“There continues to be significant demand for expert legal support to help children and families with acute needs navigate the education system. We are very pleased to have Victoria and Erin on the team to further strengthen our ability to help our clients as they go through what can be a challenging and emotional process to ensure they and their children can access their rights and entitlements, and to deliver the right educational solution for their particular needs.”
Law firm Russell-Cooke has bolstered its children and education law team with the additions of legal director Victoria Federico and associate Erin Smart
Victoria Federico has over 14 years’ experience working in education law, both in private practice and in the charitable sector. Consistently ranked in Chambers and Legal 500, she has a particular specialism in securing the support children and young people with the most complex special educational needs and disabilities require. This includes working with individuals who have suffered serious injuries as a result of medical negligence or accident.
She joins Russell-Cooke having previously headed the education law team for a top-50 UK firm. She is a board trustee of Beyond Autism.
Bringing with her over a decade experience in education law, Erin Smart has particular expertise in supporting parents to secure EHC (Education, Health and Care) plans and school places through appeal to special educational needs and disability tribunals, in addition to bringing judicial review challenges to ensure local authority compliance with statutory obligations. Recognised by the leading independent directories, she previously worked in the public law and human rights department of a top-30 UK firm.
Russell-Cooke’s education team are experts in special educational needs, disability discrimination claims, judicial review, admissions, exclusions, complaints and school governance.
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