Geldards strengthens Education team with duo of specialist hires
Geldards’ acclaimed national Education team has been bolstered by the appointment of two experienced solicitors who bring with them a wealth of expertise in Education law.
Ffion Davies, who joins the firm’s Cardiff office from a leading education law firm, has significant experience representing families and young people navigating the Special Educational Needs (“SEN”) systems in both England and Wales.
Ffion will bolster the team and provide support to families seeking Education, Health and Care Plans (“EHCP”) and Individual Development Plans. Ffion specialises in representing families and young people in the First-Tier Special Educational Needs Tribunal and the Education Tribunal for Wales.
Charlotte Middleditch joins Geldards’ Education team in London having previously worked as an Education lawyer at Tees Law, strengthening the team’s capabilities. Charlotte will advise parents and schools on contentious and non-contentious matters such as EHCP negotiations, judicial review and disability discrimination claims and support families trying to secure the right educational outcome for their children.
Geldards’ Education Law has seen significant growth over the past few years to meet increased demand from parents, students and educational institutions seeking legal services. The team is highly regarded as a leading national practice in Education, SEN and Disability Law and is ranked by Chambers and Legal 500.
The latest two additions to the team follow the appointment of new Partner and Head of Schools, Colleges and University Services Thomas Emmett, who joined in August to provide specialist legal expertise to educational institutions from across the country. The growth of Geldards Education team reflects the firm’s continued investment in Education law in response to growing demand for quality legal support from families and educational institutions.
Commenting on the appointments Partner & Head of Education Law, Adam Friel said:
“We are incredibly proud of the reputation earned by our Education team which boasts some talented and compassionate educational specialists. I am delighted to welcome Ffion and Charlotte to the team. Their extensive experience supporting families who are struggling to get the right educational outcome for their children, coupled with their expertise dealing with complex Special Educational Needs matters will enhance the high quality service we provide to our to clients.”
Ffion Davies commented:
“I am delighted to be joining Geldards’ Education team and continuing to support children and young people across England and Wales. I am looking forward to working alongside such a talented team and contributing to the success of the firm.
I am particularly looking forward to adding my knowledge and experience of working within the Welsh Education Tribunal framework. Having personal experiencing of navigating the system in Wales, I am passionate about providing straight forward and clear advice to families in Wales.”
Charlotte Middleditch added:
“I am thrilled to be joining the highly-regarded, specialist education team at Geldards where I will continue supporting families and advising educational institutions.
As the sibling of someone with special educational needs and being Dyslexic myself, I understand first-hand the challenges that families face to secure the right education for their children. By combining my professional expertise with personal insight, I provide clients with the straight-forward, practical advice that they need.”