Our Education Lawyers

David Ford

David heads our education law team. David practises extensively for organisations in the not-for-profit sector. He is known for his expertise in education law. He acts for many independent schools and other educational institutions. He consults to the boards of schools and charities on governance issues and regularly presents seminars to school teachers and administrators on education law issues. David has presented at conferences in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Belgium, the Czech Republic, New Zealand and throughout Australia, and published numerous papers on topics as varied as student rights, teachers' liability, teachers/counsellors and confidentiality, bullying, outdoor education, discrimination, child protection and investigations. David also lectures counsellors and counselling students in the area of confidentiality and the law.

David is:

  • a member of the Law Society of New South Wales
  • a member of the Law Council of Australia (and its Business Law Section)
  • a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia
  • a member of the Australian Taxation Office's Nonprofit Tax Advisors Forum
  • President of the NSW Chapter of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association
  • a member of the U.K., American and South African Education Law Associations
  • a member of the Editorial Board of the CCH School Principals Legal Guide
  • the editor of Education Law Notes, which keep schools throughout Australia up-to-date with education law developments
  • a former Chairman of the Council of MLC School, an independent girls school in Sydney
     

Nathan Croot

Nathan assists our educational institution clients and other not-for-profit institutions. He is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales and of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association. His publications include The true cost of bullying (Teacher - The National Education Magazine).

His experience includes preparation of policy documents for schools including privacy policies, school enrolment policies and child protection policies. He has advised schools in relation to their duty of care. In the not-for-profit sector, he has reviewed and amended company constitutions.

Colin Graham

Colin has extensive experience in the areas of industrial, employment, discrimination and occupational health and safety law.

Colin specialises in workplace relations advising extensively on modern awards, National Employment Standards and the proposed implementation of the Federal Government’s Forward with Fairness legislation.

Colin also advises on unfair dismissals, unlawful termination of employment, large and small scale, redundancies, discrimination claims, award interpretation and breach of employment and industrial legislation.

Steve Frost

Steve worked in a country boarding school while practising as a young lawyer. His experience there allows him to add value to the many schools he assists when unwanted disputes and claims arise. He has advised on claims of negligent supervision, bullying and sexual abuse. He has also guided executive staff through sensitive employment disputes. As a Consultant, his expertise in all these areas is available to our clients in the education sector.



We can all assist you by telephone when any difficult issues arise unexpectedly.