The team at Douglas Silas Solicitors is ‘very experienced with helping SEN children and their parents‘, who instruct the firm to assist with complex claims related to discrimination and equality. The bespoke firm has a long history of advising on disability and education issues to secure appropriate educational provisions for students with special educational needs. Douglas Silas, who has over 25 years of experience providing guidance on EHC plans and broader equality matters, leads the firm and remains widely recognised in the sector.

The education practice at Doyle Clayton comprises ‘real experts in the education sector’ who offer extensive experience representing teachers and university lecturers in a variety of discrimination, contract breach, and misconduct claims. In addition to a record of handling high-profile cases related to free speech and harassment, the team is also capable of acting for students and parents in claims related to academic misconduct, discrimination, SEN issues, and safeguarding. The practice is led by Simon Henthorn, a ‘hugely experienced, clever and strategic‘ lawyer who acts for teachers and professors across a wide range of mandates related to misconduct, discrimination, and general employment issues. Peter Daly is also highly recommended for his employment and discrimination expertise and is noted for his work on freedom of expression issues and breaches of contract. Other key contacts in the team include Amara Ahmad, a specialist for SEN and disability issues, and Anna Blackden, who advises on immigration issues.

The multidisciplinary education law team at Irwin Mitchell advises young people and their families on a wide range of discrimination, equality, and SEN issues under the leadership of experienced Sheffield-based human rights lawyer Yogi Amin. The practice is well-equipped to handle claims, disputes, and judicial reviews related to educational provisions and accommodations. London lawyer Angela Jackman KC (Hons) has a record of handling issues at the intersection of education and human rights law, having been instructed to deal with issues surrounding school placement, home tuition, and safeguarding. The team also benefits from the expertise of Bethany Parr, a specialist for SEN matters who regularly helps young people attain appropriate educational provisions and independent placements, and Rachael Smurthwaite, who regularly acts for families in disability discrimination claims and judicial review challenges and also assists with EHC assessment applications.

Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP fields a rapidly growing team of education lawyers who are ‘highly skilled and knowledgable about all areas of SEND law‘ and excel at handling court challenges, disability discrimination claims, and Tribunal cases related to school placements and exclusions, issues related to EHC plans, and alternative educational provisions. The team has acted for the parents of young children in a number of unique Tribunal challenges concerning education other than at school packages, and the practice’s offering is broadened by a social justice fund available to families struggling to afford legal advice. The practice is jointly led by Caroline Barrett, Anne-Marie Irwin, and co-founding partner Polly Sweeney, all of whom have extensive experience acting in a wide range of Tribunal appeals and judicial reviews concerning SEN law. Jennifer Wright, who joined the firm in April 2022 and regularly advises on matters related to the Equality Act 2010, is also highly recommended.

Public law expert Dan Rosenberg and education and care specialist Sarah Woosey jointly lead Simpson Millar LLP‘s highly regarded London-based education practice, which stands out for its ability to represent children with special educational needs and their families in claims and disputes related to school inclusion, safeguarding, and equality policies. Rosenberg is a ‘market leader‘ with extensive experience advising on social care and SEN educational provisions, and he has additionally handled high-profile religious discrimination claims in the education sector. The practice expanded in September 2022 with the arrival of Rachel Scales, who has acted in a number of judicial review proceedings against local authorities concerning insufficient educational provisions for children with special educational needs.

With a demonstrated record of acting for students, children, parents, and members of staff in a diverse array of disputes and claims against schools and universities, the education practice at Sinclairslaw continues to provide first-rate advice to its clients. The team handles a broad range of admissions and safeguarding issues concerning discrimination against and lacking provisions for students with special educational needs. Helen Gill, who practices from London, is a key contact for this work and co-leads the practice with Cardiff-based lawyer Michael Charles, an expert on SEN matters who also represents students in exclusion and admissions claims. The London team also benefits from the expertise of Paul Conrathe, who has acted for parents and members of academic staff in a number of matters concerning school sex education policies, and discrimination expert John Ford. Cardiff-based lawyer Christopher McFarland is also recommended for his ability to act for children and their parents in claims related to educational provisions.

Bindmans LLP retains a ‘highly knowledgeable and well resourced team‘ that is capable of handling a wide range of cross-disciplinary matters for individuals. The practice has acted in tribunal appeals related to school placement on behalf of children with special educational needs and also advises on freedom of speech issues, allegations of academic misconduct, and school exclusions. Karen May, who leads the team, is highly recommended for her expertise in SEN matters and regularly acts alongside key contact Alex Temple in complex judicial review and tribunal cases. Other key contacts in the team include Kate Goold, an experienced criminal solicitor who acts in cases related to serious criminal and disciplinary accusations, and Emma Varley, who is noted for her expertise in educational matters with discrimination elements.

Geldards LLP‘s team is active across a wide range of mandates related to education and social care and is instructed by parents and young people to represent them in SEND Tribunal claims in both England and Wales. Led by disability law specialist Adam Friel, the team regularly acts in contested hearings related to education other than at school packages, independent school placements, school exclusions, and EHC plan applications. Kevin McManamon is the team’s key contact for cases that require appearances before the Welsh SEND Tribunal and has regularly acted against Welsh local authorities in cases with complex safeguarding elements. Salise Dourmoush is also highly recommended for her advice on school placements and disability discrimination claims.

The education practice at Payne Hicks Beach LLP specializes in acting for individuals in disciplinary procedures, investigations, and contested exclusions related to sexual and academic misconduct, breaches of academic code, and immigration issues. The team is also well-versed in acting for students contesting university and school grading procedures, especially in light of academic complications caused by COVID-19, and frequently advises neurodiverse clients on issues surrounding lacking educational provisions and disability discrimination. Dispute resolution expert Ane Vernon leads the practice and is well-versed in issues surrounding school and university admissions, exclusions, and examinations. Henry Watkinson, who joined the firm from Blake Morgan in 2022, advises clients facing criminal allegations in educational settings.

In addition to its expertise in education matters, the ‘very knowledgeable team‘ at Russell-Cooke LLP has ‘vast experience in matters of family law‘, enabling it to regularly act for the families of students with special educational needs in Equality Act and disability discrimination claims, including SEN Tribunal appeals related to insufficiently comprehensive EHC plans, unjust school exclusions, and new school placements. Under the leadership of Eva Akins, a disability and education law expert with a thorough understanding of matters surrounding children with autims and ADHD, the practice also frequently acts on behalf of children requiring provisions for education other than at school. Lenka Wall is also recommended for her ability to represent clients in judicial reviews and Tribunal appeals. The practice underwent further growth with the arrival of Erin Smart from Irwin Mitchell in May 2023.

Boutique firm SEN Legal is unique in its focus entirely on work related to special educational needs and disabilities, in the context of which it is ‘consistently successful‘ in achieving positive outcomes for clients in Tribunal appeals against local authorities’ school placement decisions, EHC plan rejections, exclusions, and insufficient provisions for education other than at school. The team provides also provides a significant amount of pro bono advice to the parents of children with autism and dyslexia. Cambridge-based lawyer Hayley Mason is well-regarded for her advice on school placement issues, and both Melinda Nettleton and Richard Nettleton, who are based in Bury St Edmunds, are highly recommended for their expertise in SEN Tribunal appeals.

The education team at IBB Law has a ‘very good practical understanding of the education sector‘, which enables it to regularly act for students and parents in contentious matters of both disciplinary and academic nature against schools and universities. Under the leadership of experienced litigator Salima Mawji, the team has notably advised on matters related to sexual harassment, breaches of contract, discrimination, and unfair exclusions. Mawji is well-equipped to handle educational matters with significant public law and human rights elements and has regularly acted in judicial reviews, as well as representing clients in both internal and court claims. Celia Whittuck extends the team’s expertise into safeguarding and SEN-related matters, having represented parents in Tribunal claims related to discrimination and exclusions.

Kingsley Napley LLP specialises in advising individuals facing disciplinary investigations in schools and higher education institutions and is strongly equipped to handle cases with criminal liability elements. The team regularly acts for students in sexual and academic misconduct cases, and it boasts a notable record of advising on academic appeals related to examination results, including appeals with disability discrimination elements. The team is co-headed by Iain Miller, Sophie Kemp, and criminal defence expert Sandra Paul, who regularly defends students against allegations of sexual offences. The team also draws on the expertise of regulatory experts Shannett Thompson, Julie Matheson, and Julie Norris, who are well-versed in handling disciplinary proceedings following allegations of academic misconduct.

Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s education team offers ‘strong, knowledgeable, prompt and professional‘ advice on issues such as religious discrimination, grading and qualification standards, and sexual and academic misconduct in educational settings. The team frequently acts for individuals in appeals against school and university exclusions and disciplinary procedures, with a track record of handling cases involving young people with special educational needs. The practice is headed by discrimination and equality expert Robert Lewis, who frequently advises on exclusions and complaints in educational institutions, and is bolstered by the expertise of James Murray, a key contact for freedom of speech issues, and Victoria Pigott, who regularly advises clients facing disciplinary hearings.