Education

Clyde & Co has best in class knowledge of the education sector, giving us the capability to help clients make the most of opportunities in growing economies and emerging markets.

Tailored advice with unparalleled industry knowledge

Our education lawyers, based across our global office network, are ready to help clients in whatever market they operate in or wish to develop and grow. We act for a range of the world’s largest and best-known education institutions.

Working on all aspects of a client’s education business, we draw on our long track record of success in this sector to deliver pragmatic, innovative and commercial advice.

While we are a powerful force in the education sector on six continents, we have particular strength in the UK, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. We specialise in advising UK independent schools and universities to expand their operations.

We play a crucial role in helping these institutions co-operate with investors and local partners to establish branded campuses in territories such as China, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and throughout the wider APAC and MENA regions.

A significant part of our role is to advise investors and international education providers on growth opportunities, merger and acquisition activity and overall corporate governance. At all times, we tailor the support we provide to reflect local market practice and the jurisdiction’s regulatory framework.

From supporting private investors in their first forays into the sector to advising operators in new and challenging jurisdictions, we offer expert guidance across all legal aspects of education.

Our Education Work

  • All
  • Africa
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East
  • UK & Europe
  • Supporting broader participation in Egypt's digital economy

    Advising a global technology company on a contract with the Ministry of Planning, Monitoring & Administrative Reform for cooperation on education activities to support broader participation in the digital economy in Egypt.

    Egypt

    Acquisition of a global private education group by a Swiss Investment Fund

    Advising Jacobs Holding AG, a Swiss investment fund, on the acquisition of global private education group Cognita from KKR and Bregal. 

    United Kingdom

    Series of school acquisitions by Chatsworth Schools and Synova Capital

    Advising Chatsworth Schools and Synova Capital on a series of school acquisitions across the United Kingdom including most recently the acquisition of Riverston School and Beech Hall School, taking the number of schools and nurseries in the Chatsworth Schools portfolio to 14.

    United Kingdom

    PROPARCO's proposed investment Moringa Schools Limited

    Advising PROPARCO on its proposed investment in Moringa Schools Limited.

    Kenya

    Stichting DOB Equity's proposed investment in Moringa Schools Limited

    Advising Stichting DOB Equity on their proposed investment in Moringa Schools Limited.

    Kenya

    Advising a leading British public school with its establishment in Abu Dhabi and Middle East region

    Advising a leading British public school with its establishment in Abu Dhabi and wider Middle East region including corporate structuring, protection of intellectual property, documenting schools operating standards and various ancillary commercial matters

    United Arab Emirates

    Advising Cranleigh School on the development of a new campus in Abu Dhabi

    Advising Cranleigh School, a leading UK independent school, on the commercial agreements, protection of intellectual property and structuring of joint venture arrangements with Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) for the development of a new campus in Abu Dhabi

    United Arab Emirates

    Advising on the buy-out of Abraaj's stake in Varkey Group education business

    Advising on the buy-out of Abraaj's stake in the Varkey Group education business (GEMS) which was funded by way of an exchangeable loan instrument

    United Arab Emirates

    Asset management investment in Bangkok

    Advising the asset management arm of a conglomerate in its forward purchase of land in Bangkok, Thailand, for the construction of an education facility, and a subsequent long term lease with the franchisee of a UK independent school.

    Thailand

    Educational training facility acquisition

    Advising an Australian-based asset manager and SME operator in its acquisition of a regional educational training facility in Malaysia and Thailand.

    Thailand
  • Stichting DOB Equity's proposed investment in Moringa Schools Limited

    Advising Stichting DOB Equity on their proposed investment in Moringa Schools Limited.

    Kenya

    PROPARCO's proposed investment Moringa Schools Limited

    Advising PROPARCO on its proposed investment in Moringa Schools Limited.

    Kenya
  • UK Education institution

    Acting on behalf of an independent school in relation to its expansion project to Australia, to establish and operate branded for-profit schools in Melbourne and Sydney.

    Australia

    Employment and immigration advice

    Advising a leading international school owner and operator with a portfolio across eight countries and three continents, in its employment and immigration matters for its new international school in Malaysia.

    Malaysia

    Educational training facility acquisition

    Advising an Australian-based asset manager and SME operator in its acquisition of a regional educational training facility in Malaysia and Thailand.

    Thailand

    Asset management investment in Bangkok

    Advising the asset management arm of a conglomerate in its forward purchase of land in Bangkok, Thailand, for the construction of an education facility, and a subsequent long term lease with the franchisee of a UK independent school.

    Thailand
  • Supporting broader participation in Egypt's digital economy

    Advising a global technology company on a contract with the Ministry of Planning, Monitoring & Administrative Reform for cooperation on education activities to support broader participation in the digital economy in Egypt.

    Egypt

    St Dunstan's College

    Advising on the establishment of St Dunstan’s College Dubai and the securing of investment in the project from a UAE based investor

    United Arab Emirates

    Modul University

    Advising Dach Advisory on the establishment of Austria’s Modul University Vienna’s first campus in Dubai and the securing of Dubai Investments’ investment of 90% of the total project cost

    United Arab Emirates

    Advising on the buy-out of Abraaj's stake in Varkey Group education business

    Advising on the buy-out of Abraaj's stake in the Varkey Group education business (GEMS) which was funded by way of an exchangeable loan instrument

    United Arab Emirates

    Advising a leading British public school with its establishment in Abu Dhabi and Middle East region

    Advising a leading British public school with its establishment in Abu Dhabi and wider Middle East region including corporate structuring, protection of intellectual property, documenting schools operating standards and various ancillary commercial matters

    United Arab Emirates

    Advising Cranleigh School on the development of a new campus in Abu Dhabi

    Advising Cranleigh School, a leading UK independent school, on the commercial agreements, protection of intellectual property and structuring of joint venture arrangements with Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) for the development of a new campus in Abu Dhabi

    United Arab Emirates
  • Acquisition of a global private education group by a Swiss Investment Fund

    Advising Jacobs Holding AG, a Swiss investment fund, on the acquisition of global private education group Cognita from KKR and Bregal. 

    United Kingdom

    Series of school acquisitions by Chatsworth Schools and Synova Capital

    Advising Chatsworth Schools and Synova Capital on a series of school acquisitions across the United Kingdom including most recently the acquisition of Riverston School and Beech Hall School, taking the number of schools and nurseries in the Chatsworth Schools portfolio to 14.

    United Kingdom

    Ireland's Schools PPP Programme

    Advising Sodexo Ireland Limited as O&M Contractor on the second bundle of Ireland's Schools PPP Programme

    Ireland

    Jacobs Holding acquisition of Cognita

    Advising a Swiss investment fund Jacobs Holding AG on its acquisition of the Cognita global private schools group from KKR and Bregal. The deal is Jacobs Holding’s biggest UK takeover to date and is one of the largest global education transactions.

    United Kingdom

    UK and European Education institutions

    Advising independent schools, Universities and Colleges on the establishment of international campuses, securing of investment from local partners, joint venture and licensing and operating structures across the world.

    United Kingdom

    School to academy conversions

    Advising Modern Schools (Barnsley) Limited project company and lenders on the conversion of maintained schools to academies in the UK under the Academies Act 2010.

    United Kingdom

Our Education team

Nora Al Muhamad
Nora Al Muhamad

Partner

Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily
Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily

Partner

Mohamed Barakat
Mohamed Barakat

Managing Partner – Cairo

Alison Beanum
Alison Beanum

Partner

Carrie Chen
Carrie Chen

Local Partner, Westlink Partnership

Thomas Choo
Thomas Choo

Managing Partner

Alec Christie
Alec Christie

Partner

Sameh Dahroug
Sameh Dahroug

Partner

Jo-Anne Demers
Jo-Anne Demers

Partner

Robert Emblem
Robert Emblem

Partner

Rachel Fox
Rachel Fox

Partner

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