Constitutional and governance advice in higher education
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are unique organisations with complex structures and subject to wide ranging regulation. In common with all organisations, effective governance at HEIs plays an important role in supporting and ensuring operational performance. Ensuring compliance with constitutional, governance and regulatory requirements is also key to managing risk in this area.
Our experienced team of education lawyers advises on all aspects of higher education constitutional advice and governance issues. Our focus is on providing practical, commercial and innovative advice and adding value whenever we can.
What we offer
We advise on the full range of issues HEIs are likely to face including:
- The Office for Students (OfS) and charity regulatory frameworks and registration with the OfS
- All constitutional advice matters, including governance structures, Charters, Statutes, Ordinances and Articles of Association and constitutional change
- Reportable events
- Relations with students’ unions
- Senior pay
- Fundraising, gifting, legacies and endowment
- Borrowing and investment
- Charity and company law
- Counter fraud
- Crisis management and reputational challenges
- Schemes of delegation
- The rights and duties of Council and Board members
- Training for Council and Board members.
Why choose Browne Jacobson higher education lawyers?
We provide specialist legal advice on constitutional and governance issues affecting the higher education sector. For more information, please contact Dominic Swift.
Featured experience
Foundation for Education Development
Supporting the Foundation for Education Development and Universities UK roundtable of Vice-Chancellors to identify what the Higher Education sector would wish to see in a long-term plan for education for the country.
A Russell Group university
Providing training to the Members of Council of a Russell Group university on induction into their new roles.
Overseas institutions
Advising overseas institutions on setting up campuses in the UK including registration with the OfS and partnership arrangements.
A university
Advising a university on the incorporation of a trading subsidiary to manage its intellectual property portfolio and implement its wide-reaching technology transfer initiatives.
Key contacts
Dominic Swift
Partner
Bettina Rigg
Partner
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Victoria Hatton
Senior Associate
Testimonials
"The team is often the first port of call for clients seeking strategic advice and support on many of the most highly sensitive, complex, political and media-sensitive issues affecting the sector."
"As a market leader, the firm’s education practice provides expert legal advice to clients across the full range of legal practice areas. Its status as a genuine heavyweight, thought leader and influencer, has seen it garner a stellar reputation amongst many of the country’s most well-known and well-respected education providers."
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