Services
Each service is delivered personally by Elizabeth Okinda. The practice does not undertake high-volume claimant litigation, does not act as solicitor on the record in judicial review proceedings, and does not hold client money. Where a matter requires full conduct of litigation, the practice works alongside an instructed regulated firm.
For Local Authorities
A dedicated overview of how the practice supports local authority legal and children's services teams.
View →Audience guideFor Schools, MATs & NGOs
A dedicated overview of how the practice supports schools, multi-academy trusts and children's sector NGOs.
View →Service LineCommercial Contract Advisory
Review and risk analysis of commercial contracts, drafting and negotiation support, and contractual dispute advisory short of litigation.
View →Audience guideFor Private Law Firms
A dedicated overview of how the practice supports partners and senior solicitors at private law firms.
View →Public Law Consultancy
Strategic advice on public law decisions, JR risk analysis, Pre-Action Protocol response drafting, public law governance reviews and quality assurance of statutory decisions.
Safeguarding & Children Act Advisory
Strategic advice on Children Act 1989 sections 17, 20, 47 and Schedule 2 duties. Threshold and risk analysis support. Protocol and policy development.
Education Law & SEND Advocacy
EHCP advisory work and First-tier Tribunal (SEND) representation. Disability discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010 in the SEND Tribunal.
Human Rights Advisory
Human Rights Assessments under the Care Act 2014/NRPF framework. Article 3, 6, 8 and 14 ECHR analysis. Modern Slavery Act advisory in safeguarding contexts.
Judicial Review Drafting & Strategy
Pre-Action Protocol letter and response drafting. Grounds and skeleton-style notes for instructed firms. Summary and detailed grounds of defence for local authority defendants.
Age Assessment Consultancy
Merton-compliance review. Brief Enquiry methodology under NABA 2022. Advisory notes, position statements and Pre-Action Protocol responses. Training for social workers and legal services.
Tribunal Advocacy
Representation in the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) and Social Entitlement Chamber. Bundle and witness preparation. Full hearing advocacy.
Legal Training & Simulation-Based Learning
Bespoke programmes for local authority social work and legal teams. Section 20, Human Rights Assessment and panel-decision simulations. CPD-accredited sessions.
Commercial Contract Advisory
Review and risk analysis of commercial contracts, drafting and negotiation support, advice on rights and exposure under existing agreements, and contractual dispute advisory short of litigation.