Established in 2016, Wells Advisory specialises in strategy, regulation, research commercialisation corporate advisory, governance and leadership to clients in the higher education sector. Clients include members of the Group of Eight, Australian Technology Network, Innovative Research Universities, Regional Universities Network, other universities, sector regulators, TAFEs, government and some of Australia's leading private providers of higher education and vocational educational education and training.
The nine-strong management consulting team, supported by more than ten principal advisors and led by Michael Wells and Paula Kelly, will continue to service Australian clients, and maintain their UK presence and client base. With extensive and highly regarded experience in the higher education and vocational education sectors, Michael and Paula will become partners of MinterEllison Consulting.
Announcing the acquisition today, MinterEllison's CEO Virginia Briggs said: "The acquisition comes at a critical time as education providers are adapting and innovating to remain student-centric and sustainable, and the Government is undertaking its first comprehensive review of the higher education sector in 15 years through the Universities Accord.
There is demand from clients for seamless, end-to-end solutions that combine legal and management consulting capabilities. Education is one of six key industries for our firm. Our education specialist lawyers work with leading universities, and tertiary, school and childcare providers, in every State and Territory of Australia. 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."
Wells Advisory will elevate our current education sector offerings. We are excited to be bringing them to our Consulting business and to MinterEllison."
In-coming MinterEllison Consulting partner, and Wells Advisory founder and Managing Director, Michael Wells said: "This is an exciting opportunity for our team to be joining MinterEllison's Consulting business. 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.
"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. Higher education institutions in Australia and worldwide are facing similar strategic challenges ranging from digital transformation, partnerships, generative AI, cyber threats, on-line education, student and staff safety, workforce management to sustainable funding models. We are committed to collaborating and supporting our clients as they adapt and build new capabilities and offerings."
MinterEllison Consulting has 120+ principal advisors and consultants.
