People

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People

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

Portrait of Victoria Federico

Profile

Victoria is a senior associate with a practice dedicated to special educational needs law. She specialises in assisting children and young people with a range of additional needs and disabilities, and supports their families to ensure that the correct support, therapy provision and educational placement is received. This includes securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), assisting with appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal and negotiating with schools and colleges, and local authorities. Victoria’s clients range in age from birth up to 25 years old.

With a particular focus on acting for those with the most complex needs, Victoria works with clients who have suffered serious injuries as a result of medical negligence or an accident.  She receives referrals from fellow solicitors, case managers, independent experts, counsel, and charities. She is regularly invited to present on special educational needs legal issues to professional audiences and for charities, parent groups, and independent schools for their parents and staff.

Victoria has worked in special educational needs law since 2008, qualifying as a solicitor in 2011. She is listed as a Star Associate by Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500 describes her as ‘exceptional’. Victoria is also a board trustee at Beyond Autism, an autism charity that also runs an early years intervention service, two outstanding specialist schools, and Post-19 provisions.

Recent work highlights

  • Securing a split placement package of education for a girl with Rett Syndrome and complex needs. This included part time school attendance, and part time attendance at home, including a bespoke therapeutic package.
  • Negotiating to obtain agreement from a local authority for residential special school places for twin young men with extremely complex autism and associated social care needs.
  • Obtaining an EHCP and appropriate nursery school placement for a disabled baby.
  • Securing the continuation of a young person’s EHCP in their special college placement until the course ended, the term after their twenty-fifth birthday.
  • Ensuring appropriate transport was put in place for a child with complex special educational needs and an EHCP.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP