About Douglas
Having autism, ADHD and dyspraxia myself, I know how much of a difference suitable and timely support makes to the life of a neurodivergent person in education, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure it’s put in place for my clients’ children, and their rights are fully upheld.
Douglas is a solicitor specialising in education law, with particular expertise in special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunal appeals. He has worked in education law since 2014 and qualified as a solicitor in 2019, joining Russell-Cooke in 2025.
Douglas advises parents and young people in all types of SEND appeals, including:
- securing placements at independent schools, both mainstream and specialist
- s.61 EOTIS and s.19 EOTAS (education otherwise than in/at school)
- extended appeals involving significant social care or health elements
He is highly experienced in negotiating and drafting education, health and care plan (EHCP) wording during the “working document” stage, where precision and attention to detail are vital. His neurodivergence gives him unique insight and focus in this area, which he sees as an example of difference being a professional strength.
Douglas also takes particular interest in finding appropriate potential school options for clients and maintains a detailed map of noteworthy placements up and down the country.
Douglas’s ethos is to secure the right outcome for each client, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. He is as comfortable resolving disputes by pre-appeal negotiation as he is when cases progress to hearing including in the Upper Tribunal.
Douglas views his central role as sharing the burden of navigating what can be a complex and frustrating legal system with his clients, while steering cases towards the best possible outcome as efficiently as possible. He takes every case seriously and fights for his clients’ rights with the same vigour as if they were his own.
Douglas also speaks fluent conversational Spanish.
Douglas Hamer is passionate about what he does. He has good attention to detail and is very knowledgeable.
Experience
Beyond SEND appeals, Douglas advises clients on a range of education matters, including:
- local authority and Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) complaints
- judicial reviews
- disability discrimination claims
- healthcare and social care disputes
- school attendance and elective home education (EHE) issues
- higher education academic appeals
- home to school transport
- disputes with schools
His experience shows through, we would be lost without his knowledge and holistic understanding. We’re thankful to have found someone that intimately understands this area.
Notable work
- Secured multiple placements at The Unicorn School, Hurst Lodge, Gesher School, Blossom House School, Swalcliffe Park School, and Moor House School and College
- Other recent secured specialist placements include Grateley House School with full residential and transport, TreeHouse School, Limpsfield Grange, Side by Side School, and Potterspury Lodge.
- Independent mainstream schools achieved include Durlston Court, Beech Hall, Birtley House, and Sackville
- Secured a number of EOTIS arrangements, from complex packages provided by the local authority to packages delivered by parents by way of a personal budget with direct payments
- Successfully appealed a decision of the First-tier Tribunal, having a decision wholly overturned by the tribunal itself without requiring a full Upper Tribunal appeal
He was very accessible and advised thoroughly, clearly and patiently.
Education
- BPP University – GDL, LLB (first class), LPC
Memberships
- Education Law Association
