Mills & Reeve bolsters education team with partner hire

Law firm Mills & Reeve has hired disputes specialist Catherine Savage as a partner in its education team.

Savage joins the firm from Shakespeare Martineau where she gained 15 years of experience in education litigation.

She specialised in contentious matters, ranging from student claims to judicial reviews, immigration disputes, consumer protection claims and commercial litigation. 

Mills & Reeve said: “Educational institutions have seen significant changes over the past few years, with a focus on the student as a consumer and a significant increase in expectations around the provision of welfare and managing student behaviour.

“There have been significant policy developments, such as statutory requirements to protect free speech on campus, and a general increase in regulatory oversight – all at a time of economic uncertainty.”

Martin Priestley, head of the education sector at Mills & Reeve, said: “I’m very excited to welcome Catherine to our team. Her extensive experience will be an invaluable asset to our education clients in these challenging times.” 

Savage added: “I’m thrilled to join Mills & Reeve's esteemed education team. With institutions facing increased legal challenges, I look forward to leveraging my expertise to address these issues and support our clients effectively.”