Education experience
- Royal Bank of Scotland - advising on the £88 million refinancing of the Alpha Plus Group, one of the UK's largest private education groups with 17 schools in its portfolio.
- City of Westminster College - advised on their exciting new £90 million project involving a new iconic college building on Paddington Green which will provide much more space for the College. We are also advised on disposal plans for some of its existing sites. Planning and funding issues are complex, as are decanting arrangements for students whilst development is under way.
- Fortis Bank - advised on a development facility of £50 million to finance the construction of student accommodation in various locations and in connection with a syndicated £180 million revolving development facility to The UNITE Group, a major provider of student and key worker accommodation.
- University of Greenwich - advised on a range of innovative projects for the development and management of halls of residence, and in connection with its joint venture with University of Kent at Medway.
- Futures Vocational College - advised on its acquisition development and funding of a new site for one of the first 'trust' schools projects to be developed. We have advised on the structure of the new arrangements, the proposed new legislation for trust schools, TUPE and pensions issues together with all real estate funding and property advice.
- Royal College of Art - advised on a wide range of services including property, charities, trust, employment, litigation, trademarks and IT matters. We recently acted in the restructuring and rationalisation of its inner London campus.
- Lewisham College - advised on the re-modelling of the College’s property holdings (including the acquisition and redevelopment of its Deptford Campus) and the associated mezzanine funding and long term funding arrangements. We also provide stand alone employment advice on a wide range of issues and have provided in house employment law training for senior management.
- Education projects in distress - we have acted for a number of colleges recently who have experienced difficulties on projects where the main contractor has become insolvent. We have guided colleges through these stressful times and have advised on issues such as termination rights, novation to a replacement contractor, funding and procurement issues, as well as issues of payment and copyright and claims under performance bonds.
Excellent service, driven by its considered, well-judged and timely advice.
Chambers UK 2010