Rook Irwin Sweeney

Human Rights Day 2025 | British Institute of Human Rights On 10th December 2025, we're celebrating Human Rights Day with a civil society gathering, an open letter to the Prime Minister, and the launch of our new ECHR zine.

You can find out more about the day and its aims here: www.bihr.org.uk/our-work/our.... #HRD25 3/3

@ris-law.bsky.social's Partner @anne-marieirwin.bsky.social is attending a special event hosted by the BIHR today celebrating 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights and 25 years of our Human Rights Act #HRD25 2/3

logos of all the organisations that have signed this year's letter.

Today is #HumanRightsDay. Alongside the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and 180+ organisations we’ve signed a letter to the Prime Minister to call for leadership that strengthens rights, not weakens them. Read the letter here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/human-rights... 1/3

Families of 8 disabled children challenged a local authority plan to redesignate special schools. The changes would have left pupils with severe physical disabilities, autism or mental health needs—but without complex learning difficulties—without any special school places. [2/2]

#IDPWD2025

On #InternationalDayofPersonswithDisabilities, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside clients towards a world where disabled people are treated with dignity, equity, and respect. A reminder of one of our recent cases in which our disabled clients used the law to protect their rights: [1/2]

Commending our work in education law, @thetimes.com highlighted a number of the firm’s high-profile cases over the last year including our strategic work protecting the rights of disabled children and their families. Thank you to all who provided feedback 2/2

Logo from 'The Times: Best Law Firms 2026' in white font and in front of a blue background displaying the city and the Lady Justice statue

We are delighted to be named as one of @thetimes.com best 250 law firms in England and Wales for 2026: www.thetimes.com/best-law-fir... #publiclaw #judicialreview #educationlaw #healthandsocialcare

@swastrosarah.bsky.social

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They will be delivering a webinar on 29 October at 11am.

Please email enquiries@rislaw.co.uk to register.

#EducationLaw #SEND #Webinar #ParentSupport #RookIrwinSweeney

Is your child moving between stages of education this academic year or next?

Join @bethparr.bsky.social and @jentwright.bsky.social from @ris-law.bsky.social for a free webinar offering expert guidance on preparing for transitions and handling EHCP placement decisions.

Webinar Alert: Helping Your Child Navigate Education Transitions

Chambers & Partners UK 2026 'Leading Firm' ranking logo in black and white with a leave petal design at the edges.

Thank you to all our fantastic clients and colleagues who gave feedback.

Sources recognised our "expert handling of public law and human rights challenges” and "considerable strengths across education, Court of Protection and healthcare-related public law matters”, valuing our "vast amount of experience" and "client-centric approach."

"The lawyers are exceptional in every way. They are exquisite litigators that are friendly yet feisty." We’re delighted to have maintained strong rankings in Chambers and Partners 2026 in Administrative and Public Law, Education and Court of Protection (health and welfare).

Thank you to all who gave feedback. For more information, please see our website: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/rook-irwin-s...

Legal 500 UK logo - this contains text which says 'The Legal 500 United Kingdom' in white font under a plain black background.

We are delighted to be recognised in the 2026 edition of Legal 500 once again this year, as ‘true fighters for some of the most vulnerable people in society’ and to have secured a Tier 1 ranking in Education for the second year running.

You can find out more on our website here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/judicial-rev...

An image of the Royal Courts of Justice Building in London. The building is very grand, and is a sandstone colour with grey turrets. There are ornate black railings shown in front of the main entrance.

Jenni Richards KC at 39 Essex Chambers and @olliepersey.bsky.social at Garden Court Chambers act as counsel, alongside @cazza-bee.bsky.social and @jentwright.bsky.social

The decision to close the centres was made despite widespread opposition from the local community and overwhelming concern raised during the public consultation process.

In the last year, the 10 children’s centres identified for closure served 4,810 children under the age of five and their parents, amounting to 19,688 visits. The affected centres are particularly relied upon by vulnerable families who may now face barriers to accessing vital early years support.

We are instructed in an application for judicial review challenging the decision by London Borough of #Ealing to close down or repurpose 10 #children’scentres

An image of 3 white mugs which say Rook Irwin Sweeney and have the company logo on them, on a purple table with pens, and with two banners in the background listing our specialist services: health and welfare, statutory support, mental capacity, judicial review and education services

It's great to be at the #PDFConference2025 in Birmingham today. We're having some great conversations about how we can help #deputyship clients access #education #healthcare & #socialcare!

A painting of a woman lying in a bed with a landscape of hills in the background.

Our client, supported by #JusticeforME, is crowdfunding for legal advice with the aim of ensuring that specialist health services needed by everyone living with ME/cfs are made available – find out more here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice... #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis @swastrosarah.bsky.social

Read the full judgment here rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/rook-irwin-s... 3/3

The High Court found that the CQC’s decision was not irrational, in terms of both process and outcome, and that it did not frustrate the laws and policies that the CQC is required to implement (the ‘Padfield’ principle) 2/3

Photo of the Royal Courts of Justice

A judicial review of the CQC’s decision to register gender healthcare service Gender Plus Healthcare has been dismissed - @ris-law.bsky.social acted for the interested party, Gender Plus Healthcare, in successfully opposing the application 1/3

The summer holidays are the perfect time to plan ahead for the next academic year for your child with #SEND with our fixed fee #EHCP “Health Check”. Details available on our website: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/new-fixed-fe...

Save Ealing's Children's Centres from Closure! URGENT FUNDING NEEDED. We are a group of parents, carers and local community campaigners trying to stop Ealing Council from closing 10 children’s centres across our borough.

Our clients are #crowdfunding to save 10 children’s centres in Ealing providing vital local support to children and their families and which the Council is proposing to close - find out more and support the campaign here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-ea...

In depth: Decoding muddy ministerial messages on special educational needs After mixed messaging on its plans for the SEND Tribunal, the government is refusing to guarantee what needs provision will remain in place. And why no mention of local authorities?

‘Failed by the system’: Polly Sweeney, Partner at @ris-law.bsky.social speaks to the Law Gazette @lawsocietygazette.bsky.social on ministerial messages on special educational needs: www.lawgazette.co.uk/news-focus/i...

Headshot of Paralegal Stephanie McClymont

Delighted to announce that Stephanie McClymont has joined @ris-law.bsky.social as a paralegal, primarily assisting with our #SEND #education work. Welcome Stephanie! rookirwinsweeney.co.uk?specialist=s...