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Education

1
11KBW
2
Matrix Chambers
3
39 Essex Chambers
4
3PB

Leading Silks

1
Catherine Callaghan QC – Blackstone Chambers
James Goudie QC - 11KBW
Helen Mountfield QC - Matrix Chambers
Peter Oldham QC - 11KBW
David Wolfe QC - Matrix Chambers ‘ David has an excellent legal mind and is one of the top claimant silks in education law. ’
2
Nicholas Bowen QC - Doughty Street Chambers ‘ He is excellent with clients and his advice is spot on. ’
Rory Dunlop QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ He is fantastic at finding solutions to entrenched problems and advising on practical solutions to academic problems. ’
Nigel Giffin QC - 11KBW
Jonathan Moffett QC - 11KBW ‘ The advice provides on urgent matters is on point and commercially focused. ’
Fenella Morris QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Able to deal extremely well with complex and novel issues. ’
Fiona Scolding QC  – Landmark Chambers
Andrew Sharland QC - 11KBW ‘ Down-to-earth, does not stand on ceremony and good with clients, he exhibits a quick grasp of complex issues. ’
Clive Sheldon QC - 11KBW
Daniel Squires QC - Matrix Chambers
Ian Wise QC - Monckton Chambers

2020 Silks

Aileen McColgan QC - 11KBW ‘ She knows an awful lot about universities. ’

2021 Silks

Jonathan Auburn QC –11KBW ‘Very determined with good judgement, and easy to work with.’
Sarah Hannett QC - Matrix Chambers ‘ She has the ability to sink into the detail as well as high-level litigation strategy for complex cases. ’
Mathew Purchase QC - Matrix Chambers ‘ Very quick, his advice is clear and accessible for lay clients. ’

Leading Juniors

1
Joanne Clement - 11KBW
Tom Cross - 11KBW ‘ Tom has an encyclopaedic knowledge of education and brings his wider human rights, discrimination and public law expertise to bear in this; he continues to delight clients with his advice and service. ’
David Lawson - Serjeants' Inn Chambers
2
Nick Armstrong - Matrix Chambers ‘ Nick is very knowledgeable and hard working; his drafting and advocacy skills are excellent.' ’
Claire Darwin - Matrix Chambers ‘ Claire is responsive and provides clear, practical advice, which takes into account the wider position and risks to university clients. ’
Paul Greatorex - 11KBW ‘ Approachable, available and willing to discuss issues as they arise. ’
3
Jack Anderson - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A good advocate under pressure and technically very good. ’
Steve Broach - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ He brings cutting-edge judicial reviews on behalf of his clients, and knows education law inside out. ’
Leon Glenister   – Landmark Chambers
Charlotte Hadfield - 3PB ‘ Charlotte is approachable and extremely helpful in both a practical and advisory capacity, using her wealth of knowledge and experience to provide thorough and clear advice. ’
Galina Ward   – Landmark Chambers
4
Shazia Akhtar - Gatehouse Chambers ‘ Considerate and understanding of a family's situation and difficulties. ’
Thomas Amraoui - 39 Essex Chambers
Laith Dilaimi - Old Square Chambers ‘ Very approachable and extremely clever, reliable, knowledgeable and pleadings in person and writing are excellent. ’
John Friel - 3PB
Jane Oldham - 11KBW
Louise Price - Doughty Street Chambers
Emma Waldron - 3PB ‘ Emma is our go-to counsel on contentious education matters; she is very knowledgeable and provides thorough, practical advice. ’
5
Jennifer Agyekum - 3PB ‘ Jennifer is hardworking, approachable and very clear in her presentation. ’
Katherine Anderson - 3PB ‘ Katherine has a wealth of experience in SEND appeals and is very thorough in her approach; she is a robust advocate and her preparation is always meticulous. ’
Katherine Apps - 39 Essex Chambers
Raj Desai - Matrix Chambers
Katherine Eddy - 11KBW ‘ A calm and professional advocate who provides extremely thorough and detailed analysis of cases. ’
Aimee Fox - 3PB ‘ Aimee has a fantastic knowledge of the law and quickly builds up a good relationship with clients. ’
Rhys Hadden - Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Harini Iyengar - 11KBW
Alexander Line - Outer Temple Chambers ‘ Fantastically approachable and great to work with; very good with clients, empathetic and firm. ’
Shu Shin Luh - Doughty Street Chambers ‘ She will leave no stone unturned for her client, ensuring that every brief she receives is carried out to an exceptional standard. ’
Gráinne Mellon - Garden Court Chambers ‘ She is tenacious in her approach to cases and shows excellent strategic judgement. ’
Emma Sutton - Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Jennifer Thelen - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Jennifer is pragmatic in her outlook, prepares very thoroughly, and is tenacious but courteous in her submissions. ’

Rising Stars

Katherine Barnes - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Her strengths are clarity of advice, willingness to think outside of the box, and her ability to resolve an issue expediently. ’
Alice de Coverley - 3PB ‘ She is empathetic with clients, strong in her advocacy and formidable in terms of her drafting style. ’
Alice Irving - Doughty Street Chambers ‘ No doubt as a result of pursuing an academic career prior to the Bar, she has brilliant attention to detail skills, and don't shy away from getting to grips with the finer points of case law. ’

Education in London Bar

11KBW

11KBW remains the 'gold standard when it comes to education', with 'nonpareil' 'depth and breadth in educational work' and experience across the area, particularly when it comes to work for educational institutions. Jonathan Auburn QC recently acted in R (AD) v London Borough of Hackney, successfully defending the council in a major special educational needs funding test case in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Tom Cross successfully defended R (Colchester and others) v Secretary of State for Education, a judicial review of a claim brought by parents opposed to secondary legislation and government guidance providing sex and relationships education.

Testimonials

Set

‘Fantastic chambers for education, public law and general commercial litigation.’

’11KBW are the gold standard when it comes to education. Strength in depth and availability are key factors.‘

‘The strength in depth at 11KBW for education matters is nonpareil; from QC to junior, you know you are in safe hands when you instruct them.’

’11 KBW is one of the few sets with real expertise in the area, and for me has the stand out members of the Bar.’

Clerking

‘The clerks have always been very helpful and timely with responses.’

‘Excellent and responsive’

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers is well-known for the 'strength and breadth of its barristers in respect of public law and education sector work', housing a number of 'extremely knowledgeable barristers'. David Wolfe QC represented the Independent Schools Inspectorate in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. In another recent instruction, Sarah Hannett QC successfully defended R (Shaw) v Secretary of State for Education, in which the claimant sought judicial review of the easing of the statutory duties for children with special educational needs put in place citing the coronavirus pandemic.

Testimonials

Set

‘Extremely well respected set for all areas of human rights and public law.’

‘In my view education law counsel at Matrix are some of the very best.’

‘Matrix are an efficient set of Chambers. The individual barristers I’ve worked with there are all really knowledgeable and approachable.’

Clerking

‘Very helpful, responsive and efficient.’

‘Efficient and timely service.’

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers are 'responsive', 'progressive' and 'outstanding' when it comes to education work. Rory Dunlop QC successfully acted for the claimant in R (AW) v St George’s University of London, resulting in the termination of the claimant's registration for failure to attend an occupational health appointment being quashed on grounds of unfairness. Steve Broach represented the claimant in R (Shaw and another) v Secretary of State for Education, a challenge to a number of statutory instruments issued by the Secretary of State for Education downgrading duties owed to children and young people with special education needs and disabilities, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

Testimonials

Set

‘Responsive. Progressive.’

’39 Essex are one of my ‘go to’ chambers for education work. They have a range of specialists in education.’

Clerking

‘All of the clerks I have spoken to are friendly and very helpful and they will always do their best to assist you. They ensure the transition between counsel and clerk is seamless, saving time.’

‘I mainly deal with Peter Campbell and Jamie Tucker, both of whom are really approachable and really helpful. They are quick to respond to enquiries and will find the ideal barrister to assist with a particular job.’

3PB

3PB is highly regarded for its members' 'wealth of expertise in special educational needs and disability appeals' and  are 'an excellent source of specialist education law barristers'. Among recent instructions, Alice de Coverley represented Ofsted in several strands of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. Charlotte Hadfield represented the claimant in D v Hampshire County Council, a judicial review against the council for failing to provide alternative school provision after a consultant psychiatrist had signed the child off as unfit to attend school due to his anxiety.

Testimonials

Set

‘3PB are an excellent source of specialist education law barristers, whose expertise also crosses over into relevant and often complimentary areas such as public law, community care and mental health. They are one of my go-to sets.’

‘Lots of education experience which we really appreciate. They always manage to find an expert who can provide top quality advocacy in education law.’

‘3PB is an excellent set of chambers with a wealth of expertise in SEND appeals.’

Clerking

‘The clerking is of an exceptionally high standard and responses to emails are prompt and very helpful.’

‘Gemma Faulkner is excellent within her role. Attentive and very fast to respond to any queries and will often go above and beyond her duties to address any problems.’

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