Education
Our education lawyers support schools, colleges, universities, and government bodies across the UK and internationally. As a leading adviser to the sector, we help you manage risk, seize growth opportunities, and protect your reputation.
Services
ContactsOverview
We work across the entire education landscape, drawing on our knowledge of how institutions operate, the pressures faced by the sector, and the regulatory frameworks that shape decision-making. This enables us to provide clear, practical guidance tailored on a range of areas, including:
Student and regulatory matters
We regularly advise institutions on both contentious and non‑contentious issues, as well as wider regulatory matters. Our work includes advising on student contracts, developing policies, and supporting institutions with discrimination policies and procedures.
Charity governance
Our team supports all aspects of charity law and governance, including mergers and acquisitions, investment and borrowing, and overseas franchising. We also have experience advising charities structured as Royal Charter Corporations on their unique requirements.
Employment, pensions, and immigration
We advise on all aspects of employment law, including staff relations, organisational change, pensions, and immigration matters. We also offer practical solutions, including a dedicated HR helpline, tribunal support, MI reporting, and access to specialist pensions advice.
Commercial, procurement, and subsidy control
We offer comprehensive support on the full spectrum of commercial and contractual arrangements, including research and grant agreements, intellectual property and brand management, and subsidy control.
Information law and cyber security
Our education lawyers have extensive experience advising on information law and compliance with data protection legislation. With education institutions increasingly facing cyber risks, our 24/7 incident support service provides immediate access to lawyers and PR specialists to help manage cyber incidents and mitigate reputational exposure.
Real estate
We advise on a range of property needs for education providers, including acquisitions, disposals, and development projects such as the construction of new campuses, specialist research facilities, and student accommodation.
Featured experience
Governing instruments
Advising a higher education institution on amendments to its governing instrument
Charity status
Supporting a university college on its potential status as an exempt charity and the benefits of not being registered with the Charity Commission
Joint ventures
Advising a university on acquiring and establishing a joint venture to redevelop a former hospital site into a health innovation neighbourhood
Procurement
Acting for a university on the procurement and delivery of a £100m+ construction project for a major academic facility and student accommodation
Pension advice
Providing strategic pension risk advice and implementing risk‑reduction exercises for multiple universities
Our expertise
Charities
Our nationwide team of specialist lawyers is dedicated to supporting all types of charities and not for profit organisations on all legal, regulatory and governance matters impacting on them.
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Commercial and Procurement
Our extensive commercial services span various sectors, with dedicated teams in insurance, healthcare, technology, and more. We provide expert guidance on procurement, IT, contracts, intellectual property, competition, and more.
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Data, Privacy and Cyber
Our Data, Privacy and Cyber team provides advice and support on advisory and contentious matters of all sizes and complexity.
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Dispute Resolution
Our Dispute Resolution team has an established reputation for handling complex, high value commercial disputes and achieving successful and pragmatic solutions for our clients.
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Employment
Our Employment and Pensions group is one of the largest specialist employment teams in the country, with over 60 specialist employment and pensions lawyers nationally. Tax is an integrated part of the advice we provide.
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Real Estate
We provide legal advice throughout the real estate development cycle for UK and international investors, fund managers developers and contractors and to central and local government.
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”"Andy Crocombe is a stand-out partner: he is highly experienced at defending education sector clients, really knowledgeable, strategic and always thinks of the client's interests. Becky Lea is an associate to watch, in my view: a real education sector specialist and a very safe pair of hands, who is surely on the track to partnership."
Legal 500 UK 2026, Professional Negligence, South West
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”"The team has notable strength in healthcare, residential, and education-related real estate work, alongside advising local authorities and large commercial clients."
Legal 500 UK 2026, Commercial Property: Newcastle
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”"The team has a real understanding of their clients and their practice is client-focused. The team are very familiar with the education sector and education-specific issues relating to professional negligence claims. I cannot think of a better team for insured clients in the education sector."
Legal 500 UK 2026, Professional Negligence, South West
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Education key contacts
Who we are
Why choose DAC Beachcroft?
We’re a broad-based commercial firm serving a wide range of sectors with a strong heritage in insurance,
health and real estate. We combine excellent legal skills and cutting-edge delivery expertise to design
solutions that fit the needs of our clients – often involving clever uses of technology.
Our expertise
Aviation
We deliver a uniquely tailored, full service approach to supporting you with all your aviation needs.
Learn moreCharities
Our nationwide team of specialist lawyers is dedicated to supporting all types of charities and not for profit organisations on all legal, regulatory and governance matters impacting on them.
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Construction and Engineering
Our expertise in construction and engineering law combined with genuine sector knowledge means our advice is tailored to drive your success.
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ESG
Widespread concern and focused activism about climate change and inequality are having far reaching effects. Businesses and organisations are being called upon to act as stewards for people and the planet, and governments are responding with binding targets and increasing regulation.
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Education
Our education lawyers support schools, colleges, universities, and government bodies across the UK and internationally. As a leading adviser to the sector, we help you manage risk, seize growth opportunities, and protect your reputation.
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Government and Public Sector
Our long-standing government practice works on key projects for central government, local authorities, higher education establishments and the NHS.
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Infrastructure and Projects
Our Infrastructure and Projects practice is involved in major national infrastructure and market-leading projects, bringing an incredible breadth and depth of expertise and industry knowledge to help your scheme succeed.
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Leisure and Hospitality
We’re known for our work driving growth and delivering success across all areas of the leisure and hospitality sector.
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Manufacturing
We have decades of experience, working with some of the best known manufacturing brands in the UK and around the world.
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Retail and Consumer
We provide a complete service to retail brands, manufacturers, developers, owners, local authorities, funds and institutional investors, and managers of retail destinations in the public and private sector.
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Shipping, Trade and Commodities
Our specialist team provides expert advice and support on a range of aspects of shipping and foreign trade.
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Sports Law
As a specialist adviser to many institutions across the sporting spectrum, we provide the full range of legal services required to navigate this increasingly complex arena.
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Transport and logistics
We deliver a complete service across the transport and logistics sector, drawing in expertise on an international level.
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