acquisition facility with a real estate investment manager, in connection with the acquisition of land for PBSA development.
Acting for a leading global construction company as D&C Contractor on a dispute arising from the fit out of an educational facility.
Advised a higher education institute on board review support, providing guidance to ensure effective governance and compliance with regulatory standards.
Delivered line management training to employees of University of Warwick which developed the participants’ understanding of key areas of employment law alongside their confidence in dealing with day-to-day employment law issues. With a specific focus on Equality & Respect at Work; Managing Discipline; and Managing Capability Issues, including performance and ill health/absence.
Our expertise, at your disposal
With over 490 partners and 3000 people around the world, we are well-placed to support you across a full range of legal and advisory services.
Partner
EmailVictoria heads our international universities practice leading a team of specialist lawyers in university governance and constitutional matters, HR, estates, GDPR, tax, financing, IP and student disputes who are consistently ranked number one in the leading directories.
Partner
EmailMatthew heads our Property Dispute Resolution team in England & Wales and helps clients with all types of property related disputes. Matthew acts for government departments, banks and a range of UK and foreign owned companies.
Global Sector Head for Technology, Science and Industry
EmailDavid is our Sector Head for Technology, Science and Industry and leads our global offering to clients in these sectors. He is recognised as a market leader in technology and privacy litigation, having acted in some of the most complex and groundbreaking litigation in the tech space.
Partner
EmailNigel Blundell is a partner specialising in the negotiation and drafting of construction contracts.
Legal Director
EmailShonagh is part of the UK Finance team. She has a strong reputation for advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of financing transactions. Shonagh has a particular focus on advising on corporate lending transactions and education finance matters.
Partner, Head of Employment & Incentives, UK
EmailHelen is listed as an “Eminent Practitioner” in Chambers UK Legal Guide and is known for advising on complex and sensitive employment issues to clients in the public and private sector. A significant part of her practice is conducting complex and high-profile investigations and managing disputes
Partner, Head of Office, Birmingham
EmailGayle 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.
Partner
EmailAlicia is a highly experienced property litigator and leads the Midlands Property Dispute Resolution practice in England & Wales.
Legal Director
EmailLouise advises on the protection, management and exploitation of intellectual property rights for a range of clients - from government departments to global businesses.
Orbital has built specific workflows for Scottish commercial real estate work, built around Scots Law and Scottish real estate practice
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised Penta Real Estate on its investment into a landmark £230 million-plus joint venture with Staycity Group and advised the joint venture on the financing arrangements for the development, which will deliver a 350-room Wilde aparthotel in the heart of London's Farringdon district.
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised manufacturing companies PROXMUS and Promus on the sale of their businesses to CGH Innovation, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of steel tanks and a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital, a global private equity firm headquartered in Miami.
Victoria Goddard
Partner