Abiodun Michael Olatokun FRSA

Abiodun is regularly instructed by both local authorities and parents to act in appeals to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). He has represented children in judicial reviews of local authority failures to provide special educational needs (SEN) set out in EHCPs. Abiodun receives repeat instructions from local authorities around the country in SEN appeals. Alongside his SEN work, he has taken on cases involving allegations of discrimination by schools. Abiodun was celebrated by the Lady Chief Justice on her 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List for this work. He has successfully acted as both a presenter and a clerk to Independent Review Panel Hearings. During pupillage, Abiodun was the co-chair of the education law sector’s largest event, the IPSEA conference.

Before joining the bar, Abiodun worked as a quality standards professional. He has worked for the Department for Education, Office for Students and HEFCE to define the standards of higher education. He was the Deputy Chair of the Teaching Excellence Framework Subject Pilot for Business and Law.

Abiodun has published widely on the subject of legal education and was an inaugural member of the Solicitor General’s Public Legal Education Committee.

Abiodun represents applicants for asylum and international protection. He has won numerous proceedings before the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) and is frequently instructed to act in cases involving persecution due to political opinions or ethnic origin. Alongside his tribunal advocacy, Abiodun has also provided advice on damages for human rights abuses stemming from unlawful administrative decisions.

Abiodun has drafted Statements of Facts and Grounds for Judicial Review throughout his time as a barrister and was trained by some of the country’s finest public lawyers at Matrix Chambers. He has a strong understanding of the work of the Administrative Court and is keen to build his judicial review practice.

Abiodun’s practical legal experience is complemented by his academic work. He was a leading researcher at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law for 6 years and has authored papers in peer-reviewed journals such as the Theory and Practice of Legislation and the International Journal of Public Legal Education.

Abiodun represents both landlords and tenants in disputes concerning residential property. These include possession, disrepair, anti-social behaviour and proceeds of sale claims. Abiodun has acted in proceedings questioning the fairness of rent and service charges. Abiodun has a long history of policy and advocacy work in private rented sector accommodation. He was the Vice Chair of the Unipol Code Tribunal and was the University of Nottingham Students’ Union Community Officer. For his work as a housing campaigner, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the University of Nottingham Students’ Union.

Abiodun represents both claimants and respondents in employment proceedings. He regularly drafts pleadings and advises on the merits of claims at all stages. He has appeared before the Employment Tribunal in both Preliminary Hearings and Full Merits Hearings. He has acted as sole counsel in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. During his training Abiodun was supervised by leading silks Laura Prince KC and Mathew Purchase KC at Matrix Chambers. In that role he gained experience in complex areas of employment law such as matters concerning the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the employment status of judges for whistleblowing and holiday pay requirements.

Before joining the bar, Abiodun was an academic lawyer with a particular focus on the impact of discrimination on the rule of law. He has taught about the principles of equality law in a range of countries including Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand. His article about the Equality Act 2010, ‘Does the Law Think That Black Lives Matter?’ was published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘The Theory and Practice of Legislation’.

Abiodun accepts appropriate instructions on a direct access basis, particularly in relation to employment, discrimination and data protection matters. For more information contact one of our Senior Public Clerks – Charlie Labrum (Senior Public Business Development Clerk) or Phil Silverman (Senior Public Diary Clerk) by telephone on 020 7421 8052 or email via clerks@36public.co.uk.