HIGHER EDUCATION & UNIVERSITIES
A specialist law firm distinctly focused on problem solving and delivering real estate solutions.
Whether you are thinking about the transition to net carbon zero, securing your quota of student accommodation, procuring a major construction project, or looking to collaborate with a partner, we have a team of experienced lawyers who can help you at competitive hourly rates.
We are a national award-winning law firm employing over 60 experienced lawyers specialising in all aspects of the real estate sector. As a specialist practice we pride ourselves on providing a fresh and entrepreneurial approach to the law, based on commercial experience within the sector and practical, solution-orientated advice.
We have the breadth and depth of experience required to deal effectively and commercially with the wide range of issues associated with real estate work. In addition, we have a special relationship with an award-winning boutique commercial law practice with partner level expertise in the Higher Education sector, which allows us to offer a seamless service across real estate and commercial work.
OUR SERVICES
What we can advise on
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Public Procurement law and running an effective procurement process.
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Student Accommodation - whether it’s a simple lease or a major accommodation project.
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Green Leases
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Net zero carbon transitioning.
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Partnering, collaboration and joint ventures (including the establishment of overseas campus facilities).
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UK based master planned campus redevelopment projects.
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Large scale real estate portfolio management.
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Construction law including bespoke construction contracts, professional appointments, and warranties.
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Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, proceedings in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and court litigation.
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Planning, CPO, and Highways.
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Public subsidy control issues*
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* We may take advice from specialist barristers' chambers on certain public subsidy control issues.
Our Higher Education team is led by Stephen Chalcraft who has supported the Higher Education Sector for many years. Stephen will ensure you are provided with the highest standard of legal support commensurate with your fiduciary duties. He is renowned for providing commercially focused advice and provides an exceptional project management service, bringing together the wide range of disciplines that work on large projects, both legal and commercial. He has been described in Legal 500 as ‘’intellectual and entrepreneurial’’ and, in recognition of his work in the real estate sector, Stephen was elected as an honorary Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
We are members of the University Design Forum and are panel members of a number of key legal frameworks, which makes it easy for you to appoint us.
We are hugely enthusiastic about the Higher Education Sector and the value it brings to our young people and to the wider economy, and we hope to be able to work with you in the future.
KEY CONTACTS
HOW WE ADD VALUE
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A specialist ESG group.
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Expertise in net carbon zero transitioning, green leases, and the use and opportunities created by new technologies.
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Working with you from the start of a transaction to identify risks, put in place risk mitigation strategies and ensure that our legal structures deliver realistic outcomes.
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Access to our extensive network of real estate professionals who can provide up to date market intelligence, practical advice on the latest technical developments in net zero carbon, expert advice on construction disputes or advice on high quality design in university campuses.
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​Working with you on appropriate reporting lines, which help to deal with external audit issues and with proper governance and oversight.
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Assisting you on complex transactions to project manage multi-disciplinary teams.
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The provision of post transaction debriefs and summaries to ensure you have guidance on the legal effect of transaction documents. On complex deals we offer tailored training sessions for senior executives.
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Regular reviews of your property terrier to assist with the updating of your risk register.
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Knowledge transfer – Knowledge is key to cultivating high performing teams and we provide all our clients with training and knowledge resources in multiple formats to suit your individual requirements.
TESTIMONIALS
"I've worked with Stephen for many years. He is a good academic lawyer who understands complex real estate deals. He is also solution focused and offers sensible, pragmatic advice. He is also highly effective in managing the varied commercial and legal disciplines that are involved in large real estate led projects.
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Ian Fisher
University Secretary and General Counsel
University of Central Lancashire