Pinsent Masons is one of the few full-service law firms able to offer a truly international, end-to-end advisory service to the education sector. We advise more than 75 universities and over 20 further and higher education providers, drawing on the expertise of lawyers across the UK, Europe and beyond. Clients turn to us for commercially focused advice that combines deep sector understanding with market-leading expertise across finance, governance, real estate, employment, student accommodation, research commercialisation, disputes and regulation.
For more than 15 years, we have partnered with BUFDG, supporting finance professionals through workshops, briefings and practical insights on the issues shaping the sector. As part of this longstanding relationship, we have delivered training sessions and thought leadership programmes for BUFDG members on key developments affecting university finance teams. Our education finance team works closely with university finance leaders and has advised on a broad range of financing arrangements, from complex debt capital markets transactions and private placements to working capital facilities, investment funding and major capital development projects. We are also recognised for our specialist tax expertise, advising universities on VAT, corporation tax, employment tax, international tax and the increasingly complex tax issues arising from research collaborations, commercial activities and estate developments. We also advise on collaboration arrangements, staff incentive scheme funding, restructuring and insolvency matters, and intercreditor arrangements involving the Department for Education.
Our real estate and student accommodation practice is equally well established, advising universities, developers and investors on some of the sector's most significant campus and accommodation projects. This includes acting on the recently completed Fallowfield student village redevelopment project for The University of Manchester, one of the largest and most ambitious student accommodation schemes undertaken in the UK in recent years. Our integrated team supports clients across the full lifecycle of estate and accommodation projects, from procurement and development through to financing, operation and regeneration.
Our market-leading position is reflected in our Tier 1 rankings across Chambers and Legal 500, as well as a series of recent industry awards, including:
· Innovative Lawyers in Dealmaking, FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2026 – for our work on the sector-defining merger between the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent
· Legal Team of the Year, Student Property, Property Week Student Accommodation Awards 2026
· Transactional Lawyer of the Year, Education Investor PowerList 2025
· Property Adviser of the Year, Education Property Awards 2025
Alongside these accolades, our reputation is underpinned by the strength of our client relationships and the quality of our advice:
· "Pinsent Masons has an excellent understanding of the higher education sector."
· "Pinsent Masons is extremely good at handling complex matters."
· "The team are trusted advisers. They have a focus on reliability and consistently deliver high quality, practical advice."
As recognised thought leaders in the higher education sector, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the issues affecting our clients. Through our regular webinars, sector briefings and Out-Law publications, we provide timely insights on the legal, regulatory, financial and operational developments shaping the future of higher education.
Useful resources
• OutLaw News
• Learn more about our upcoming webinars Events and Training
Contacts
Victoria Goddard (Partner) – Head of Universities & Higher Education, Student Accommodation & Strategic Estates
Chris Owens (Partner) – Net Zero Projects & Student Accommodation
Gayle Ditchburn (Partner) – Governance, Constitutional Arrangements, Regulatory Compliance
Chris Thomas (Legal Director) –Charity law, Governance and Constitutional Matters
Nick Stones (Partner)- Pensions Strategy, Governance and Regulatory Matters
Andrew McCarthy (Partner) –Tax structuring for Student Accommodation Projects, Regeneration Schemes & Joint Ventures
Jane Boyd (Partner) - Finance & Restructuring
Pippa Whitmore (Legal Director) - Finance & Restructuring
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