Simpson Millar recognised in the Legal 500 UK 2027 rankings

Education: individuals – Tier 1 

Our Education Law team has retained its Tier 1 ranking for Education: individuals in London, continuing its recognition at the highest level of the Legal 500 rankings in this area. 

Led by Polly Kerr, the team supports children, young people and their families across a wide range of education law and children’s rights matters. This includes helping families where there are concerns about the educational provision or support a child or young person is receiving, as well as matters involving special educational needs and disabilities, exclusions and other decisions that may affect their education.A significant part of the team’s work involves supporting families where there are disagreements about the provision a child or young person needs to access education effectively. This can include advice and representation relating to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), disputes over specialist educational provision, challenges to decisions made by local authorities and situations where a child’s needs may not be being appropriately identified or supported. 

The team also advises families on school exclusions and other education-related decisions which can have a significant impact on a child or young person’s learning, wellbeing and future opportunities. These cases can involve complex legal processes at a time when families may already be dealing with concerns about their child’s education and support, making clear advice and guidance particularly important. 

Polly leads a team of specialist education lawyers who work closely with families to understand their individual circumstances and the outcomes they are seeking. Her leadership helps ensure the team combines detailed knowledge of education law with a clear focus on the individual child or young person at the centre of each case. 

Civil liberties and human rights – Tier 3 

Our Public Law and Human Rights team has retained its Tier 3 ranking for Civil Liberties and Human Rights in London. 

Led by Shalini Patel, the team represents individuals in cases where the actions or decisions of public authorities may affect their fundamental rights. This can include matters involving human rights, community care, migrant rights and other complex public law issues, often where the outcome may have a significant impact on an individual’s life, wellbeing or access to support. 

Cases involving civil liberties and human rights can arise in many different circumstances and often concern decisions made by public bodies about a person’s liberty, care, accommodation, treatment or access to essential services. The team works with individuals to understand whether their rights may have been affected and what legal options may be available where there are concerns about the actions or decisions of a public authority. 

The people seeking support from the team can also be facing particularly difficult circumstances, including situations where they are vulnerable or where several legal and practical issues are happening at the same time. Providing clear advice and ensuring individuals understand the decisions being made about them is therefore an important part of the team’s approach. 

Shalini leads the wider Public Law and Human Rights practice and has extensive experience acting for individuals in complex and sensitive cases. Under her leadership, the team works to hold public bodies to account where appropriate and to help clients understand and protect their legal rights. 

Personal injury: claimant – Tier 4 

Our North West Personal Injury team has been ranked Tier 4 for Personal Injury: claimant, with the 2027 Legal 500 commentary particularly recognising Simpson Millar’s work supporting people who have experienced abuse. 

The Abuse Claims team represents survivors in complex and sensitive claims involving public bodies, schools, religious organisations and other institutions. This work requires specialist legal knowledge alongside an understanding of the impact abuse can have on the people bringing a claim. 

Legal 500 recognised Liam Goggin, who oversees the team and has extensive experience in complex child abuse claims. 

Nathalie Swanwick also received significant individual recognition through feedback published by Legal 500. Clients praised her determination, knowledge and the care and respect she provides throughout the legal process, with one testimonial describing Nathalie as the “jewel in the crown in this specialist field.” 

Further feedback highlighted the wider team’s approach to supporting clients, including regular communication and the importance placed on keeping people informed throughout their case. Joshua Hurst was also identified by Legal 500 as a key contact within the practice. 

The recognition reflects the experience Liam, Nathalie, Joshua and the wider team bring to abuse claims, as well as the importance of supporting clients with sensitivity, respect and clear communication throughout what can be an extremely difficult legal process. 

Court of Protection – Tier 4 

Our Court of Protection, Health and Welfare team has retained its Tier 4 ranking in London, with Legal 500 recognising several lawyers across the team and publishing strong feedback about the service they provide. 

Led by Natalie Coates, the team supports individuals, families, professional litigation friends and other representatives in cases involving decisions about a person’s health, welfare, care, residence and capacity. 

Administrative and public law – Tier 4 

Our team has retained its Tier 4 ranking in London, with Legal 500 recognising its work with vulnerable individuals, NGOs, specialist charities and others affected by decisions made by public authorities. 

The practice is led by Shalini Patel, who Legal 500 recognised for her specialist experience in unlawful detention claims and civil claims for damages. Shalini leads a team dealing with a broad range of public law matters, including migrant rights, trafficking, community care and challenges to unlawful or unfair decisions made by public bodies. 

• Charlotte Andrews was highlighted as a key contact in matters involving failures by public authorities. Her work includes supporting individuals where the actions or decisions of a public body may have affected their rights, care or wider circumstances.
• Eve French was also recognised by Legal 500 for her work with individuals whose cases involve overlapping community care and human rights issues. 

Eve received further individual praise through feedback published by Legal 500, which described her as a solicitor who goes the extra mile for her clients and highlighted both her legal analysis and empathetic approach when supporting vulnerable people. 

Family – Tier 4 

Our Family team has retained its Tier 4 ranking for Leeds, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. 

Our work in this area includes the specialist Child Care Proceedings team led by Jonathan Roberts, which represents parents and other family members where social services are involved with a family or where court proceedings concerning a child are being considered or have already begun. 

Child care proceedings can involve some of the most significant decisions a family may face, including decisions about where a child should live, the support a family may need and whether a child can remain in the care of their parents or wider family. The legal process can also move quickly, which means it is important for families to understand what is happening, what is expected of them and what options may be available at each stage. 

Jonathan leads the Child Care Proceedings team in handling complex and sensitive children law matters. He and the wider team support clients throughout the process, from the early stages of social services involvement through to court proceedings where necessary, providing advice and representation while helping families understand the decisions being considered. 

The team works with parents and other family members in a wide range of circumstances, recognising that every family situation is different and that proceedings involving children can be highly emotional. Their role includes helping clients understand the evidence and concerns being raised, ensuring their views are properly represented and providing clear advice as the case progresses. 

Jonathan’s leadership of the team brings together specialist experience in child care proceedings with an understanding of the impact these cases can have on children and their families. He leads the team in providing focused legal support throughout proceedings while ensuring clients remain informed and able to participate effectively in decisions that may have a long-term impact on their family. 

Recognition across our specialist teams 

These rankings reflect the breadth of specialist legal support provided across Simpson Millar and some of the work our teams undertake for individuals and families facing complex, sensitive and often life-changing circumstances. 

We are pleased to see the work of our teams recognised in the Legal 500 UK 2027 rankings and to continue building on this recognition across the firm.