Paul Watkins, Senior Associate

Whether you manage a school or an academy, you need a trusted education law specialist to help you to handle the many complex and challenging issues you face, from parental complaints to exclusions, from safeguarding to compliance.

Data protection is also a key issue for schools, as well as for charities and a range of businesses. I can advise both strategically and practically when you face regulatory scrutiny on matters such as subject access requests, personal data breaches and freedom of information requests because I have considerable experience of dealing with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

My previous experience as part of the in-house legal team for UCAS and UCAS Media Limited means that I have a deep understanding of the legal and data challenges faced by a range of data rich organisations, so I’m well-placed to advise on successful resolutions.

My passion for education extends well beyond the workplace – I enjoy learning new languages and discovering other cultures.