Ward Hadaway bolsters education practice with double partner hire

The firm said that the new hires follow a period of growth in work from education providers, which has increased by approximately 40% in the last year.

Donabie joins the firm as an employment and education partner. She works with multi-academy trusts and schools of all kinds, colleges and universities on people-related matters, including staffing matters, parental complaints, student-related policies, exclusions, and SEND issues.

Swann, who joins as an education law partner, supports MATs, independent schools, FE colleges and Diocesan Boards on academy expansions, mergers and acquisitions, governance, pastoral and commercial matters.

The firm said Donabie’s recruitment builds on the department’s employment expertise in the education sector, particularly around sector-specific working arrangements, collective issues, safeguarding, regulatory referrals and complex claims.

It added that the addition will further strengthen the department's capacity and expertise in student-related issues such as exclusions (often including risks of discrimination), EHCPs and SENDIST claims.

Donabie said: “Education providers need advisers who are responsive, pragmatic and used to working with senior leaders under pressure. Much of the work in this sector is sensitive and time-critical, so it’s important to enable organisations to make decisions with confidence.

“Ward Hadaway’s education practice has real breadth, and my new role gives me the opportunity to bring my experience into a wider team advising trusts, independent and maintained schools and colleges across the country.”

Swann brings more than 20 years’ experience advising organisations across many aspects of education law, including Ofsted challenges, EHCP placement issues, exclusion appeal panels, policy audits, parental complaints, independent school parent contracts and governance reviews.

She said: “Independent schools and trusts are managing more strategic commercial arrangements, particularly where services and governance are organised across charitable structures and faith-based networks.

“It’s about understanding how decisions affect their operations, obligations to pupils and staff, and financial pressures.”

Graham Vials, Head of Education at Ward Hadaway, said: “Our growth reflects the range of issues now facing leadership teams in education.

“They need trusted advisers who understand the pressure on budgets, governance and day-to-day management and can respond quickly when sensitive issues arise.”

Adam Carey