Muckle LLP appointed as first choice legal adviser by Newcastle College Group

North East independent law firm, Muckle LLP, has been named main legal provider by NCG, one of the UK’s largest college groups.

After scoring higher than any other bidder following a competitive tender process Muckle has secured an appointment to provide all of NCG’s day-to-day legal services, and will also get the opportunity to bid for special projects when they become available.

Muckle will advise NCG on a range of matters, including governance and student affairs (including FOI and data protection), and on the legal issues arising from property, estates, construction, employment and pensions.

NCG is a group of seven colleges — including Newcastle College — that delivers a broad range of industry-leading training and education programmes, comprising apprenticeships and further and higher education courses.

This is isn’t the first time that Muckle LLP has worked with NCG: the law firm also advised the group on a number of high-profile college mergers in the past, including Carlisle College in 2017.

Muckle LLP regularly acts for schools, colleges and universities on all aspects of commercial law, and has completed over 100 academy conversions.

The firm is currently ranked top in the North for education legal services by Legal 500 UK.

In addition, the team at Muckle also holds a place on three panels on the national Higher Education Procurement Consortia for universities across England and Wales, and has acted on several major university projects, including advising Newcastle University on its landmark Helix development.

Mike Wilmot, from NCG, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Muckle will be our main day to day legal services provider.

“The panel were impressed by the quality of provision Muckle offered and we are looking forward to continuing to build our relationship with them.”

Alex Craig, partner and head of commercial at Muckle, added: “NCG is one of the UK’s leading training and education providers and we are proud to develop our relationship.

“To be named as the group’s main legal provider is absolutely fantastic for us as a business.

“It is testament to the hard work and expertise of our education team, led by partner Tony McPhillips, who have done a tremendous job of establishing this practice area as a high performing and hugely successful part of our firm.”