Barristers at 11KBW have an excellent reputation for their wide-ranging experience acting for the likes of the University and Colleges Union and the Department for Education, who instruct the set to handle the full gamut of cases in education law. Aileen McColgan represented the University of Bristol in a disability discrimination appeal following the suicide of a student after a county court found that the university had breached its duty to make reasonable adjustments to its assessment arrangements, while Tom Cross acted for the Secretary of State for Education in a judicial review concerning the Government’s educational responsibility in cases where a child with special educational needs moves abroad with a diplomat parent. Katherine Eddy is noted for her ability to represent schools and local authorities in educational discrimination and negligence claims.
Education in
London Bar
11KBW
Testimonials
‘Harry Gilsom and Iva Stipanovic are very helpful individuals who smooth the process of instruction and go out of their way to assist.’
‘Extremely professional, friendly and helpful clerking team. Mark Dann and Lucy Barbett are excellent as always, and Lee Cutler is also very helpful.’
‘Clerking is good and well managed. Senior clerks and practice managers take care to ensure that they come to listen to any issues that we may have and provide a clear and transparent route through which we can raise issues.’
‘Mark Dann and Lee Cutler are the best in the game. Knowledgeable, hugely responsive and always willing to go the extra mile. They are the dream team and so valuable and valued to their instructing solicitors.’
‘We have used 11KBW for a variety of matters and have found them approachable and adept.’
‘Excellent set with high reputation in education in particular.’
’11KBW is excellent. The strength in depth is second to none, and you know you are in safe hands when you instruct one of their barristers.’
’11KBW has a well deserved reputation as one of the best sets for education specialists.’
Work highlights
39 Essex Chambers
39 Essex Chambers is a ‘well-known specialist public law set’ with a particular presence acting in judicial reviews and tribunal claims at the intersection of health care and education law. Fenella Morris KC frequently acts for clients in negligence and breach of contract claims, while in R (T) v Secretary of State for Education, Rory Dunlop KC defeated a judicial review brought by non-working parents to the government’s pledge of fully-funded childcare for three and four-year olds; the claimants argued that the policy was discriminatory under Article 14 of the ECHR. At the junior level, Steve Broach KC regularly exhibits the set’s strength in SEND matters by acting in tribunal claims and judicial reviews for children with special educational needs, while Jennifer Thelen has been active in judicial reviews related to school exclusions and disability discrimination.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are professional, friendly and respond in a timely manner. Anthony King is particularly helpful and does his utmost to secure us with appropriate Counsel as quickly as possible.’
‘Peter Campbell is excellent.’
‘The clerks’ room is excellent. I’ve found them to be very responsive and eager to assist. In particular, I’ve dealt a lot with Oscar Redif and Sheraton Doyle, who are both supremely helpful and lovely people.’
’39 Essex is a strong set with high levels of expertise in a number of areas, including public law.’
’39 Essex has a very good depth and breadth of counsel.’
’39 is regarded as one of the top calibre chambers for public law. Its members are prestigious, with very high profiles.’
Work highlights
Matrix Chambers
Matrix Chambers is noted for its wide-reaching expertise in education law, with a growing reputation for acting in case law-shaping cases for schools, universities, individuals, and governmental bodies. Recent highlights include David Wolfe KC‘s appearance challenging the Government’s conversion of London’s Holland Park School into part of a multi-academy trust, with notable implications for the national academisation program. Sarah Hannett KC advised the University of Essex on a high-profile threatened judicial review surrounding the university's harassment policies. Daniel Squires KC conducted a noteworthy investigation into an independent school’s teaching of politically sensitive issues, while Helen Mountfield KC represented a visually impaired student in a race and disability discrimination claim against the Oxford Union after he was removed from a debate by security staff. The set’s profile was further bolstered with Claire Darwin KC and Nick Armstrong KC taking silk in 2023.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are helpful and responsive.’
‘Elizabeth Bousher is always efficient and personable.’
‘The clerks are always polite, proficient, and helpful.’
‘A set with a strong reputation in education law. Many of its members have now taken silk, so it has real strength at the senior end.’
‘Matrix is a stand-out set with a wealth of high profile barristers who are exceptional leaders in their field.’
‘A go-to chambers for education and public law work.’
Work highlights
3PB
3PB‘s education specialists are well-regarded for their understanding of education matters, with particular experience acting in tribunal claims and judicial reviews related to SEND matters and academic and disciplinary decisions in schools and universities. Charlotte Hadfield is noted for her expertise acting in claims concerning student and parent matters, including disability discrimination claims and SEND Tribunal appeals. Emma Waldron notably acted for a childminder in successfully appealing an Ofsted suspension notice, and Alice de Coverley successfully represented the respondent in the London Borough of Croydon v K-A (SEN) Upper Tribunal appeal, a widely reported case that sided with parents when weighing the healthcare benefits of a school placement against the public cost to the council.
Testimonials
‘Chris Mitchell is the stand-out clerk in the team. His knowledge of the area is impressive, and he is extremely responsive.’
‘3PB’s clerks provide a high level of support and ensure the information we provide gets to the right barristers every time. They are the lifeblood of the operation.’
‘Gemma Faulkner at 3PB does an incredible job managing a number of barristers and dealing effectively with a number of instructions at any one time, in a professional and charming way.’
‘The education team is fantastic and offers comprehensive and pragmatic advice.’
‘3PB is an excellent set of barristers, particularly for education law.’
‘A very strong education set with counsel always available for support, no matter the level of complexity.’
‘A strong set with numerous quality barristers within the area of Education law.’
Work highlights
11KBW
Testimonials
‘Harry Gilsom and Iva Stipanovic are very helpful individuals who smooth the process of instruction and go out of their way to assist.’
‘Extremely professional, friendly and helpful clerking team. Mark Dann and Lucy Barbett are excellent as always, and Lee Cutler is also very helpful.’
‘Clerking is good and well managed. Senior clerks and practice managers take care to ensure that they come to listen to any issues that we may have and provide a clear and transparent route through which we can raise issues.’
‘Mark Dann and Lee Cutler are the best in the game. Knowledgeable, hugely responsive and always willing to go the extra mile. They are the dream team and so valuable and valued to their instructing solicitors.’
‘We have used 11KBW for a variety of matters and have found them approachable and adept.’
‘Excellent set with high reputation in education in particular.’
’11KBW is excellent. The strength in depth is second to none, and you know you are in safe hands when you instruct one of their barristers.’
’11KBW has a well deserved reputation as one of the best sets for education specialists.’
Work highlights
39 Essex Chambers
39 Essex Chambers is a ‘well-known specialist public law set’ with a particular presence acting in judicial reviews and tribunal claims at the intersection of health care and education law. Fenella Morris KC frequently acts for clients in negligence and breach of contract claims, while in R (T) v Secretary of State for Education, Rory Dunlop KC defeated a judicial review brought by non-working parents to the government’s pledge of fully-funded childcare for three and four-year olds; the claimants argued that the policy was discriminatory under Article 14 of the ECHR. At the junior level, Steve Broach KC regularly exhibits the set’s strength in SEND matters by acting in tribunal claims and judicial reviews for children with special educational needs, while Jennifer Thelen has been active in judicial reviews related to school exclusions and disability discrimination.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are professional, friendly and respond in a timely manner. Anthony King is particularly helpful and does his utmost to secure us with appropriate Counsel as quickly as possible.’
‘Peter Campbell is excellent.’
‘The clerks’ room is excellent. I’ve found them to be very responsive and eager to assist. In particular, I’ve dealt a lot with Oscar Redif and Sheraton Doyle, who are both supremely helpful and lovely people.’
’39 Essex is a strong set with high levels of expertise in a number of areas, including public law.’
’39 Essex has a very good depth and breadth of counsel.’
’39 is regarded as one of the top calibre chambers for public law. Its members are prestigious, with very high profiles.’
Work highlights
Matrix Chambers
Matrix Chambers is noted for its wide-reaching expertise in education law, with a growing reputation for acting in case law-shaping cases for schools, universities, individuals, and governmental bodies. Recent highlights include David Wolfe KC‘s appearance challenging the Government’s conversion of London’s Holland Park School into part of a multi-academy trust, with notable implications for the national academisation program. Sarah Hannett KC advised the University of Essex on a high-profile threatened judicial review surrounding the university's harassment policies. Daniel Squires KC conducted a noteworthy investigation into an independent school’s teaching of politically sensitive issues, while Helen Mountfield KC represented a visually impaired student in a race and disability discrimination claim against the Oxford Union after he was removed from a debate by security staff. The set’s profile was further bolstered with Claire Darwin KC and Nick Armstrong KC taking silk in 2023.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are helpful and responsive.’
‘Elizabeth Bousher is always efficient and personable.’
‘The clerks are always polite, proficient, and helpful.’
‘A set with a strong reputation in education law. Many of its members have now taken silk, so it has real strength at the senior end.’
‘Matrix is a stand-out set with a wealth of high profile barristers who are exceptional leaders in their field.’
‘A go-to chambers for education and public law work.’
Work highlights
3PB
3PB‘s education specialists are well-regarded for their understanding of education matters, with particular experience acting in tribunal claims and judicial reviews related to SEND matters and academic and disciplinary decisions in schools and universities. Charlotte Hadfield is noted for her expertise acting in claims concerning student and parent matters, including disability discrimination claims and SEND Tribunal appeals. Emma Waldron notably acted for a childminder in successfully appealing an Ofsted suspension notice, and Alice de Coverley successfully represented the respondent in the London Borough of Croydon v K-A (SEN) Upper Tribunal appeal, a widely reported case that sided with parents when weighing the healthcare benefits of a school placement against the public cost to the council.
Testimonials
‘Chris Mitchell is the stand-out clerk in the team. His knowledge of the area is impressive, and he is extremely responsive.’
‘3PB’s clerks provide a high level of support and ensure the information we provide gets to the right barristers every time. They are the lifeblood of the operation.’
‘Gemma Faulkner at 3PB does an incredible job managing a number of barristers and dealing effectively with a number of instructions at any one time, in a professional and charming way.’
‘The education team is fantastic and offers comprehensive and pragmatic advice.’
‘3PB is an excellent set of barristers, particularly for education law.’
‘A very strong education set with counsel always available for support, no matter the level of complexity.’
‘A strong set with numerous quality barristers within the area of Education law.’