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39 Essex Chambers
Department profile | 39 Essex Chambers
Education

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Education - London (Bar)

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

39 Essex Chambers offers extensive expertise covering a wide range of education matters. Given its "strength across the board from very junior level to KC level," sources regard 39 Essex Chambers as a "go-to set for more complex cases." Members are particularly well regarded for their handling of cases concerning the higher education sector, including challenges to grant decisions and admissions, and claims involving allegations of discrimination and procedural unfairness. Members have additional expertise in claims for judicial review concerning SEN funding and employment within the education sector. The team acts on behalf of an enviable roster of clients, including the Secretary of State for Education, higher education institutions, local authorities, schools and parents. Recent notable work includes a case against the Secretary of State for Education challenging aspects of the legislation governing free school meal entitlement relating to children with EOTAS packages, which resulted in a commitment to issue new guidance.

Peter Campbell and Sheraton Doyle are directors of clerking.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

It is definitely one of the top sets in terms of responsiveness and quality of clerking.

Education respondent
UK Bar

The set has very helpful clerks who build a good relationship with you and are always available to help and find solutions on cases.

Education respondent
UK Bar

The clerking team is one of the things that 39 Essex Chambers does exceptionally well in comparison to competitors. The clerks are incredibly proactive and prioritise client care.

Education respondent
UK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

2
Jack Anderson
2
Band 2

Jack Anderson handles complex and high-value SEN appeals and educational judicial reviews for both claimants and defendants, often appearing before the Administrative Court and Upper Tribunal. He has experience representing the Department for Education, Ofsted and schools, and regularly receives instructions regarding private law contractual claims against further education colleges and universities. His practice includes advising local authorities on strategy relevant to the provision of education.

Jack Anderson is extremely clever, and I have lots of respect for him.

Jack is an excellent barrister.

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Steve Broach
2
Steve Broach
2
Band 2

Steve Broach KC is a highly regarded public law silk who acts for a number of prominent education clients. Much of his work is concerned with the special educational needs of disabled children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. He regularly acts in judicial reviews challenging funding cuts and local authority policies.

Steve is one of our favourite barristers to instruct. His ability to communicate simply what a complicated case is about is unparalleled.

Steve's reputation precedes him. He is a huge figure in the education world and is certainly the go-to KC for claimant education work.

He is a go-to counsel for education matters. He has a very creative mind and has brought some incredibly important challenges for students with disability.

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3
Anna Bicarregui
3
Band 3

Anna Bicarregui has an impressive public law practice, specialising in education law. She regularly receives instructions to act for local authorities on SEN cases, and was one of the junior counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Anna knows the law well and is very sensible on the tactical side, which in education cases is key. She was very impressive.

Anna Bicarregui is a very strong lawyer who offers pragmatic solutions. She is down to earth and approachable for clients. Her drafting is pristine.

Anna has a particularly impressive ability to familiarise herself fully with very complex and sensitive cases. She provides fantastic advice to clients.

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Katherine Apps
3
Katherine Apps
3
Band 3

Katherine Apps KC possesses significant expertise in education law cases involving equality issues and university governance. She acts for a broad range of clients including several schools, higher and further education institutions, and the Department for Education.

Katherine has an amazingly broad practice and a brain the size of a planet. She is incredibly impressive. Her technical expertise is notable; she does really complex cases.

A huge part of her skillset is that she can really pivot across different areas. I rely on her heavily for that breadth of knowledge. She is one of the best barristers for service and responsiveness.

Katherine is awesome and a delight to work with.

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3
Rory Dunlop
3
Band 3

Rory Dunlop KC is a talented silk with a broad practice spanning education, public law and immigration. He has frequently appeared in High Court appeals by teachers, including acting for the Secretary of State for Education in judicial review proceedings.

I worked with Rory on a complicated claim. He was great. He is good at delegating – he doesn't micromanage – and is an exceptionally good advocate.

Rory is phenomenally bright and very user-friendly. He knows his onions.

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4
Jennifer Thelen
4
Band 4

Jennifer Thelen is a member of the Attorney General's A Panel of counsel and has a solid reputation for SEN proceedings, discrimination claims and school exclusion disputes. Clients look to her for higher education matters involving contract law and she routinely receives instructions by central and local government to appear before the First-tier and Upper Tribunals.

Jenny is great. She is really precise. She is warm and has a lot of qualities that make a great barrister.

I have worked with Jennifer on complex cases involving children. She is very reasonable and very good at pushing her cases out while remaining courteous and polite.

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Katherine Barnes
4
Katherine Barnes
4
Band 4

Katherine Barnes is a public law barrister with a substantial practice in education law. She regularly appears before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal in SEN appeals and claims for judicial review.

Katherine is extremely approachable, helpful and committed to the cause of assisting vulnerable clients. She has a thorough approach to cases and delivers useful seminars in an understandable manner.

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Matthew Wyard
4
Matthew Wyard
4
Band 4

Matthew Wyard acts for a wide range of clients, including several individuals and education institutions. He has notable experience of appearing in both the First-tier and Upper Tribunals, and is well-regarded for his work in SEN-related judicial reviews.

Matthew is an extremely conscientious, bright and effective advocate. He has a calm and measured demeanour and wins the trust of the tribunal.

Matthew is a thorough and highly skilled barrister, with whom I trust complicated legal matters.

Since transitioning into focusing on judicial review, Matthew has excelled. He has an innate ability to look at perceived established legal concepts and form a new perspective.

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Ranked Barristers at
39 Essex Chambers

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Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Education
Steve Broach KC
2
Steve Broach KC
2
Band 2
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Katherine Apps KC
3
Katherine Apps KC
3
Band 3
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3
Rory Dunlop KC
3
Band 3
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Juniors

London (Bar)

Education
2
Jack Anderson
2
Band 2
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3
Anna Bicarregui
3
Band 3
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4
Jennifer Thelen
4
Band 4
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Katherine Barnes
4
Katherine Barnes
4
Band 4
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Matthew Wyard
4
Matthew Wyard
4
Band 4
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