Browne Jacobson’s C-suite exec level coaching team appoints two new education specialists

National law firm Browne Jacobson has grown its team behind its dedicated Space + Time executive coaching programme with the addition of two more qualified coaches who will work with clients in the education sector.

Browne Jacobson education partner, Nick MacKenzie and Emma Hughes who is head of HR Services at the firm, will join former Browne Jacobson managing partner turned coach, Iain Blatherwick who leads the programme and former partner turned coach, Susan Mabbott in offering support to c-suite level / trust leaders / chairs of trustees of the firm’s extensive education client base, which is made up of schools of all structures (maintained, faith and independent), academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs), Further Education and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Nick is an education lawyer with significant experience of advising executive teams and boards in the social housing, corporate and, for over 10 years, education sectors. He works with boards and executive teams in the education sector to help them navigate the landscape together with helping them spot and take opportunities. Nick sits on the firm’s board and in 2019 was invited to join the board of the Foundation for Education Development.

Emma has over 15 years’ experience in generalist HR in both the private sector and the public sector. She has led the HR consultancy practice at the firm since 2017, as well as providing HR services to a multitude of education clients. Emma is also a trustee and former board chair.

The Space + Time programme which successfully launched in 2021 targets various business sectors including law, accountancy, professional services, public sector and educational organisations, financial services, family business and SME’s.

Throughout the programme, participants are encouraged to reflect on their performance, priorities and development needs with the specialist coaching team supporting them to work to their full leadership potential and help them with crisis and project management, prioritisation, horizon scanning and key decision making.

Nick MacKenzie commented: “We have already begun working with a number of educational organisations in a coaching capacity since Space + Time launched but it is fantastic to be able to have tailored this offering and officially open it out to our broader education client base. As a leading legal provider to the education sector, we are always looking at ways of doing things differently, in order to meet the needs of our clients and Space + Time gives those operating in the sector an innovative service that will help them as leaders have the time away they need to be creative, in order to help their organisation really thrive.”

Emma Hughes added: “At Browne Jacobson, we pride ourselves on going beyond providing the right legal and HR advice to our education and HR clients. Leaders in the sector are under immense pressure for a multitude of reasons The Space + Time service enables those leaders to work through key challenges, find fresh ideas and out of the box thinking, ensuring that both they and their school trust is prepared.”

Iain Blatherwick said: “I am delighted to formally welcome Nick and Emma to our growing coaching team. The Space + Time coaching service has been really well received since we launched it last year and we are seeing an increased demand for our offering to be broadened out across various key sectors and services for the firm, including education.

“Nick and Emma are both very passionate about the power of coaching. They have a wealth of education and HR governance expertise and will build on the already strong relationships they have with the ambitious leaders of our diverse education client base, as well as forging relations with new clients and assisting them in driving forwards with increased awareness and focus to reach their organisational goals.”

Browne Jacobson’s national education practice, which is recognised in Tier 1 and Band 1 in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK 2022, is one of the largest legal teams in the country. The practice is made up of legal and HR specialists who have deep rooted sector knowledge and draws in expertise from across the firm’s full-service offering to assist clients with their bespoke needs – from construction projects, employment issues and funding matters, to protecting commercial IP, health and safety, and disputes.

Details of the Space + Time – executive coaching for education can be found here.