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Douglas Silas Solicitors

GABLE HOUSE, 239 REGENTS PARK ROAD, FINCHLEY, LONDON, N3 3LF, ENGLAND

Tel:: Work 020 8349 7700
Fax:: Fax 020 8349 7709

Email:

Web:: www.specialeducationalneeds.co.uk; @douglassilas

Douglas Silas

Tel:: Work 020 8349 7700
Email:

Web:: www.SpecialEducationalNeeds.co.uk

Profile
Lawyer Rankings
Hall of Fame

Work Department

Education.

Position

CHAMBERS & PARTNERS PROFILE FOR WEBSITE – JULY 2016

Douglas specialises exclusively in SEN and has done so successfully for over 20+ years. He is widely respected and both nationally and internationally recognised as a leading expert in his field. His website www.SpecialEducationalNeeds.co.uk is also nationally recognised and regularly gets 50,000-100,000+ visitors/month!

Douglas has advised & represented thousands of parents of children/young people with SEN/Disability and trained a wide variety of people over many years. Douglas is also the author of ‘A Guide To The SEND Code of Practice’ [updated for 2017/18], which is published as an eBook.

Douglas and his team have won numerous awards over many years, including ‘SEN Law Firm Of The Year’, ‘Education Law Firm/Lawyer of the Year’ (both in England and the UK)’, 'Innnovative Lawyer', 'Superior Laywer' and ‘Niche Law Firm of the Year’.

Douglas has also been shortlisted twice by the Law Society for its prestigious award of ‘Solicitor of the Year (Private Practice)’ and was the first ever winner of the ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award at the Modern Law awards.

Douglas is also physically disabled and a wheelchair-user. In recent years, he has become well-known for cycling a specially-modified trike to raise money for Norwood, a charity for children with disabilities. In 2011, he rode 380km across southern Israel. In 2012, he rode 420km across Sri Lanka. In 2013, he rode 380km across northern Israel and then 450km across Madagascar back to back! In 2014, 2015 and 2016 he did further international rides and is currently planning to complete another one at the end of 2017.

Douglas has so far raised over £150,000 for charity. In November 2012, he was named an ‘Unsung Hero’ by the charity, Jewish Care. In November 2014, Douglas was also given a 'Points of Light' award by the (then) Prime Minister, David Cameron, in recognition of him being an outstanding volunteer in the UK.

Career

Trained Levenes 1995; qualified 1997; associate Alexander Harris 2002; established Douglas Silas Solicitors 2005.

Languages

British Sign Language (BSL).

Member

Education Law Association; Administrative Law Bar Association; Lawyers with Disabilities Division.

Education

John Lyon School, Harrow; South Bank University (LL.B (Hons), winner of Sweet & Maxwell Law Prize for graduating in first place); College of Law, London (Diploma in Legal Practice).

London: Public sector

Education: individuals

Within: Leading individuals

Douglas Silas - Douglas Silas Solicitors

Within: Education: individuals

Douglas Silas Solicitors is best known for its exclusive focus on special education needs (SEN), led by specialist lawyer and founding director Douglas Silas. The team has considerable expertise in this area and regularly acts for children, vulnerable people and young adults with SEN, as well as undertaking vast advisory work for parents. The firm's client base ranges from primary school children up to individuals in post-16 education and training. Silas is regularly described as the 'go-to' practitioner for this sub-area of work.

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Education: schools