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Leading Silks

Nicholas Bowen KCDoughty Street ChambersNicholas is a wonder to work with - his extensive experience combined with creative thinking allows for innovative arguments. His knowledge is beyond impressive, yet he remains extremely approachable and is able to communicate complex legal arguments to lay clients.
Jonathan Moffett KC11KBWJonathan is fantastic with clients and always provides pragmatic and solution-focussed advice. ’
David Wolfe KCMatrix Chambers ‘David is an outstanding barrister whose intellectual ability is very apparent in the quality of work he delivers. His decisive and extremely efficient style makes him highly effective. ’
Aileen McColgan KC11KBW ‘Aileen is a leading lawyer. Her understanding of the key issues and fundamental principles really sets her apart. ’
Rory Dunlop KC39 Essex Chambers ‘Rory is great at negotiating settlements, and sorting through the minutiae of a client’s requirements without losing sight of the end goal.’
Andrew Sharland KC11KBWA silk who possesses an exemplary knowledge of the education sphere. Andrew is very precise on his feet and puts together clear and extremely well structured arguments.
Daniel Squires KCMatrix Chambers ‘Daniel has a phenomenal understanding of equality law and has always won the confidence of the client with his calm and down to earth style.’
Ian Wise KCMonckton Chambers ‘Ian is a very strong advocate.’

2021 Silks

Sarah Hannett KCMatrix Chambers ‘A particularly thorough and conscientious silk.'
Mathew Purchase KCMatrix ChambersMathew has exquisite attention to detail. He advises authoritatively but always remains open to discussions about strategy, with a practical approach.

2023 Silks

Claire Darwin KCMatrix Chambers ‘Claire is extremely efficient and delivers thorough written advice and submissions with particular skill, showcasing her specialist understanding of education law. She expertly pieces together persuasive arguments.'

Leading Juniors

Tom Cross11KBW ‘Tom has the most impressive knowledge of education law, and specifically higher education law. He has an instinctive grasp of what the client wants and values. ’
Paul Greatorex11KBWA formidable barrister, Paul is highly experienced and emits an air of confidence which immediately puts clients and instructing solicitors at ease. He provides holistic and practical advice.
David LawsonSerjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘David is an accomplished advocate with a very persuasive style. He is calm, clear and very approachable.'
Nick ArmstrongMatrix ChambersNick has great preparation skills and an exceptional straight talking advocacy style.
Charlotte Hadfield3PBCharlotte is extremely bright, and can handle the most complex cases with ease.
Leon Glenister  – Landmark ChambersLeon is an impressive advocate with outstanding legal and technical knowledge.
Jennifer Agyekum3PBJennifer has a calm, thoughtful and thorough approach, which instills confidence in witnesses.'
Laith DilaimiOld Square ChambersLaith is an incredibly smooth operator. He is always very well-prepared and has a lovely advocacy style which appeals to the court.
Katherine Eddy11KBWKatherine is extremely intelligent, forensic and strategically-minded. She consistently provides valuable insights. Her advocacy style combines robust delivery with a professional demeanour.
Alexander LineOuter Temple ChambersA formidable barrister. Alexander is incredibly knowledgeable in his field, often thinking outside the box. He breaks down complex legal principles into comprehensible concepts for lay clients.’
Gráinne MellonGarden Court ChambersGráinne is an incredibly knowledgeable barrister, particularly in relation to SEND. Her drafting and advocacy is very persuasive, always being particularly well prepared. She goes above and beyond expectations when assisting clients. 
Louise PriceDoughty Street Chambers ‘Louise is very reliable, realistic and pragmatic.'
Jennifer Thelen39 Essex ChambersJennifer has a huge capacity for hard work and her turnaround rate is quick and superb. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of education law and is exceptionally skilled cross-examiner.
Emma Waldron3PBEmma provides clear, accurate and concise advice in the most difficult cases. Her advocacy is impeccable.'
Katherine Anderson3PBKatherine is extremely bright, client-friendly and meticulous in her preparation and written work.
Alice de Coverley3PBAlice is pragmatic, straightforward and constructive. She is as good as it gets in the field of education law.
Raj DesaiMatrix Chambers ‘Raj is a very meticulous barrister.
Rhys HaddenSerjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Rhys is fantastic with clients and immediately puts people at ease with the quiet confidence he exudes. He makes his points succinctly, expertly and politely. ’
Shu Shin LuhDoughty Street ChambersHer written and oral submissions are superb, consistently identifying new and emerging legal issues and not being afraid to pursue novel points to further the needs of her client.
Hannah Slarks – 11KBW ‘Hannah is clearly very intelligent and knows the law and procedure like the back of her hand. She is especially thorough, logical and direct in her communication.
Sarah Steinhardt – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Sarah is hugely knowledgeable when it comes to the interface between disability, discrimination and education law. She is very hardworking, possessing great judgement and a keen eye for detail.
Matthew Wyard3PB ‘Matthew is meticulous with his preparation and has a great way with clients, putting them at ease so that they can give clear and cogent evidence. His advocacy is well beyond his year of call.

Rising Stars

Mark Greaves Matrix Chambers ‘A very client friendly barrister, Mark is extremely smart and has brilliant drafting skills. ’
Alice IrvingDoughty Street ChambersAlice has an in-depth knowledge of, and is passionate about, education and public law work. The quality of her drafting is second to none, having an uncanny ability to absorb large amounts of information and distil this into clear and coherent submissions.'
Ben Mitchell – 11KBW ‘Ben is able to grasp complex matters very quickly and provide sound advice, particularly when working to tight deadlines.
Ollie PerseyGarden Court Chambers ‘Ollie is an exceptional barrister. His client care is wonderful, he reads papers well in advance and is always thoroughly well prepared for conferences.'
Imogen Proud  – Monckton Chambers ‘Imogen is very clear, committed and focused on the task at hand.’

Education in London Bar

11KBW

11KBW is widely recognised for its excellent track record in handling the full range of education law matters. Among recent instructions, Andrew Sharland KC acted for an education charity in R v Secretary of State for Education and the LB of Lambeth, concerning the council’s alleged failure to provide compensation for the transfer of property where the charity had previously a school. Tom Cross acted for the claimant in a case challenging advice provided by a local authority to schools on teaching of matters pertaining to gender and sex. Katherine Eddy fields particular expertise in handling high-profile discrimination claims brought against universities. The senior end of the team was further bolstered by Joanne Clement KC taking silk in March 2022.

Testimonials

Set

11KBW is a great set with phenomenally good barristers. ’

‘A very well known education law set with highly experienced members.

‘11KBW is my go-to set for higher education law instructions.

‘A very strong education chambers, certainly one of the best.’

‘11KBW is a set with huge strength and depth when it comes to education matters.

Clerks 

‘The clerks were responsive.’

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers‘ education team has an excellent reputation, with a solid track record in acting for a client base that includes the Department of Education, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, individual students, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator and other statutory bodies. The set has seen an uptick in work involving universities and further education colleges. In recent work, David Wolfe KC acted in Goodred v Portsmouth City Council, a challenge to the legality of the Council’s policy and approach to parents who choose to home educate their children. In another matter, Sarah Hannett KC appeared for the local authority in R (WC) v Somerset County Council, which established the correct legal test applicable when closing a rural school. At the junior end, Claire Darwin KCappeared as sole counsel for the successful claimants in Gwynedd Council v Barratt and another, a Court of Appeal decision clarifying the duties of local authorities, particularly duties towards teachers who are directly employed by the authorities, when reorganising schools.

Testimonials

Set

‘A very good set, particularly knowledgeable in this area.

‘Matrix Chambers has a deservedly stellar reputation.

‘The set is very professional and multi-disciplinary. The standard of work is fantastic and chambers often hosts useful seminars which are well pitched to the sector that it serves, with impressive speakers and themes.

Clerks

‘Excellent clerks. Elizabeth Bousher is extremely helpful.

‘The clerks are efficient, flexible and accommodating, always going the extra mile to make counsel available. ’

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers stands out for its ‘excellent‘ education offering. At the silk end, Fenella Morris KC‘s workload includes advising on challenges to awarded degrees, refusals in admissions and negligence and breach of contact claims in universities. At the junior end of chambers, recent work includes Steve Broach and Jack Anderson appearing in R (L, M, P) v Devon County Council, a case concerning the issue as to whether there is a fixed time limit for local authorities to complete reviews of EHCPs.

Testimonials

Set

‘39 Essex has a wide depth of barristers with strong knowledge of education law; the training programmes and webinars are also excellent. ’

‘A fantastic set of chambers.

Clerks 

‘Andy Poyser is always available, responsive and willing to cut cloth to what we need.

‘Anthony King is very helpful and efficient. Michael Kaplan has excellent client care skills.’

‘The clerks are great, very polite and quick to respond.

3PB

3PB's practice is home to 'genuine specialists in education law'. Members act on a wide range of education matters including SEND cases, admissions and exclusions, and discrimination issues. Team head Charlotte Hadfield  appeared in a case clarifying the statutory expectation for a local authority regarding an EHCP. In another matter, Alice de Coverley acted for the claimant in Raquel Rosario Sanchez v Bristol University, a high-profile case concerning whether a university owed duty of care to a PhD student facing bullying from other students.

Testimonials

Set

3PB has a number of strong education law barristers in the set.’

‘There is always counsel available, even in those last minute cases as the set will often bend over backwards to find somebody suitable.’

‘Great for SEND Tribunal work.

Clerks 

‘Chris Mitchell is a fantastic clerk; his communication is direct and fast and he is very accommodating to specific requests. ’

‘The service from the clerks is always professional and helpful. Both Tom Cox and Gemma Faulkner provide timely responses and clearly have a good understanding of the barrister’s strengths. ’

‘Gemma Faulkner is the single most organised and meticulous person I have ever encountered. It quite extraordinary how detail-orientated she is.