Department profile
11KBW

Education

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


11KBW

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Education - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

11KBW maintains its reputation as a set that offers "market-leading expertise in education law" and that benefits from "huge strength in depth across all levels of call." Particular areas of strength for the team include special educational needs cases, discrimination claims and examination disputes. Members regularly receive instructions from both individuals and institutions from across the education estate and have particular expertise in school reorganisations, admissions and exclusions, and employment disputes. Recent high-profile work includes an instruction on behalf of claimants in a judicial review case challenging the government's policy of imposing VAT on private school fees.

Mark Dann leads the clerking team as senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The set has a really professional clerking team which is responsive and just really professional and smooth.

    Education respondentUK Bar
  • I have a very good relationship with the clerks. Someone will always get back to us. Michael Smith, team leader, will send emails very quickly.

    Education respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking team are responsive and adept at dealing with queries.

    Education respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks at 11KBW are excellent.

    Education respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleJames Goudie KC
    Senior StatespeopleJames Goudie KC

    James Goudie KC

    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 an esteemed and respected man.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • James' reputation precedes him.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jonathan Moffett
    Band 1Jonathan Moffett

    Jonathan Moffett

    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.

    • For matters relating to education regulation, Jonathan is an exceptionally strong lawyer and tactician.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • He is a fantastic lawyer.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Jonathan has excellent client-relationship skills, as well as being the best of the best in terms of expertise.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Paul Greatorex
    Band 1Paul Greatorex

    Paul Greatorex

    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.

    • He is great on education matters and really excellent at simplifying difficult issues.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Paul is a first-rate practitioner. He delivers his advice in an easily accessible and straightforward manner and is brilliant in taking a robust approach with tricky opponents.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Paul is very pragmatic and has a great deal of valuable experience in education law.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Peter Oldham
    Band 1Peter Oldham

    Peter Oldham

    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.

    • For matters relating to education regulation, Peter is an exceptionally strong lawyer and tactician.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Peter is rightly recognised as a leader in his field over many years.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Peter was very approachable, supportive and easy to talk to.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Aileen McColgan
    Band 2Aileen McColgan

    Aileen McColgan

    Aileen McColgan KC has an established practice focusing 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 is incredibly approachable and client-focused. She combines great communication skills with pre-eminent expertise of her specialism.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Aileen is absolutely top class!

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • She instantly cut to the heart of our matter and demonstrated her expertise and judgement in a way that reassured and strengthened the client.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Andrew Sharland
    Band 2Andrew Sharland

    Andrew Sharland

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

    • Andrew is calm and methodical, and judges respond very well to that.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Hannah Slarks
    Band 2Hannah Slarks

    Hannah Slarks

    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.

    • We have used her on large, more complex and challenging cases. I was super impressed by her and by her terrific mastery of large amounts of material. She has a very good bedside manner with clients.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • In terms of her advocacy, she was excellent. She has got a good style and is calm and methodical.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Jonathan Auburn
    Band 2Jonathan Auburn

    Jonathan Auburn

    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.

    • I have worked with Jonathan for a very long time, and I appreciate his honesty in his approach to matters.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Jonathan was impressive.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Ben Mitchell
    Band 3Ben Mitchell

    Ben Mitchell

    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 and human rights law.

    • Ben is a brilliant barrister to work with. He is responsive, knowledgeable and has great commercial acuity.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Ben is a junior in the ascendancy. His drafting and advice were impeccable.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Ben is very responsive and has excellent technical knowledge.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Joanne Clement
    Band 3Joanne Clement

    Joanne Clement

    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.

    • She is excellent; our go-to person.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Joanne has a very nice oral and written style. She is always very clear with the court. She is no-nonsense and doesn't mess around.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • She's an extremely impressive silk. She is tenacious in her pursuit of points and really accurate. She gets to the point directly; her advocacy is impressive.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Joanne Clement is really accessible and provides really clear and practical advice.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Katherine Eddy
    Band 3Katherine Eddy

    Katherine Eddy

    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 did a brilliant job in complex matters for our client. She is really impressive.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Nigel Giffin
    Band 3Nigel Giffin

    Nigel Giffin

    Nigel Giffin KC has extensive 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 is a clever and impressive barrister.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Nigel is incredibly clear and hard-working, and he gets good results.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Harini Iyengar
    Band 4Harini Iyengar

    Harini Iyengar

    Harini Iyengar has a broad education practice focusing 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 was really easy to work with and showed good attention to detail.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Raphael Hogarth
    Band 4Raphael Hogarth

    Raphael Hogarth

    Raphael Hogarth is an impressive junior focusing his practice on education challenges. He is very well-versed in matters that involve public law and human rights aspects and has been instructed in high profile cases related to such issues as the distribution of powers for planning and procurement of providers.

    • Raphael is very knowledgeable, very thorough and very approachable.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Zoe Gannon
    Band 4Zoe Gannon

    Zoe Gannon

    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.

    • Zoe is a real expert in these areas, especially in education and human rights, so she was our top choice for junior. She is excellent in the details of a matter.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • We would most definitely use Zoe again. She is very easy to work with and very responsive.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Zoe Gannon offers first-class client service.

      Education respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksTom Cross
    New SilksTom Cross

    Tom Cross

    Tom Cross KC has 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 is very calm and considered in his approach. His written advice is very clear and he is a very persuasive advocate.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Tom has always been trusted to work on complex and sensitive matters which often involve a topic of wider public significance. Clients love speaking to him as he can break down complex topics.

      Education respondentUK Bar
    • Tom Cross is a future star silk. He is incredibly calm and composed. He is a very easy person to relate to, which means he can cover both claimant, defendant, appellant and respondent work.

      Education respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 11KBW (16)

London (Bar)

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