Higher education

Helping to shape the universities, colleges, and institutions for a modern society.

We guide higher education institutions through the most strategic and challenging issues they face.

Whether we’re instructed on the establishment of a new HEI, or on a merger or acquisition, you’ll be in safe hands throughout the transaction.

If you have operational issues such as student contracts, operational standards, or equality issues, we will make sure you’re making sound decisions and following the right processes throughout.

When you’re looking to commercialise IP through licensing or spin outs, or collaborating, partnering, or contracting with other organisations, we’ll bring our commercial expertise to ensure that you’re taking advantage of every opportunity.

If you’re in a dispute, we’ll help you to resolve it quickly and cost effectively. So you can get back on track with as little financial or reputational damage as possible.

Because we understand the real-world challenges facing higher education institutions.

How we help

We advise on governance and constitutional issues; drawing on our unrivalled charity law expertise, particularly in our work for Oxford and Cambridge universities and colleges, including donations, gifts and grants.

We advise on acquisitions and disposals of HEIs and e-learning and technology businesses, including all associated property, IP, and TUPE issues.

We have extensive experience advising on regulatory issues, engaging regularly with the Office for Students, the Department for Education, Ofqual and the Charity Commission (sometimes all at once). Examples of our work include advising on OfS registration and degree awarding power applications, establishing new awarding organisations, advising on investigations and regulatory action by regulators, challenging regulatory decisions, and advising on safeguarding and equalities issues.

 

We advise on contractual arrangements including shared use agreements, catering contracts, photocopying agreements, utilities contracts, consultancy agreements, data processing agreements, project contracts and facilities hire agreements.

We advise on the full spectrum of property matters from acquisition and sale of premises and accommodation, to planning issues, refinancing projects, disputes and facility sharing agreements.

 

“Bates Wells are specialists and understand the particular concerns of our sector.”

Education Higher & Further, Chambers 2024
Meet our team
You May Also Be Interested In

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 18 August

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Investigations and complaints The Fundraising Regulator has published the results of its investigation into two community interest companies, Atoma Union CIC and Youth Works Union CIC.  …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 11 August

Our weekly round up of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission Beacon cyber security incident A cybersecurity incident has affected Beacon CRM, a widely used customer relationship management platform in the charity sector. The …
Read more

OfS revises freedom of speech guidance following Sussex v OfS

On 5 August 2026, the Office for Students (OfS) has published revised regulatory guidance on freedom of speech and the incoming complaints scheme for higher education providers (HEPs). Influenced by de facto legislative changes since the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 was enacted, and the judgment in Sussex v OfS, the guidance now …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 4 August

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Government news The Chancellor John Healey has announced that the Budget to move “power and money out of Westminster, and into every postcode around Britain” will …
Read more

Department for Education consultation on statutory guidance for ‘gender questioning’ children: call for responses

The Department for Education (DfE) has opened its annual consultation on updates to its “Keeping children safe in education” (KCSIE) statutory guidance, which will include a new section on ‘gender questioning’ children. Schools and colleges, teachers and leaders, parents and young people, charities and support groups, will have valuable experience and views, which may be …
Read more