Tom Cross
11KBW ‘Tom is an exceptional advocate and his drafting is hands down the best observed at the Bar. He has a very good knowledge of the relevant legal principles and is a pleasure to work with.’
Education
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Leon Glenister
Landmark Chambers ‘Leon is excellent and particularly strong on case strategy and working together with experts and a multi professional team to get clarity in a complex case. Leon’s knowledge of education law is top tier and he uses this magnificently to get the best.’
Paul Greatorex
11KBW
David Lawson
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Very responsive, thorough and able to convey complex concepts to lay client and lawyers. Very helpful at conference and able to swiftly cut through to the heart of the issue.’
Jack Anderson
39 Essex Chambers
Alice de Coverley
3PB ‘Alice’s knowledge and passion for this area of law and particularly, around special educational needs matters, is unrivalled. Her encyclopaedic knowledge of potential reasonable adjustments, external experts and other factors educational establishments should consider is incredibly helpful and she speaks with real authority on the matter. She is just magic.’
Laith Dilaimi
Old Square Chambers ‘Laith is an extremely capable advocate; calm and measured in his questioning of vulnerable witnesses and his written advocacy is of exceptional quality. Laith has considerable experience in complex gender issues effecting schools and universities, as well as discrimination claims and breach of contract claims.’
Katherine Eddy
11KBW ‘Katherine is a fantastic barrister. She's extremely intelligent and is a fantastic advocate. She also builds trust from clients.’
Charlotte Hadfield
3PB ‘Charlotte is the stand out junior in Education law. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and is a most persuasive advocate. She is the go to for any matter relating to special educational needs and destined to be a Silk.’
Jennifer Thelen
39 Essex Chambers
Emma Waldron
3PB
Jennifer Agyekum
3PB
Shazia Akhtar
Gatehouse Chambers ‘Shazia is an outstanding barrister, with an excellent knowledge of the law in relation to special educational needs. She is a good advocate, she takes no nonsense from her opponent local authority and instils the client with confidence about the way in which their case is handled and achieves outstanding results for parents of children with disabilities.’
Raj Desai
Matrix Chambers ‘Raj is an excellent barrister – his oral advocacy is measured, fluent and well informed. He knows how to read a room and is also an exceptionally strong analytical lawyer – he would always be among the very first choices of senior junior in an education case.’
Zoe Gannon
11KBW ‘Zoe is incredibly responsive and nothing is too much trouble. On her feet, she is quick, well-prepared and really knows her stuff.'
Alexander Line
Outer Temple Chambers ‘Alex is professional, approachable, practical and has fantastic knowledge case of special educational needs work. He is calm, composed and persuasive as an advocate, who is unlikely to be caught out by a judge. Clients and colleagues love working with Alex.’
Gráinne Mellon
Garden Court Chambers 'Grainne is an excellent barrister who is personable, knowledgeable, clear and concise, puts the client at ease and is able to dissect complex arguments in a manageable way for the lay client.'
Louise Price
Doughty Street Chambers ‘Louise’s knowledge and expertise in education law is second-to-none. She has a brilliant way of not just understanding very complex and novel points of education law but explaining it in a way that can be understood and tailored to the person she is talking to. Watching her in court is like watching a master class in advocacy.’
Hannah Slarks
11KBW ‘Hannah is very clear to define the issues and see a path through to success. Approachable and great client care too.’
Sarah Steinhardt
Doughty Street Chambers ‘Hardworking with great attention to detail and with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Equality Act. Easy to work with and persuasive on her feet with a clear crisp advocacy style.’
Katherine Anderson
3PB ‘Katherine is extremely personable and knowledgeable instilling confidence in both instructing solicitors and clients. She goes above and beyond in supporting instructing solicitors with any issues that may arise during the course of proceedings and is eloquent in her advocacy skills balancing the need to address the law and have the clients position heard.’
Katherine Barnes
39 Essex Chambers ‘Katherine is exceptionally intelligent and sharp; she picks up on small details. Her advice is extremely comprehensive; she is clear and professional in both her advocacy and written work.’
Aimee Fox
3PB ‘Aimee has a lovely, reassuring way with clients. Her ability to command the room’s attention in court through her persuasive and engaging advocacy skills is second to none.‘
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Rhys Hadden
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Rhys brings a wealth of knowledge to proceedings when dealing with difficult exclusion matters and school governors. Clients value his ability to cut through the extraneous matters and focus on what is important.’
Harini Iyengar
11KBW
Shu Shin Luh
Doughty Street Chambers ‘Shu Shin is easily one of the best barristers. She is tactically astute, extremely creative and incredible on her feet and easily on par with leading KCs in these areas.’
Ben Mitchell
11KBW ‘Ben has a good knowledge of the law in this area and has a clear and straightforward manner with clients, where there were some vulnerabilities in particular.’
Jane Oldham
11KBW
Imogen Proud
Monckton Chambers
Matthew Wyard
3PB ‘Matthew is a shrewd advocate, often finding nuance arguments in cases which other counsel may overlook. His advocacy is very reasoned, balanced, and he has a fantastic legal mind for untested areas of the law and judicial review. One to watch.’
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Mark Greaves
Matrix Chambers ‘Mark is excellent. His work is thorough and fair, and he certainly wins the trust of both parties. His written outcome is well reasoned, clear and helpfully structured.’
Raphael Hogarth
11KBW ‘Raphael is fiercely intelligent and immensely hardworking.’
Alice Irving
Doughty Street Chambers ‘Alice is a thorough, supportive and empathetic education law barrister and exactly who is wanted next to the most vulnerable clients during a special educational needs appeal. Alice has creative and innovative suggestions for judicial review remedies, delivers excellent results at tribunal and is recommended without hesitation to clients and colleagues.’
Jake Rylatt
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jake is a rising star in the field of education law. He has impeccable client care, an exceptional grasp of the legislation and fantastic interpersonal skills. His client care is second to none.’
Katy Sheridan
Matrix Chambers ‘Key strengths are how quickly she sees points, her legal knowledge, and also, for one so junior, her judgement.’
Rachel Sullivan
39 Essex Chambers 'Helpful, excellent written submissions.'
Monique Bouffé
Outer Temple Chambers 'Helpful, thorough, a pleasure to work with.'
Nadia O’Mara
Garden Court Chambers 'She is quick, responsive, and very good under time pressure.'
Ollie Persey
Garden Court Chambers 'Ollie has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the relevant law and has been able to achieve some excellent results in important legal challenges, particularly in relation to legal aid for education law issues.'