Richard Nixon

Richard has been involved in the education sector for over ten years, advising numerous academy trusts across the region on academy conversions, trust mergers and ongoing estate work, including relocations and site development.  His clients include Hadrian Learning Trust, Pele Trust, Church of England and Catholic Multi Academy Trusts.

Richard was heavily involved in many ‘firsts’ for academy conversions; first PFI conversion, first mixed MAT (church and non-church schools), first Catholic conversion, and handling a majority of conversions in the region. He has personally walked the sites and boundaries of over 300 schools from Teesside to the border. Clients comment that “he will visit each of the sites where we request detailed work and ensures he fully understands our needs in great detail. We have found this to be vital for us with academy conversions.” 

Richard has also dealt with college mergers, university estate management and disposals of school sites. 

Richard is a go-to real estate advisor for registered social housing providers.

He regularly carries out site acquisition and development work for Home Group, Castles and Coasts, Gentoo and Believe Housing. 

Richard advises several regional charities, such as Newcastle Community Asset Trust, on asset management, asset transfers and grant funding matters. He has detailed knowledge of grant funder requirements which saves clients time by including those in the negotiations from the start rather than at a later stage when funders become involved. Legal 500 UK notes that Richard is “very knowledgeable on property matters and easy to access and contact.”

Richard’s extensive real estate experience has been called on by many of the firm’s sports clients, advising numerous sports clubs nationwide regarding leases, site acquisitions and funding. Recent work includes advising Newcastle United Foundation on developing a major community multi-sports facility in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne and on leases of other existing facilities. He also works with numerous sports clubs and FA County bodies on grounds acquisition and relocation, lettings and management.