Ranking tables
Education: Individuals | UK
UK-wide
Rankings overview for Departments
Angela Jackman KC Irwin Mitchell24 Years Ranked
Eva Akins Russell-Cooke9 Years Ranked
Kevin McManamon Geldards LLP5 Years Ranked- Douglas SilasDouglas Silas Solicitors
- Iain NisbetCairn Legal
Adam Friel Geldards LLP5 Years Ranked
Ane Vernon Payne Hicks Beach LLP1 Years Ranked
Caroline Barrett Rook Irwin Sweeney7 Years Ranked- Helen Gill Sinclairslaw14 Years Ranked
- Robert Lewis Mishcon de Reya LLP2 Years Ranked
- Salima Mawji NBB Law Limited14 Years Ranked
Salise Dourmoush Geldards LLP2 Years Ranked
Simon Henthorn Doyle Clayton10 Years Ranked- Andrew BarrowcloughHCB Widdows Mason
- Edward DuffHCB Widdows Mason
- Rukhsana KoserEnable Law (part of the Foot Anstey Group)
James Pantling-Skeet Boyes Turner5 Years Ranked- Hayley Mason - SeagerSEN Legal
Emma Varley Bindmans LLP4 Years Ranked
Erin Smart Russell-Cooke5 Years Ranked- Esther Salter Irwin Mitchell2 Years Ranked
Lenka Wall Russell-Cooke4 Years Ranked
Lydia Dunford Boyes Turner5 Years Ranked- Louise EardleyGold Jennings
- Lucy AthertonSimpson Millar LLP
- Richard NettletonSEN Legal
All Departments profiles
Band 1
Band 2
2 Boyes TurnerEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 2 | 9 Years RankedBoyes Turner has a respected practice noted for its representation of parents and children with special educational needs. The team frequently assists with appeals to the SEND Tribunal regarding school placements. It is particularly adept at assisting with cases involving social care and deprivation of liberty considerations.
2 Geldards LLPEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 2 | 4 Years RankedGeldards has a dedicated education team that offers specialist expertise in SEN matters and demonstrates extensive experience in the SEND Tribunal. The team regularly acts for parents and students regarding Education, Health and Care Plans and appeals, as well as disability discrimination claims.
2 Irwin MitchellEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 2 | 15 Years RankedIrwin Mitchell has a well-reputed claimant-side education practice, handling a large volume of SEN matters, including arrangements for educational provision in the independent schools sector. The team regularly acts for clients before the First-tier and Upper Tribunals and in sophisticated public law challenges. The firm is noted for its expertise in issues concerning Education, Health and Care Plans. It is also adept at advising on issues of disability discrimination.
2 Rook Irwin SweeneyEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedRook Irwin Sweeney is a specialist public law and human rights firm with a noteworthy presence in the education sector. The firm frequently provides disabled children and their families with representation in SEND Tribunal appeals concerning school placement and provision. The team also assists with legal challenges and cases concerning the operation of the Children and Families Act 2014.2 SinclairslawEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 2 | 29 Years RankedSinclairslaw is a prominent firm with longstanding expertise and a solid reputation in education. The firm represents parents and individuals in legal challenges against the decisions of schools, universities and local authorities. Its practitioners have strong experience in equality law, SEND Tribunal work and human rights-related claims. The team is well known for providing advice to parents of children with learning difficulties.
Band 3
3 Doyle ClaytonEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 3 | 6 Years RankedDoyle Clayton is an impressive firm with proficiency in employment matters related to the education sector. The team frequently handles cases concerning discrimination, dishonesty, bullying and gross misconduct, as well as redundancy and retirement age disputes. The firm possesses additional expertise in immigration issues. It is also adept at providing representation in employment tribunals, judicial reviews and internal investigations and appeals.3 Russell-CookeEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedRussell-Cooke has a notable education practice that sees its lawyers advise individual claimants in SEN cases. The firm has a strong emphasis on claims involving disability discrimination, specialist school placements and the Equality Act. It has substantial expertise in handling complex cases that span both children's and education law. The team frequently utilises judicial review to hold local authorities to account for unlawful conduct.
Band 4
4 Bindmans LLPEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedBindmans has a well-regarded practice which sees the firm act in tribunals and judicial review challenges on behalf of parents and children with special educational needs. The team is recommended for its work on admissions, exclusions and discrimination. It draws on the firm's wider public law expertise to challenge decisions and pursue policy changes.
4 Shoosmiths LLPEducation: Individuals2026 | Band 4 | 9 Years RankedShoosmiths has a dedicated education practice noted for its adept representation of parents and young people. The team regularly assists with appeals to the SEND Tribunal against local authorities following refusal to issue Education, Health and Care Plans. The team also handles claims of inadequate provision in relation to issues such as home-to-school transport, one-to-one teaching assistance, and speech and language therapy.