Law firm, in Cheltenham, is seeking to recruit an Education (Corporate) Senior Associate or Legal Director or Partner. This Education team is continuing to expand its Corporate offering and the successful candidate will work closely with the Partner leading the team, supporting the delivery of high‑quality work while also helping to drive the practice forward through business development and client relationship growth.
The role will involve advising schools on their long‑term future and supporting them through mergers, acquisitions and strategic collaborations. It combines high‑quality transactional work with genuine sector specialism and a visible external profile. The team acts for over 300 educational institutions, including:
• independent schools
• academies
• further education colleges
• universities
This involves working closely with:
• Boards of Governors
• Heads
• Bursars
• commercial school groups
• school proprietors & directors
The team is nationally recognised for its deep understanding of the education sector and its ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice in a highly regulated environment. You will take a leading role in advising education clients, particularly within the independent school sector, on a broad range of corporate matters, including:
• sales and acquisitions of independent schools and commercial school groups;
• charitable mergers, restructurings and collaborations;
• strategic projects supporting long‑term sustainability and growth;
• corporate governance and constitutional matters;
• help grow the practice by getting involved with business development initiatives and build strong referral relationships externally and internally;
• contribute to the team’s sector profile, including events, thought leadership and client training
• take ownership of client relationships and help mentor more junior team members.
This role is ideal for someone who:
• enjoys being visible, takes pride in developing client relationships, and wants to play a meaningful role in shaping a growing specialist practice;
• has strong corporate experience at Legal Director or Partner level;
• has a solid grounding in transactions, with confidence running matters day‑to‑day;
• experience of, or holding a genuine interest in, the education and/or charity sector.
