David Wolfe works as a public lawyer specialising in bringing public interest claims.
David Wolfe works as a public lawyer (KC) at Matrix.
Until June 2022, he was Chair of the Recognition Panel established by the Royal Charter in the light of the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the news publishers.
Until April 2013, alongside his work as a barrister David was also a Commissioner (non-executive director) at the Legal Services Commission and a Board Member of the Legal Services Board.
Until July 2008, he was a part-time Chair of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
David also trains lawyers and others, particularly in education and public law. He contributes regularly to general and specialist publications and radio broadcasts on legal issues.
David believes passionately that public bodies should act in a fair and open way, and that the law and lawyers have a key role in ensuring that happens.
As a public lawyer, David specialises in “judicial review” challenges to the decisions of, among others, government, regulators (including environmental and professional regulators), local authorities, schools and health bodies. David has particular expertise in:
David’s clients include: individuals (typically people seeking their legal entitlement to public services and to lawful decisions), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Wild Justice, Talk Fracking, Transport Action Network, Friends of the Earth, WWF, Client Earth, the RSPB, the Woodland Trust, Humanists UK, Fish Legal, the National Secular Society, Badger Trust, The Sikh Federation, The 35% Campaign, RSPCA, Guide Dogs, IPSEA (the Independent Provider of Special Educational Advice), The Marine Conservation Society, An Taisce (the Irish National Trust), and HS2AA (HS2 Action Alliance).
David is regularly identified by the legal directories as a “leading” barrister in the areas in which he practices. He enjoys working as part of a close and relatively informal team with clients and those instructing him. He is flexible in how he applies his skill and experience, including as a lawyer, to meet his clients’ needs and will make sure that ‘reasonable adjustments’ are made as needed.
David specialises in judicial review challenges to planning and other decisions which permit environmentally harmful development. His cases often involve complex legal matters, including principles derived from European Union law (such as the requirement for Environmental Impact Assessment). The subject matter has included climate change; wild birds; fracking; waste disposal facilities; incinerators; mobile phone masts; nuclear installations; cement kilns; new roads; wind farms; and contaminated land.
Before he was a barrister, David did a PhD in Engineering. He is regularly involved in cases involving complex technical evidence.
David regularly acts for NGOs and parents/children in Upper Tribunal appeals and judicial review challenges relating to education law, particularly around schools. This includes Special Educational Needs (SEN), disability discrimination, admissions, exclusions, the curriculum, collective worship and school re-organisations.
David has particular expertise and experience in issues arising from the establishment and operation of academies and free schools.
David’s SEN cases have involved all aspects of SEN law including questions about jurisdiction of the SENDIST; the obligation to specify and quantify provision in an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP); the designation of special schools; the obligations in relation to parental preference; and the enforcement of provision set out in an EHCP.
Other cases have involved the inclusion of non-religious world views in the RE curriculum and of persons with such views in Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education.
David advises and acts for NGOs and individuals (including many people with a disability).
David’s cases have involved judicial review and “Best Interests” challenges on things like:
David advises and acts for individuals, community groups and NGOs on a wide range of matter to do with local authority funding, governance and decision-making including:
For over 15 years, David Wolfe has produced the Noddy Guide to SEN Law.
David was interviewed for the Consultation Institute’s “Latest Law” video updated in Spring 2018 here (10m 40s in) and in Spring 2019 here (2m 35s in).
David co-authored with Basma Yaghi: Governance of Academies in England: The return of “command and control”?
David co-authored with Anne West and Basma Yaghi: Secondary schools (academies and maintained schools) in England: issues of governance and autonomy (2022)
David co-authored with Anne West: Government policies have fragmented the UK state secondary school landscape
David is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy while collecting and holding personal data as needed to provide legal services to his clients. That includes the personal data of his clients and others who feature in the issues in question. To read David’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"He's an excellent advocate and is very tenacious. Fearless in taking the fight to public bodies and government departments." "David brings a wide-ranging policy understanding, and is clever at identifying strategic policy cases that raise good points."
"An energetic and creative leader who hits all the points succinctly."
"David is absolutely the standout leader in educational law. He is hugely respected by barristers and the judiciary and is excellent with lay clients. He always makes time to communicate."
"David is excellent with lay clients and always makes time to communicate."
"David is absolutely fantastic for education matters, gets good results for clients, has a fantastic brain and is very accessible." "David is absolutely brilliant - he is very bright, sees the best legal points and upholds a calm and concise manner."
"David is a star of the environment and planning world. He is very popular with clients due to his direct and clear approach."
"David is outstanding. He's a go-to KC for environmental road schemes. He's an impressive and thorough advocate with a strategic overview." "David is an excellent advocate and is very tenacious. He's fearless in taking the fight to public bodies and government departments. He really excels and gets the bit between his teeth - he's a really impressive claimant advocate." "He's determined and very persistent on behalf of his clients."
"David has an encyclopaedic knowledge of EU laws and is brilliant at bringing this technical area alive."
"David is a star of the environment and planning world. He is a leading claimant barrister, particularly on high-profile cases with a national dimension. He is very popular with clients, due to his direct and clear approach. He is well-liked by judges due to his no-nonsense advocacy."
"He is extremely well respected and produces brilliant written work. He is great on his feet too." "His mind works at triple the speed of most, he's very creative and he understands the aims and broader motives." "He's indefatigable. Very impressive."
"A phenomenal barrister who covers a lot of cutting-edge cases concerning environmental rights." "David has a super intellect, matched with a very refreshing and down-to-earth personality."
"David's mind works at triple the speed of most. He is very creative and thinks outside the box."
"David has a wonderful way of making the law accessible to clients. He is able to present very complex issues with real clarity." "David knows the law inside and out. He is amiable and puts people at ease."
"He is without doubt the best for claimant environmental law at the Bar. He notices public law points nobody else spots." "His mind works at triple the speed of most; he is very creative and great at thinking outside of the box – he’ll think around any issue."
"He is extremely well respected, produces brilliant written work and is great on his feet."
"He is an exceptional public lawyer with particular expertise in planning and environment." "David has an ability to pick up issues and to do razor-sharp analysis."
"David is an outstanding barrister. His intellectual ability is very apparent in the quality of work he delivers. He is decisive, extremely efficient and effective."
"David is an outstanding barrister whose intellectual ability is very apparent in the quality of work he delivers. His decisive and extremely efficient style makes him highly effective. "
"David's greatest strength is his tactical awareness. He thinks outside the box and introduces novel solutions to problems. His commitment to the interest of justice and the rule of law is fundamental. His personality makes him a persuasive and effective advocate. He has an engaging personality."
"A well-regarded public law practitioner, with expertise in high-profile planning and environmental cases, he has a persuasive style, which is effective with judges."
"David is great on his feet. When you enter court you know he knows all the facts of the case inside out. He robustly defends the case when challenged, but is also able to provide killer points during the case."
"David is a well regarded public law practitioner, with expertise in high-profile planning and environmental cases. He has a persuasive style, which is effective with judges"
"A leader of choice in environmental cases, he has a strategic brain, legal genius and creative flair, and is able to weaponise the law."
"David is great on his feet. When you enter court you know he knows all the facts of the case inside out. He robustly defends the case when challenged, but is also able to provide killer points during the case."
"He has brilliant judgement about the good points to take and great determination to see them through. Well regarded by judges as a real expert."
"David has an excellent legal mind and is one of the top claimant silks in education law."
"David has an excellent legal mind and is one of, if not the top claimant silks in education law. He is excellent with clients and has a genuine ability to understand their needs. He is also extremely responsive and great to work with."
"David is great. He's quick and incisive in reaching the main point to run in the case, however factually complicated it is." "An extremely talented advocate who fights hard for his clients."
"He is technically very astute and very good with the detailed arguments." "He has a brilliant mind - analytical and thorough."
"David is a thorough, piercingly clever and powerful advocate."
"A fantastic advocate - he is fearless and doesn't shy away from a challenge. He is incredibly sharp and quick."
"David is quite exceptional and his understanding of the context and environmental intricacies of cases is mega impressive." "He's exceptionally thorough and good on EU law aspects."
"David is a fantastic advocate with a razor-sharp brain. He is incredibly clever, very pleasant to work with and very collaborative in his approach." "He cuts to the point very quickly and he thinks of some of the most interesting legal points."
"He's always happy to make himself available to clients. He has the expertise and knowledge as well as the dedication." "He takes politically challenging cases and completely understands how to run them."
"A brilliant and fearless advocate who shows outstanding commitment and skill in claimant environmental work."
"He is an amazing advocate and strategic thinker. One of the best on his feet, and his presentation skills are second to none. He is the go-to silk for environmental claimants."
"He has encyclopaedic knowledge and is a go-to person for academisation."
"Intelligent, quick, bold and inventive."
"Phenomenally bright – he gets to the answer before we’ve even asked the question. He’s also really inclusive and loves working as part of the team. He’s always willing to draw in junior team members, and is very tactical and realistic."
"He has an encyclopedic knowledge of education and equality law."
"One of the most creative barristers I have ever worked with, he has the ability to single out issues which arise in the midst of incredibly complicated matters."
"He’s very intelligent and is able to quickly think on his feet. He’s courageous and takes points others would be too reticent to take on."
"He’s dogged, determined and prepared to take on difficult cases."
"He’s absolutely brilliant and he can pick anything up and run with it."
David Wolfe works as a public lawyer specialising in bringing public interest claims.
Contact David: davidwolfe@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact David's Practice Team (Team X): TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk
David Wolfe works as a public lawyer (KC) at Matrix.
Until June 2022, he was Chair of the Recognition Panel established by the Royal Charter in the light of the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the news publishers.
Until April 2013, alongside his work as a barrister David was also a Commissioner (non-executive director) at the Legal Services Commission and a Board Member of the Legal Services Board.
Until July 2008, he was a part-time Chair of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
David also trains lawyers and others, particularly in education and public law. He contributes regularly to general and specialist publications and radio broadcasts on legal issues.
David believes passionately that public bodies should act in a fair and open way, and that the law and lawyers have a key role in ensuring that happens.
As a public lawyer, David specialises in “judicial review” challenges to the decisions of, among others, government, regulators (including environmental and professional regulators), local authorities, schools and health bodies. David has particular expertise in:
David’s clients include: individuals (typically people seeking their legal entitlement to public services and to lawful decisions), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Wild Justice, Talk Fracking, Transport Action Network, Friends of the Earth, WWF, Client Earth, the RSPB, the Woodland Trust, Humanists UK, Fish Legal, the National Secular Society, Badger Trust, The Sikh Federation, The 35% Campaign, RSPCA, Guide Dogs, IPSEA (the Independent Provider of Special Educational Advice), The Marine Conservation Society, An Taisce (the Irish National Trust), and HS2AA (HS2 Action Alliance).
David is regularly identified by the legal directories as a “leading” barrister in the areas in which he practices. He enjoys working as part of a close and relatively informal team with clients and those instructing him. He is flexible in how he applies his skill and experience, including as a lawyer, to meet his clients’ needs and will make sure that ‘reasonable adjustments’ are made as needed.
David specialises in judicial review challenges to planning and other decisions which permit environmentally harmful development. His cases often involve complex legal matters, including principles derived from European Union law (such as the requirement for Environmental Impact Assessment). The subject matter has included climate change; wild birds; fracking; waste disposal facilities; incinerators; mobile phone masts; nuclear installations; cement kilns; new roads; wind farms; and contaminated land.
Before he was a barrister, David did a PhD in Engineering. He is regularly involved in cases involving complex technical evidence.
David regularly acts for NGOs and parents/children in Upper Tribunal appeals and judicial review challenges relating to education law, particularly around schools. This includes Special Educational Needs (SEN), disability discrimination, admissions, exclusions, the curriculum, collective worship and school re-organisations.
David has particular expertise and experience in issues arising from the establishment and operation of academies and free schools.
David’s SEN cases have involved all aspects of SEN law including questions about jurisdiction of the SENDIST; the obligation to specify and quantify provision in an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP); the designation of special schools; the obligations in relation to parental preference; and the enforcement of provision set out in an EHCP.
Other cases have involved the inclusion of non-religious world views in the RE curriculum and of persons with such views in Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education.
David advises and acts for NGOs and individuals (including many people with a disability).
David’s cases have involved judicial review and “Best Interests” challenges on things like:
David advises and acts for individuals, community groups and NGOs on a wide range of matter to do with local authority funding, governance and decision-making including:
For over 15 years, David Wolfe has produced the Noddy Guide to SEN Law.
David was interviewed for the Consultation Institute’s “Latest Law” video updated in Spring 2018 here (10m 40s in) and in Spring 2019 here (2m 35s in).
David co-authored with Basma Yaghi: Governance of Academies in England: The return of “command and control”?
David co-authored with Anne West and Basma Yaghi: Secondary schools (academies and maintained schools) in England: issues of governance and autonomy (2022)
David co-authored with Anne West: Government policies have fragmented the UK state secondary school landscape
David is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy while collecting and holding personal data as needed to provide legal services to his clients. That includes the personal data of his clients and others who feature in the issues in question. To read David’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"He's an excellent advocate and is very tenacious. Fearless in taking the fight to public bodies and government departments." "David brings a wide-ranging policy understanding, and is clever at identifying strategic policy cases that raise good points."
"An energetic and creative leader who hits all the points succinctly."
"David is absolutely the standout leader in educational law. He is hugely respected by barristers and the judiciary and is excellent with lay clients. He always makes time to communicate."
"David is excellent with lay clients and always makes time to communicate."
"David is absolutely fantastic for education matters, gets good results for clients, has a fantastic brain and is very accessible." "David is absolutely brilliant - he is very bright, sees the best legal points and upholds a calm and concise manner."
"David is a star of the environment and planning world. He is very popular with clients due to his direct and clear approach."
"David is outstanding. He's a go-to KC for environmental road schemes. He's an impressive and thorough advocate with a strategic overview." "David is an excellent advocate and is very tenacious. He's fearless in taking the fight to public bodies and government departments. He really excels and gets the bit between his teeth - he's a really impressive claimant advocate." "He's determined and very persistent on behalf of his clients."
"David has an encyclopaedic knowledge of EU laws and is brilliant at bringing this technical area alive."
"David is a star of the environment and planning world. He is a leading claimant barrister, particularly on high-profile cases with a national dimension. He is very popular with clients, due to his direct and clear approach. He is well-liked by judges due to his no-nonsense advocacy."
"He is extremely well respected and produces brilliant written work. He is great on his feet too." "His mind works at triple the speed of most, he's very creative and he understands the aims and broader motives." "He's indefatigable. Very impressive."
"A phenomenal barrister who covers a lot of cutting-edge cases concerning environmental rights." "David has a super intellect, matched with a very refreshing and down-to-earth personality."
"David's mind works at triple the speed of most. He is very creative and thinks outside the box."
"David has a wonderful way of making the law accessible to clients. He is able to present very complex issues with real clarity." "David knows the law inside and out. He is amiable and puts people at ease."
"He is without doubt the best for claimant environmental law at the Bar. He notices public law points nobody else spots." "His mind works at triple the speed of most; he is very creative and great at thinking outside of the box – he’ll think around any issue."
"He is extremely well respected, produces brilliant written work and is great on his feet."
"He is an exceptional public lawyer with particular expertise in planning and environment." "David has an ability to pick up issues and to do razor-sharp analysis."
"David is an outstanding barrister. His intellectual ability is very apparent in the quality of work he delivers. He is decisive, extremely efficient and effective."
"David is an outstanding barrister whose intellectual ability is very apparent in the quality of work he delivers. His decisive and extremely efficient style makes him highly effective. "
"David's greatest strength is his tactical awareness. He thinks outside the box and introduces novel solutions to problems. His commitment to the interest of justice and the rule of law is fundamental. His personality makes him a persuasive and effective advocate. He has an engaging personality."
"A well-regarded public law practitioner, with expertise in high-profile planning and environmental cases, he has a persuasive style, which is effective with judges."
"David is great on his feet. When you enter court you know he knows all the facts of the case inside out. He robustly defends the case when challenged, but is also able to provide killer points during the case."
"David is a well regarded public law practitioner, with expertise in high-profile planning and environmental cases. He has a persuasive style, which is effective with judges"
"A leader of choice in environmental cases, he has a strategic brain, legal genius and creative flair, and is able to weaponise the law."
"David is great on his feet. When you enter court you know he knows all the facts of the case inside out. He robustly defends the case when challenged, but is also able to provide killer points during the case."
"He has brilliant judgement about the good points to take and great determination to see them through. Well regarded by judges as a real expert."
"David has an excellent legal mind and is one of the top claimant silks in education law."
"David has an excellent legal mind and is one of, if not the top claimant silks in education law. He is excellent with clients and has a genuine ability to understand their needs. He is also extremely responsive and great to work with."
"David is great. He's quick and incisive in reaching the main point to run in the case, however factually complicated it is." "An extremely talented advocate who fights hard for his clients."
"He is technically very astute and very good with the detailed arguments." "He has a brilliant mind - analytical and thorough."
"David is a thorough, piercingly clever and powerful advocate."
"A fantastic advocate - he is fearless and doesn't shy away from a challenge. He is incredibly sharp and quick."
"David is quite exceptional and his understanding of the context and environmental intricacies of cases is mega impressive." "He's exceptionally thorough and good on EU law aspects."
"David is a fantastic advocate with a razor-sharp brain. He is incredibly clever, very pleasant to work with and very collaborative in his approach." "He cuts to the point very quickly and he thinks of some of the most interesting legal points."
"He's always happy to make himself available to clients. He has the expertise and knowledge as well as the dedication." "He takes politically challenging cases and completely understands how to run them."
"A brilliant and fearless advocate who shows outstanding commitment and skill in claimant environmental work."
"He is an amazing advocate and strategic thinker. One of the best on his feet, and his presentation skills are second to none. He is the go-to silk for environmental claimants."
"He has encyclopaedic knowledge and is a go-to person for academisation."
"Intelligent, quick, bold and inventive."
"Phenomenally bright – he gets to the answer before we’ve even asked the question. He’s also really inclusive and loves working as part of the team. He’s always willing to draw in junior team members, and is very tactical and realistic."
"He has an encyclopedic knowledge of education and equality law."
"One of the most creative barristers I have ever worked with, he has the ability to single out issues which arise in the midst of incredibly complicated matters."
"He’s very intelligent and is able to quickly think on his feet. He’s courageous and takes points others would be too reticent to take on."
"He’s dogged, determined and prepared to take on difficult cases."
"He’s absolutely brilliant and he can pick anything up and run with it."