Independent Schools
Michelmores have unlocked my most slippery debtor. They were decisive in action and quickly got to grips with a family more intent on emigrating than paying their debts. An initial freezing order on a property was quickly followed by a legal charge and eventual payment, the final sum of which will clear most of the legal costs as well as the debt.
Bursar, Shebbear CollegeMichelmores has developed a wealth of experience in advising Independent School clients across the country, particularly in London and the South West. We provide a full range of legal services relating to all aspects of the provision of private education and have a keen awareness of the specific issues relating to these institutions, including:
- implementing effective strategies for the recovery of outstanding school fees
- attaining and retaining charitable status
- establishing a range of cost saving initiatives aimed at reducing expenditure and increasing revenue
The Independent Schools team is able to support its clients through growth and change, whether this involves restructuring of their estate, consolidation with other schools or effective dispute resolution with parents, suppliers or employees. With our assistance, our clients are able to complete projects within time and on budget, whilst being able to focus on their primary objective, the education and development of their students.
Recent experience
Police Force: acting on the £multi-million disposal of a 19-hectare site to a residential developer.
Police Force: legal, strategic and procurement advice on ICT contracts.
Police Force: acting for the Metropolitan Police Service on the acquisition of the Empress State Building in Earls Court, London for £250m
NHS Trust: assisted with drafting all procurement documentation relating to £50m redevelopment programme, and with establishing appropriate selection criteria.
Health Trusts (various): Tribunal hearings (whistleblowing), TUPE, organisational change management, major service outsourcing projects.
Health body: advising in relation to an agreement to commercialise two IT-based workflow products.
Local Authority: assisting with all aspects of the competitive dialogue procurement of a strategic materials recycling facility project.
Local Authorities (Key London Authorities and South West): High-profile tribunal hearings (equal pay, whistleblowing, discrimination, victimisation, freedom of expression); contentious grievance issues and appeals; negotiating compromise agreements; union recognition issues; secondments; drafting contracts and policies; TUPE; outsourcing; Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Local Authorities: superfast broadband. Advising on £100m project and the £2.5bn roll out under the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) national programme. On-going support as member of BDUK’s core specialist advisory team, including FOIA requests.
Local Authority: preparation of template contracts for purchasing goods and services and for framework arrangements.
Government Department: private developer schemes, at sites across England and Wales, under which the department contracted with developers for the construction of significant buildings, then taking a lease on completion of the works.
Universities UK member: procurement through the Competitive Dialogue procedure of a £100 million plus student residences project on a greenfield/farmyard site.
Executive Agency: employment litigation. TUPE and procurement training. Advice on procurement of a supercomputer under competitive dialogue including negotiation with bidders on legal/commercial issues.
Executive Agency: advising the Met Office on a major procurement of its multi-million pound supercomputer. Also providing secondment support.
Ombudsman: advising on all the employment law aspects of statutory transfer of staff and assets to new body.
Areas of focus
KEY CONTACTS
