Shakespeare Martineau appoints director of higher education

In line with its growth ambition for its specialist education team, leading law firm Shakespeare Martineau has appointed highly respected university manager Dr Paul Greatrix as director of higher education consultancy.

Paul, who will take up the role on 1 August 2025, joins the firm following almost two decades as registrar at the University of Nottingham and boasts more than 35 years’ experience across the higher education (HE) sector.

Paul has also held positions as an executive member of the Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA), and as president of HUMANE, the Heads of University Management and Administration Network in Europe.

In his new role, Paul will develop a suite of new services to support institutions in implementing their strategies both in the UK and overseas and in planning their responses to the challenging environment the sector is currently facing. A well-known author and podcaster in the HE space, Paul will also continue his role as a thought leader on behalf of the firm.

Paul, who will work nationally but be based in Nottingham, said: “I am delighted to be joining Shakespeare Martineau to help grow the education portfolio.

“I have had the privilege of working with several members of the team as a client over many years – including through Shakespeare Martineau’s sponsorship of AHUA – and I am hugely excited to be joining the firm as a colleague.

“This is a company with a strong culture and ethos, and I look forward to making a contribution to its future success.”

Shakespeare Martineau’s tier 1-ranked education team is well known for its governance, regulatory and constitutional services, as well as advising on student issues from disputes to discrimination.

Smita Jamdar, head of education at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “We are thrilled to have Paul on board to build our wider consultancy offer to the higher education sector. Paul’s experience and insights will complement and enhance our aspiration to deliver the very best legal and professional services, and help to build the universities and colleges of the future.”