The Legal 500 > Douglas Silas Solicitors > London, ENGLAND > Lawyer profiles

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

Douglas Silas

Tel:: Work 020 8349 7700
Email:

Profile
Lawyer Rankings

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: Education: individuals

Douglas Silas Solicitors is known for its specialism in advising on special educational needs (SEN). Founding director Douglas Silas has huge experience assisting the parents of children and young people with SEN and disabilities, particularly in more challenging cases, and frequently advises parents as their children move through the education system. Silas has notable expertise acting for children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, dyslexia and dyspraxia. He assists with the whole SEN process, from requesting an assessment through to appeals to the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal.

[back to top]

Education: schools

Within: Leading individuals

Douglas Silas - Douglas Silas Solicitors

[back to top]

Back to index

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments in London

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

The legal difference between a consultant and an employee according to Nicaraguan Law

Knowing the legal difference between a consultant and an employee is important for a company that needs to hire someone in Nicaragua or for a person interested in rendering services for a company or another person, due to the fact that the nature of the contractual relationship will determine many factors that both parties must be aware of before executing the contracting modality that will govern the relationship between them - the nature of the contractual relationship impacts on the employment benefits, tax implications and liabilities that the parties must comply with according to the law. labor_law_in_nicaragua

- Alvarado y Asociados
Single director - shareholder Companies according to the Nicaraguan legal system

What is a Single Shareholder and Director legal entity?

- Alvarado y Asociados
Business in Nicaragua- The Most Important Changes in the Recent Tax Reform

In recent years, the country ́s the government has been committed to improving Taxation in Nicaragua and attempting to follow the legislative model used by some of the other countries in the region. Starting January 1st, 2013, a new tax law (Law No. 822, Tax Concertation Law) came into force in and completely changed the taxation system in Nicaragua. Two years later a new law was issued by the National Assembly containing more than 80 amendments, additions and repeals (Law No 891) which came into force December 18th, 2014.

- Alvarado y Asociados

The Legal 500