Mark Taylor serves as a Partner at Shakespeare Martineau, where he leads the education team, specializing in advising on education collaborations and governance. Mark has dedicated his entire legal career to the education sector, earning recognition from Legal 500 for his deep expertise in this field.
Mark’s extensive experience includes advising on over fifty college mergers within the further and higher education sectors. He is skilled in redrafting constitutions for universities and colleges, such as Instrument and Articles, Royal Charters, and Articles of Association. Mark is known for structuring and setting up education joint ventures, including significant involvement with Institutes of Technology across the country.
In addition to his mergers and governance work, Mark provides crucial advice to UK-based institutions on international collaborations. This includes advising on validation and consultancy arrangements, establishing overseas campuses, and negotiating double degree agreements. His contributions extend to drafting sections of the Universities UK legal guide on international collaborations, demonstrating his authority in this specialized area of law.
Mark is committed to promoting access to legal expertise, co-leading an award-winning advice clinic for fifteen years and chairing the Birmingham Law Society’s pro bono committee. A frequent speaker at sector conferences and client training events, Mark shares his insights on commercial, corporate, and governance issues within the education sector, reinforcing his reputation as a leader in his field.