Rosa Thomas

Year of Call: 2023

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Rosa is building a broad human rights, public law and employment practice, specialising in education and discrimination law.

Rosa joined Garden Court in September 2025 and has a multi-disciplinary practice that includes education, discrimination, employment, and workers’ rights law. This is informed by her specialist pupillage, completed in April 2024, in education and employment law.

Prior to coming to the bar, Rosa worked at Age UK in public affairs where she worked on policies addressing issues such as domestic abuse experienced by over 65s and barriers faced by older private renters.

Education Law

Overview

Rosa regularly represents parents and young people in the First-tier Tribunal. She has considerable experience in disability discrimination matters and appeals relating to Education, Health and Care Plans, particularly appeals concerning complex EOTIS packages and long transitions back into education settings.

Rosa has also acted in or advised on matters across the breadth of education law, including judicial review claims and independent review panels concerning school exclusions. Rosa’s practice covers university matters. Rosa accepts instructions in County Court claims concerning discrimination, breaches of human rights, negligence, and breach of contract, appearing both for and against educational institutions.

Before coming to the bar, Rosa was a volunteer representative with the School Exclusion Project representing parents at Governors’ Disciplinary Committees and Independent Review Panels to seek the reinstatement of excluded students.

Notable Cases

The role of risk assessments in exclusions concerning alleged sexual violence considered
R (on the application of (1) LM and (2) AM v An Academy Trust [2024] EWHC 2267 (Admin)

A judicial review challenge of a reconstituted Governors Disciplinary Committee’s decision to uphold a permanent exclusion. The case considered the requirement under the Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance for a risk assessment in cases of alleged sexual violence and whether the guidance must be followed before a decision to permanently exclude is made.

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Employment and Discrimination Law

Overview

Rosa is regularly instructed in all areas of employment law, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, wages, and breach of contract. Rosa represents employees in final matter hearings, preliminary hearings and judicial mediations, as well as drafting settlement agreements.

Before coming to the bar, Rosa worked for the national charity Age UK. This background has given her particular insight into cases concerning age discrimination, both directly and by association where employees have caring responsibilities, which she brings to her casework. Rosa has a particular interest in matters concerning discrimination on the basis of menopause.

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Administrative and Public Law

Overview

Rosa aims to develop a multi-disciplinary practice across administrative and public law. Rosa welcomes instructions in all areas of administrative and public law, including education law, community care, and children’s rights.

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Jury finds serious failings by Belmarsh Prison led to killing of Sundeep Ghuman by racist cellmate

The family are represented by Rajeev Thacker of the Garden Court Inquest and Inquiries Team and INQUEST Lawyers Group members Jo Eggleton, Rajiv Nair & Rachel Tribble of Deighton Pierce Glynn.

Tuesday 11 Nov 2025

Independent Commission publishes final report on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice

An important report by the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice has been published today.

Tuesday 11 Nov 2025

Icah Peart KC secures unanimous acquittal in murder trial at Birmingham Crown Court

Icah Peart KC acted for the defendant, RB, instructed by Hockham Suthi of Riley Hayes Solicitors. Icah led Steve Tettey of Kenworthy Chambers.

Monday 10 Nov 2025

Mark Gatley KC instructed in conspiracy to defraud and manslaughter case

Mark Gatley KC of the Garden Court Crime Team instructed by Abid Hussain of Hussain Solicitors.

Friday 7 Nov 2025

Further success for Gazan students as Home Office and Foreign Office commit to supporting evacuation of their dependants

Sonali Naik KC, Maha Sardar & Maria Moodie of Garden Court, along with Finnian Clarke of Doughty Street, who secured success for 40 Gazan students recently evacuated to the UK, have achieved a further important legal development in R (Manar al-Houbi) v SSHD and SSFCDO.

Friday 7 Nov 2025

Garden Court Chambers mourns the loss of Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC

Garden Court Chambers mourns the loss of Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC.

Thursday 6 Nov 2025

Publications

Rosa has written for Local Government Lawyer on Public Sector Consultations (2023) and has published articles with LexisNexis on London Borough of Camden v KT (2025).

Education

BVS – City, University of London (2021 – 2022)

GDL – City, University of London (2020 – 2021)

BA, History and Politics – University of Oxford (2016 – 2019)

Professional Memberships

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple – Member

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