MinterEllison announced the acquisition of the higher education advisory specialist on October 4.

It comes at a “critical time as education providers are adapting and innovating to remain student-centric and sustainable”, according to MinterEllison CEO Virginia Briggs.

She also pointed to the government’s Universities Accord as a “first comprehensive review of the higher education sector in 15 years”.

“There is demand from clients for seamless, end-to-end solutions that combine legal and management consulting capabilities,” she added.

Wells Advisory managing director, Michael Wells – who founded the company in 2016 – will become partners of MinterEllison Consulting, together with Paula Kelly.

With a nine-strong management consulting team and a 10+principal advisor support team, they will continue to service Australian clients and maintain its UK presence and client base.

“We are looking forward to extending our scale and building our reputation further in the education sector, both in Australia and in select overseas markets,” Wells said.

“We are looking forward to extending our scale and building our reputation further in the education sector”

“Our team is known in the market for their high quality work, deep sector expertise, and consultative working style. That will not change. But we will be able to collaborate more closely with the sector’s leading legal experts to best meet our clients’ needs.”

Clients in Australia include members of the Group of Eight and the Australian Technology Network, sector regulators, TAFEs, government and “leading private providers of higher education and vocational educational education and training”.

For MinterEllison, which has 120+ principal advisors and consultants, education is one of six key industries, Briggs added.

“Combining the Wells Advisory consultants into our consulting business and our education sector offering will allow our education clients to access coordinated advice and support to better achieve their organisational objectives,” she said.

“Higher education institutions in Australia and worldwide are facing similar strategic challenges ranging from digital transformation, partnerships, generative AI, cyber threats, online education, student and staff safety, workforce management to sustainable funding models,” Wells noted.

“We are committed to collaborating and supporting our clients as they adapt and build new capabilities and offerings.”