Rook Irwin Sweeney

Managing Partners: Alex Rook, Anne-Marie Irwin, Polly Sweeney

Senior Partner: Caroline Barrett

Number of partners: 4

Number of other fee-earners: 5

Rook Irwin Sweeney has established a reputation as one of the leading public law and human rights firms in England and Wales, with a focus on the rights and interests of under-represented groups, particularly disabled people and their families, and on ensuring the accountability of public authorities.

Founded in 2020, the firm specialises in administrative and public law (judicial review), human rights, welfare matters in the Court of Protection, education, health and social care and environmental public law.

Rook Irwin Sweeney is ranked highly across a number of practice areas and recognised as one of The Times’ best law firms in England and Wales. Its lawyers routinely act in reported cases and have represented clients at all levels, including the Supreme Court, the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

The firm's lawyers are highly skilled in acting for clients - including national charities and NGOs - in high-profile strategic cases, and equally dedicated to resolving legal issues for individual clients. The firm is committed to access to justice, and operates an innovative Social Justice Fund, making legal advice accessible in the areas of education, health and social care for disabled people and their families.

Administrative and public law (judicial review)

Rook Irwin Sweeney is known for bringing cutting-edge cases against the state, to hold public authorities to account. Its lawyers have acted in many of the leading claims for judicial review in recent years. The firm has particular expertise in cases involving the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998, the European Convention on Human Rights, and issues of discrimination. The firm also acts Claimants in individual cases, to ensure their rights are upheld.

The firm acts in a wide range of cases, with particular expertise in cases involving the rights and interests of disabled people and their families, healthcare, social care, education law, and environmental law.

Court of Protection (welfare)

The firm's lawyers have a wealth of experience in welfare matters in the Court of Protection, covering a range of issues including residence, care, deprivation of liberty, sexual relations, marriage, hoarding, and medical treatment and end of life care. They regularly act for the Official Solicitor, professional deputies, and individuals and a number of the firm's lawyers are appointed by the Law Society as Accredited Legal Representatives. They are particularly adept acting in complex cases which intersect with public law disputes or education law, and in sensitive and high-profile medical treatment disputes.

Education

The firm's lawyers are leading specialists in special educational needsand disabilities (“SEND”) law and have a strong track record for securing positive outcomes for children and young people. They also advise for schools and colleges which share the firm's values.

They represent clients in appeals and claims to the SEND Tribunal including appeals to secure an Education Health and Care (“EHC”) needs assessment; challenging decisions not to issue an EHCP; appealing an EHCP to secure additional support, a change of school or home based education programmes; challenging 'cease to maintain' decisions; appeals to the Upper Tribunal; and claims for disability discrimination.

They have also acted in many of the leading education judicial reviews over the last decade and have particular expertise in strategic legal challenges and work closely with charities and campaign groups.

Health and social care

The firm are specialists in the law of health and social care, advising individuals and professional deputies, often working alongside often working with charities, NGOs and campaign groups. They have acted in many of the leading health and social care cases over the last decade, having taken cases to secure their clients’ rights to the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The firm has particular expertise in bringing strategic cases which have a wider social impact.

The firm specialises in advice on eligibility under theCare Act 2014 and the Children Act 1989; eligibility for social care and continuing healthcare; disputes about community care packages; continuing healthcare disputes and appeals; closures of health and social care services, including day centres, health services and care homes; consultations relating to healthcare and social care, local authority and NHS policies; cases relating to the public sector equality duty and the Equality Act 2010; local authority and NHS budget cuts; personal budgets, personal health budgets and direct payments; eligibility for medical treatment, including individual funding requests; and withdrawal of life-sustaining medical treatment.

Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP, 107-111 Fleet Street, EC4A 2AB

Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9DA