Services for Educational Establishments

Contractual matters, procurement contracts, sponsorship agreements

Our commercial lawyers provide pragmatic advice, helping Bursars and Senior Managers to grow their organisations, create sustainable income streams and meet their key objectives. Our expertise covers all commercial agreements and contracts including; drafting and reviewing parent contracts and drafting and negotiating terms and conditions, supply agreements, IT contracts and outsourcing agreements.

Litigation and Disputes

We advise educational establishments on a wide range of commercial disputes, including; contractual disputes, property disputes and construction disputes.

We act for independent schools on sensitive issues including withdrawals and exclusions of pupils, bullying, complaints/allegations of breach of contract made by parents, the recovery of unpaid fees and fees in lieu of notice and defamatory comments made against members of staff either directly or through electronic media.

We also act for universities facing allegations of discrimination from students and complaints arising from the programmes delivered.

Recovery of school fees

At SA Law we have developed a debt recovery scheme for the education sector which supports your in-house credit control and helps you to recover both commercial debts and unpaid fees.

Employment law

We provide on hand assistance with day-to-day employment decisions to ensure education establishments fulfil legal obligations as employers to ensure best practice in ever-evolving employment legislation.

Property management and development

SA Law’s Real Estate team have a range of experience in working with educational institutions. Providing expert advice on a broad range of property, assets management, acquisition and disposal, landlord and tenant and complex development work.

Data protection and freedom of information

Education providers are obliged to comply with the data protection principles set out in the Data Protection Act, whereas emanations of public authorities, such as state schools, must also comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Intellectual Property

Educational establishments are increasingly generating their own intellectual property (IP). We can help you to identity, manage and protect your IP, we can also act for you should you need to enforce, or defend it from misuse by others. Our expertise covers; copyright, trade marks, designs and patents, contracts and licensing, Intellectual property dispute resolution / litigation.

Academy conversion

The opportunity for schools to convert to academy status allows schools to move away from local government control and become a business in its own right. Our team can advise Headteachers, Governors and Bursars on the legal elements that are integral to the conversion process.