Philip Wood
Senior Associate
Birmingham
philip.wood@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2274
Philip is a senior associate specialising in education law and has over ten years of experience in advising a range of institutions including schools, academies, local authorities, and universities with a particular interest in admissions, exclusions/student disciplinary, discrimination and complex academy transfers and mergers.
He works with a huge variety of education clients, from the largest trusts in the country to single schools, and that variety means he’s able to provide learning and experience from one to the other, often acting as a connector to different clients that have experienced similar matters.
Prior to joining Browne Jacobson, Philip worked for a local authority advising on SEND, admissions and disability discrimination including his own advocacy. Philip was previously the advice manager for the National Governance Association, advising and training schools on everything from exclusions to strategic thinking. As part of his role at NGA, he was part of the group that developed various editions of the Academy Trust Handbook and the DfE’s admissions working group that looked at changes to the Admissions Code.
Expertise
Featured experience
Defending a Disability Discrimination Claim
Defending a school against multiple claims of disability discrimination relating to lockdown from a parent, including in relation to the lack of support and reasonable adjustments and denying a place in school during the first Covid lockdown. All claims were successfully dismissed.
Rebrokered Academy Transfer
Representing a large MAT in respect of a complicated academy transfer of an academy in deficit that was being managed by the ESFA.
No Outsiders
Advising a number of schools in relation to the ‘No Outsider’ protests relating to sex and relationships and citizenship education. This included advising on a judicial review claim which was ultimately defended.
University Sexual Harassment complaint
Assisting a Russell Group university on alleged sexual harassment between two students and the ways in which the university should manage the case and process.
Testimonials
"Thank you so much Philip for your excellent advice and work on this … you have been wonderful!!!!"
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