‘Really brilliant team doing cutting-edge work, particularly in relation to school exclusions.’

‘Karen May is vastly experienced and has built an impressive team.’

‘Karen May is a leading star of the education law sector. She knows everything about education law, and her client care and empathy are second to none. She has legendary status.’

‘Douglas is brilliant. He is very knowledgeable in SEN law, which is a huge help and relief to stressed-out parents! He puts you at ease and is very reassuring. His interpersonal skills are great, and this is backed up by how knowledgeable he is.’

‘Douglas has advised us over many years on obtaining an Education and Health Plan (EHCP) from our local authority for our son, and our dealings with the local authority since then. Douglas has exceptional expertise of this specialist area of law. He achieved the EHCP for us, steering us through the process against opposition from the local authority. Douglas is always there for us when we need advice, he thinks tactically, is a wise and measured counsel, and brings a warmth and personal understanding to our discussions.’

‘Douglas and his team provided an exemplary service – professional advice, timely and very thorough. We had a complicated case leading up to a tribunal, and no stone was left unturned. Douglas’s considerable experience was invaluable in navigating the tribunal system – his advice was factual, compassionate, and no-nonsense when it needed to be! I have worked with multiple legal professionals over the last 30 years, and Douglas has to be one of the best (if not the best) in his field. ’

‘I have worked most closely with James Murray, who is highly knowledgeable and intelligent.’

‘I found that engagement between myself and the lawyers at Doyle Clayton to be greatly facilitated by the fact that the firm was open, honest, upfront, and supportive from the very beginning.’

‘Amara – I really appreciated the depth of her knowledge and experience in the field of education law. She was very clear and perceptive and made the whole academic complaints process understandable to someone who has never had any acquaintance with litigation before.’

‘I love working with this firm. They cover the whole spectrum of education work for both claimants and institutions. A very impressive offering with a well-deserved reputation for expertise and excellence.’

‘Rachael Smurthwaite has excellent legal knowledge and great client care.’

‘Yogi Amin is an excellent and experienced partner who rolls up his sleeves and gets involved.’

‘Polly Sweeney and Caroline Barrett are outstanding. They handle matters with precision, clarity and pragmatism. They give clients and other professionals absolute confidence that they have everything in hand and are able to secure the best possible outcomes even in the most difficult cases.’

‘One of the leading firms for individuals in the education field. A wealth of knowledge and experience, and excellent tactical nous. Truly brilliant.’

‘Jennifer Wright was professional and highly knowledgeable of the law and legal and other processes specific to my education-related case. She had thoroughly researched the background to my case and asked me what outcomes I wanted. She was empathetic and kept me up to date with the progress of my case and what actions were necessary and what would happen next.’

‘One of the biggest and best legal aid education teams in the country.’

‘Great team – Dan Rosenberg is the best solicitor in the country for school exclusion matters and Lucy Atherton is a star and vastly experienced in SEND matters.’

‘A really strong team from partner down to associate and trainee level. No case is too big or too small for them, nor is a case too controversial. They will take any case on and do the best that they can for their client. They know education law inside and out and are one of the few firms you could confidently recommend and know whatever the education matter, they will be able to assist.’

‘The education law team at Geldards is unique in its approachability and diversity. They show great empathy and understanding for clients, as well as demonstrate a wealth of knowledge and skill in supporting families through some very challenging times. Their working relationship and communication with expert witnesses is second to none.’

‘Geldards’ education law team demonstrates a rare combination of legal excellence, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to achieving meaningful outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs. What sets this team apart is their deep understanding of the clinical and practical realities faced by families navigating the SEND system. The team operates with seamless internal collaboration—across partners, associates, and support staff—which enables swift action and coherent case strategy even under significant time pressures.’

‘Adam Friel stands out as an exceptional solicitor with a razor-sharp strategic mind and a profound understanding of the intricacies involved in SEND Tribunal litigation. He has demonstrated a remarkable ability to synthesize expert evidence into compelling legal arguments.’

‘Ane Vernon is simply excellent. A very fine legal mind, she is pragmatic, thinks of all possible angles, and is not afraid to give her assessment of the situation even if she knows that’s not what the client was hoping to hear (which is incredibly valuable). As an education law specialist, whilst her clients are typically a child’s parents, she remains focused on achieving the best outcome for the child.’

‘Ane Vernon is a standout and has a strong team around her.’

‘Ane is super bright and focused; she is able to see the big picture strategically, but also has a total command of the detail.’

‘As education specialists, the team provides support across a wide range of potential issues in education – appreciating that challenges faced by clients in the education sector are unique.’

‘Erin Smart is a first-rate lawyer – pragmatic, knowledgeable, efficient, and responsive. Her approach is focused and results-driven, and strategically seeks to manage a matter for the right outcome.’

‘Eva Akins is very kind, empathetic and understood exactly how to approach the problem I was facing. Her support and legal expertise have been invaluable in achieving the outcome I was looking for.’

‘I have consistently been impressed by the exceptional quality, dedication, and integrity of the team. SEN Legal stands out for its exclusive focus on special educational needs and disability law, offering unmatched expertise in a highly specialised and nuanced area.’

‘The team is exceptionally knowledgeable in navigating complex EHCP disputes, SEND Tribunal processes, and education law, and they approach each case with meticulous care and strategic foresight.’

‘Hayley Mason-Seagar: Hayley is an exceptional legal strategist with a deep understanding of SEND law and an unwavering commitment to the children and families she represents. Her clarity, precision, and formidable advocacy consistently stand out in tribunal proceedings. She balances tenacity with compassion, making her both a fierce representative and a trusted ally to clients and professionals alike.’

‘Rukhsana Koser is excellent, has a real breadth of knowledge, and is highly experienced in the education sector, particularly concerning SEN. She has an excellent manner with clients. Her instructions are always clear and concise and she has great tactical ability to ensure a great outcome for clients.’

‘Sarah Palmer is excellent, she is an experienced education lawyer; has a great knowledge of education law, excellent tactical ability, and is empathetic to the needs of clients.’

‘I can not fault the Enable Law Education Team (Foot Anstey). They are not only approachable and friendly, but the advice they offer is rooted in many years of experience of dealing with Local Authorities and Tribunal settings to obtain the best results possible for vulnerable children with special educational needs and disabilities.’

‘Communication was excellent right from the start. Once it had been established that the issue presented fell within the firm’s remit, the process moved very quickly. Responsiveness was unmatched by any other firm we approached. All communication was timely and efficient. We were never left wondering what the next step was.’

‘Celia Whittuck is a star individual. She has gained considerable experience in education law and has an excellent strategic litigation strategy, particularly for civil claims against independent schools and universities, and internal complaints and appeal processes in relation to these institutions. Celia keeps clients fully informed throughout the process and always has an amazing handle on the case, regardless of how complex it is.’ 

‘A very competent firm with a good eye for detail.’

‘Laxmi Patel is absolutely phenomenal. A leading expert in special education needs, she has helped us in appealing to a SEND Tribunal the long series of poor and unfair decisions by a local authority and, after winning the appeal, in securing the revision of an EHCP. She is extremely experienced, sharp, knowledgeable, and pragmatic, and she reviews lots of documents really quickly and efficiently, providing crystal-clear and actionable feedback and concrete recommendations.’

‘Rachael Allison brings a rare combination of empathy, tenacity, and forensic legal insight to her work with families navigating EHCP disputes. Her ability to manage complex cases with compassion and rigour sets her apart from many in the field. As an expert witness, I have found Rachael’s instructions to be exemplary in clarity and context, enabling focused assessments that translate directly into robust, tribunal-ready evidence.’

‘Boyes Turner has a great team of educational law professionals, who are all exceptionally knowledgeable and empathetic to clients’ needs. All solicitors I have worked with always go the extra mile to ensure they are getting the best possible outcome for their clients. Both solicitors and other professionals in the educational law team are friendly, responsive and simply excellent at what they do.’

‘The team was excellent from the moment we contacted them – they were immediately reassuring, understanding the high stress of the situation, and took time to work with our child. Their in-depth knowledge and experience of the sector was incredibly useful, and they were able to draw on previous cases and experiences to drive actions.’

‘Alfie Cranmer was excellent – I cannot praise him highly enough. At every step of the way he supported our child, took time to explain what was going on, presented options and recommendations etc. He went above and beyond to reduce stress during an incredibly stressful period for our child and was always calm and professional. He drew time and again on experience of similar situations to negotiate accommodations and inspired confidence every step of the way.’

‘The team is very conscientious and diligent with preparation. They have a fantastic research team that can pull together detailed reports on complex areas of law. Their handling of facts and law is therefore comprehensive.’

‘We felt very well taken care of by our team, they were compassionate, professional, and helpful and secured us the results we wanted.’

‘MdR consistently presents in well-organised, collegiate teams led by partners knowledgeable as to the case and the law, yet unafraid to let more junior members of the team develop and shine. They are always excellent to work alongside, and they value the input of all.’

‘Robert Lewis – Excellent practical and legal advice in the Education sector; empathetic yet firm in dealing with opponents. A strong defender of his client base who readily gains and retains their confidence.’