Geldards is a leading national full-service law firm which provides specialist, high quality, sector specific advice in all legal and HR matters.
We are independently recognised as education sector specialists and pride ourselves on sharing our sector-specific knowledge and experience proactively, so that you have the expertise you need in a number of areas including employment matters, health and safety, commercial contracts, funding, SEND, academy mergers, intellectual property, defamation, estates and construction projects, disputes and education law.
With offices nationally, we are an ISO accredited firm consisting of leading lawyers and HR professionals. Our clients benefit from an Education Sector Team, led by a leading education sector specialist Partner, Thomas Emmett, who is recognised externally as having “thorough knowledge of how schools operate and the unique requirements within the sector” (Legal 500 2025). He is supported by experts from different legal areas who have extensive experience in advising the educator sector and put clients at the centre of everything they do.
Alongside our topical webinars, practical guidance and regular legal & HR briefing notes, we provide comprehensive legal & HR support to clients through flexible retainer arrangements or on an ad-hoc basis, tailored to operational need.
Feedback from our 2025 Legal 500 entry reflects our approach to delivering high quality legal & HR services: "Working with Geldards feels like they are part of our own team. We know we can rely on them, and their team, to deliver. We would like to thank them for their exceptional commitment and dedicated teamwork once again."
We note below some examples of how we support our educational institution clients.
For exclusions and behaviour, we review and advise on behaviour policies and decisions relating to behaviour, including all associated processes such as the Independent Review Panels, as well as advising on compliance with guidance and relevant legislation.
Our SEND and equality expertise includes challenging or supporting the naming of institutions within EHCPs, responding to consultations, advising on annual reviews, supporting SEND-related behaviour management, advising on Equality Act duties and representing clients in SEND tribunal/disability discrimination proceedings.
We provide robust crisis management support, including safeguarding compliance, exam malpractice, cyber incidents, media and reputational management, fraud investigations and inquest support. We also offer expertise in complaints management, including policy review, response drafting and support with unreasonable behaviour.
Our data protection and information governance services cover policy development, Subject Access Requests, FOI requests, exemptions and ICO engagement.
Geldards LLP is committed to supporting not only the school trusts we work with, but also the wider education sector. A key part of our approach is proactive knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, helping leaders stay informed, confident and compliant in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment.
We regularly publish sector updates, legal insights and practical guidance for education professionals through our dedicated online channels, particularly on LinkedIn, covering developments in law and HR including education law, SEND, safeguarding, governance, disputes, data protection and employment matters. These updates are designed to be accessible and relevant, supporting leaders to respond effectively to change and emerging risk.
Our team also contributes to the Geldards SEN podcast, offering an institutional perspective on current issues in SEND, inclusion, and pupil provision. In addition, we attend and host seminars, roundtable discussions and sector events, including “Lunch and Learn” HR sessions and collaborative events such as those delivered in partnership with Sensible SENDCo held at the Samsung KX, all aimed at strengthening sector knowledge and encouraging dialogue between practitioners.
Our organisational culture is rooted in partnership, pro-activeness, prevention and practical support. We take a relational approach, focused on early intervention, clear advice and building long-term resilience for schools and trusts. Many of our services, including our Schools HR model, are developed directly in response to emerging sector needs.
Through this work, we deliver both a direct and wider social impact for our clients and the communities they serve.
