Education

James Goudie KC is an accomplished education practitioner with experience in a variety of other areas, including administrative law, environmental law, and employment law. He regularly advises local governments and universities on challenges against admissions procedures and construction projects. His broad education expertise sees him receive instructions on anything from novel SENDIST matters to academy conversions and higher education work. He is especially adept at handling cases involving allegations of discrimination.

"James Goudie is personable, realistic, precise and the man to turn to when the most complex advice is necessary."

Jonathan Moffett KC is the Chair of the Administrative Law Bar Association. He has a strong education practice representing local authorities, governmental bodies and universities, and has considerable court experience, including advocating in the European Court of Human Rights. He frequently handles disputes relating to school admissions, discrimination, and special educational needs provision.

"Jonathan Moffett is brilliant in terms of being able to read a huge volume of information and distil it into a summary form which can speak to anybody. He can articulate complexity into lay terms."

"Jonathan Moffett is a very steely and impressive defendant barrister."

Paul Greatorex is a top choice for education matters, particularly special educational needs and Equality Act claims. He has extensive experience in student disputes and disciplinary proceedings, and is frequently instructed by local authorities and universities.

"Paul Greatorex is an excellent counsel to have on your team. Not only is he a fount of knowledge, he provides excellent advice and pleadings."

"Paul's advocacy is excellent. He is clear, succinct and truly fierce."

"Paul is supremely knowledgeable and good for practical advice."

Peter Oldham KC has a thriving education practice that sees him act in discrimination, admissions, exclusions, governance and special needs disputes across the education sector. He has extensive expertise in reorganisation matters.

"Peter Oldham is an excellent academic lawyer who has the gift of communicating his analysis in a user-friendly and balanced way. His steady assuredness makes clients feel comfortable."

Tom Cross is a leading junior with a thriving practice handling education, commercial law and human rights-related matters. He regularly receives instructions from a range of education clients, including individuals, schools, higher education institutions, local authorities and central government. He has extensive experience appearing before the Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal and has handled some of the most important recent education cases.

"Tom Cross is incredibly bright and his written work is the best I have seen."

"Tom is excellent."

Aileen McColgan KC has an established practice focussing on special educational needs proceedings, equality law claims, and important topical socio-political matters within education. She acts for both claimants and defendants, including prominent universities and local authorities. Advisory work represents a significant part of her practice, and she has considerable experience in advising and chairing disciplinary and other panels.

"Aileen McColgan is a brilliant analyst of the immediate issues in the case and very approachable and understanding of her clients' priorities."

"Aileen is exactly what you want for a KC to put in front of your client because she has that air of gravitas."

"Aileen McColgan is phenomenal and works very collaboratively. She is good at explaining things and shows real passion in her work."

"Aileen is knowledgeable, experienced and instils confidence. She gives clear technical advice and is solutions-orientated."

Andrew Sharland KC routinely advises local authorities, schools, and further education colleges and has particular expertise in data protection and public procurement. He is widely regarded for his knowledge of special educational needs, admissions and contract law.

"Andrew is a go-to on difficult and complicated things. His technical capabilities are amazing and he is a quiet persuader."

"Andrew has provided peerless service, often having to deal with significant and novel challenges at short notice."

Jonathan Auburn KC advises an array of prominent education clients, including several local authorities and the Secretary of State for Education. He has particular expertise in SEN funding challenges and school closures, and has acted in a number of notable judicial reviews.

"Jonathan Auburn is a dynamic thinker who is thorough and always happy to assist at any point in the litigation."

Nigel Giffin KC has over three decades of experience advising on both education-specific matters and a vast array of issues that intersect with education law, such as social services. He is particularly adept at judicial review cases.

"Nigel Giffin KC is excellent and has done some really top stuff. He is also the nicest barrister in the world."

Hannah Slarks is a highly regarded education and employment law junior, with particular expertise in issues relating to the Equality Act and sexual misconduct within education. She regularly handles judicial reviews and has appeared across the upper echelons of the UK courts.

"Hannah provides very detailed written work in advance and does a fantastic job for her clients."

"Hannah is very responsive and provides practically-oriented advice."

Joanne Clement KC is a dynamic education silk with particular expertise in cases concerning special educational needs, school reorganisations, and academy conversions. She has a strong track record of advising local authorities, universities and schools. Her specialisms include disability discrimination claims, challenges to exam results and student disciplinary matters.

"Joanne was well-organised, pragmatic and showed an appreciation of the political context in which advice was required."

Katherine Eddy is a well-known education barrister with considerable experience in disputes, especially those involving public law, contract law and employment law aspects. She has a strong practice around public and private law education claims and particular experience of higher education cases.

"Katherine Eddy is ferociously intelligent. She sees the cases in detail but also sees the wider picture in a way that is unique to her. She is a very robust advocate with a strong forensic style."

Ben Mitchell is sought after for his experience handling politically sensitive education claims. He has appeared in judicial review and tribunal proceedings and advises universities and public bodies on education law issues. He has a PhD in education, equality and human rights law.

"Ben Mitchell is a phenomenal counsel to have on your team. He is extremely diligent and an excellent advocate and drafter of pleadings."

"Ben Mitchell has an innate ability to distil the complex and technical into something client friendly and easy to understand, whilst putting the points across in a forceful manner."

Harini Iyengar has a broad education practice focussing on special needs tribunals, judicial reviews, and disciplinary proceedings. Her clients include university and school students, as well as secondary, higher and further education institutions.

"Harini Iyengar is very helpful and supportive."

"Harini is user-friendly and easy to deal with as well as really helpful. She keeps excellent notes and maintains total control of the case."

Jane Oldham advises on a range of cases including judicial review challenges, local authority disputes and matters relating to academies. Clients include a host of schools, higher and further education institutions, and numerous local authorities.

"Jane has a good reputation on the judicial review and public law side of things."

Zoe Gannon has a broad public law practice and regularly acts for universities, colleges, schools and local authorities on a wide range of education matters. She is particularly experienced in the handling of discrimination cases and judicial review challenges to school decisions.

"She is excellent on her feet, a great drafter and clients really like her. She is patient and brilliant at making her point."

"Zoe Gannon has a fundamental understanding of the state funded education system, so you know you are going to get an empathetic as well as legally robust opinion."