Who We Are & What We Do
Meet The Board
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What We Do
ELAS offers its uniquely diverse membership unbiased information about current legal issues affecting education and the rights of those involved in education. We offer expert insights into education law, addressing a variety of policy and procedural matters with a practical and outcome-driven approach. Our topics include:
ELAS only provides information, not legal assistance
Advice on bullying and school discipline
Comprehensive support in special educational needs and disability matters, including disputes over special educational needs statements
Issues related to school uniforms and freedom of religion
Memberships
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Satnam Virdi
Satnam studied Economics and Law at Cambridge University, where he also served a sabbatical year as elected Deputy President of the Students Union. He qualified in a large City law firm, before moving to Brent Council where he was Head of Litigation.
He established his own firm in 1994, focussing on human rights and local government litigation, particularly education and SEN law. He has recently taken over as Chair of the Education Law Association. He was also a state school governor for many years.
He recently served as an Ombudsman with the Financial Ombudsman Service and has served on the ELAS committee for over 10 years, before becoming chair in August 2024.
Laxmi Patel
Helen Gill
Oliver Persey
Anna Tkaczynska
Board member
Mathilda Goodchild
David Lawson:
Shazia Akhtar
Board member
She also acts for individuals and on behalf of the Official Solicitor within the Court of Protection both in relation to health and welfare and property and affairs.
Her practice also includes commercial work such as contractual disputes, property disputes relating to academies, advising on pensions in the context of local government, judicially reviewing decisions of the Financial Conduct Authority and procurement matters, particularly in relation to public authorities. She has a diverse practice, acting for local authorities; public bodies; NGOs; commercial organisations and individuals.
She has been consistently ranked as a leading junior by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Shazia is also a part-time judge sitting in the Educational Tribunal for Wales (ETW), which makes decisions on appeals about special educational needs and disability discrimination.
Shazia is a qualified mediator (ADR Group) and has worked internationally in jurisdictions such as the United Nations in Geneva and West Africa.
Priscilla Adu
Board member
Priscilla has built up a sturdy practice in representing students in the regulated professions, particularly in Fitness to Practise proceedings. Priscilla is also a discrimination specialist representing many clients in cases of disability and race discrimination.
Priscilla was shortlisted for the LawNet Trainee of the Year Awards 2022/23 and was ranked as a recommended lawyer in Education within the Legal 500 directory in 2023. Priscilla has also held a position with the Executive Committee for the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society as a student representative.
Louise Coleman
Board member
She provides bespoke training, advice, support and assistance to schools and LA Officers on a variety of issues and complex matters – including SEN, disability discrimination, Judicial Reviews, SEN Tribunal appeals, school transport, policy and other contentious and non-contentious matters.