Douglas is a solicitor specialising in education law, with particular expertise in special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunal appeals. Douglas has diagnoses of autism, ADHD and dyspraxia, and he is a parent to two children. He has worked in education law since 2014 and qualified as a solicitor in 2019. Douglas worked at Geldards LLP from 2019 to 2025, leaving in 2025 to join Russell-Cooke LLP but rejoining Geldards at the start of 2026.
Douglas advises parents and young people in all types of SEND appeals, including:
- refusals to conduct a needs assessment or issue an EHCP;
- securing placements at independent schools, both mainstream and specialist;
- s61 EOTIS and s19 EOTAS (education otherwise than in/at school); and
- 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, leading to robust EHCPs that protect a child or young person’s needs as long as possible. 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.
Beyond SEND appeals, Douglas represents clients on a range of education matters, including:
- disability discrimination claims;
- local authority and Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) complaints;
- judicial reviews;
- healthcare and social care disputes;
- school attendance (s444) and elective home education (EHE) issues;
- information rights issues;
- transport appeals;
- disability benefits (DLA) appeals; and
- higher education academic appeals.
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 representing clients at a hearing or 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 fighting for himself or his children.
Recent successes:
- 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 Knowl Hill School, 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 School.
- 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. Very recently achieved a bespoke negotiated arrangement for a parent to be able to deliver a flexi-schooling approach between an independent mainstream setting and home education, supported by a yearly personal budget of nearly £50,000.
- 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.
Douglas is ranked in Chambers and Partners as a star associate, and in the Legal 500 as a leading associate.
Douglas also speaks fluent conversational Spanish.
