Solicitor at Watkins Solicitors Incorporating Brain Sinnott & Co

Emma Thompson

Solicitor

Emma is a highly skilled Education Solicitor with over six years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector as an advisor-advocate, before choosing to specialise in Education Law. Emma joined Watkins Solicitors in October 2018 as an Education Paralegal and has since dedicated herself to advocating for the educational rights of children and their families. Emma’s focus is on helping families navigate the often complex processes involved with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Emma brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having dealt with a wide range of issues, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Education Otherwise Than In School (EOTIS), Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Her extensive experience has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the challenges families face in securing the right educational support, and she is passionate about providing practical, effective solutions tailored to each child’s unique needs. When she’s not working, Emma enjoys kayaking and is actively involved in teaching young people the sport, sharing her love of the water and the outdoors.

192 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JF

Licensed for 4 years

Practice Areas

Education, Human rights

4.9/5 74 Client Reviews 74
  • Human rights 1%
  • Education 99%
74 Client Reviews

4.9/5

Overall experience

  • Value For Money
  • Communication
  • Initial Impressions
  • Approachability
  • Documentation Accuracy
  • Legal knowledge

Reviews summary

  • Excellent
    71
  • Very Good
    3
  • Average
    0
  • Poor
    0
  • Awful
    0

Review sources

Anonymous
Click to rate
Kayme
Verified Kayme Added 1 week ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
March 18, 2025 20250318151854

Great experience with Emma from start to finish.

5

Emma took on my son’s SEND case and couldn’t have been more helpful. She is very professional and knowledgeable, very upfront and honest. Prices were more than reasonable and without her help I don’t think my son would be where he is now in his specialist school. I really couldn’t have dealt with the legalities of my son’s case without Emma and Watkins solicitors, they provided a huge amount of support for us and made sure our goals were met. I will always be extremely grateful for the help they have provided.
Thank you!

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

James
James Added 2 weeks ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
March 13, 2025 20250313085843

Your essential legal support for children with SEND

5

We have worked with Emma on a couple of issues now, who was recommended to us by several people in the first place; and without doubt Emma and her colleagues are a MUST to have in your contact book. EHCPs can (are!) be highly confusing and as they are essentially legal document, in order to ensure your child gets the correct support they deserve, you require a specialist in the space to hold your hand. I would thoroughly recommend and endorse this firm.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Darren
Verified Darren Added 3 weeks ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
March 03, 2025 20250303194316

SEN Legal Support

5

We instructed Emma to represent us in our sons educational battle with the local authority, throughout Emma did everything we required and kept us well informed throughout the whole process, Emma was able to challenge the LA and secure our son a suitable school placement after years of him being without a suitable placement. Without Emma's representation we were unheard and let down by the educational system and without this involvement our son would remain without a school placement we would highly recommend Emma’s services to any parents in a similar situation.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anonymous
Verified Anonymous Added 1 month ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
February 21, 2025 20250221152803

Emma is amazing

5

I would highly recommend Emma
No stone is left unturned throughout her work with good results. Her work is meticulous and she is passionate about what she does

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Phil
Phil Added 2 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
January 07, 2025 20250107174702

Thorough and thoughtful advice

5

Great and continued help with getting the right EHCP in place so our son can access education. Unfortunately we had to take the Devon Local Authority to Tribunal which was duly won.
Also great advice on dealing with Social Services and set our expectations correctly on how to best interact with them. Worth the investment to have the right people by your side.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Rachael Griffiths
Verified Rachael Griffiths Added 5 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
October 11, 2024 20241011102908

Efficient, proactive and supportive - thank you

5

We can't thank Emma Thompson enough. We had an issue relating to Special Educational Needs and Emma listened to our problem, offered timely and sensible advice, and was always quick to respond to emails with great legal knowledge. We also used Emma a couple of years earlier to help us with our child's EHCP - and again, she was utterly fantastic. I can't recommend her highly enough, and she was always very friendly and approachable which made a huge difference. Thank you a million.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Zainab
Verified Zainab Added 6 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
September 12, 2024 20240912100558

Appeal for specialist college

5

Watkins solicitors was very supporting, I was given the best advice and they supported me every step of the way. My daughters educational outcome was a success thanks to watkins solicitors and we are very happy as a family.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anonymous
Verified Anonymous Added 7 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
August 11, 2024 20240811204004

review

5


Professional
Clear
advice
First class
service
Would
recommend

Pleasure to
deal with
Great
communication
Easy to understand
Great legal
knowledge
Tenacious
Refreshing
approach
Efficient
Was kept fully
aware
Friendly
Direct contact with
my solicitor
Would use again

Sensible
advice
Timely
responses
Proactive
Approachable

[See More]

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anonymous
Verified Anonymous Added 8 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
July 31, 2024 20240731110406

Happy Client

5

It was a loosing battle for us on our own fighting the local authority to get an EHCP for my daughter. Luckily for us we enlisted the help of Emma at Watkins Solicitors who secured us one after having to go to tribunal. Always very helpful and professional answering any questions we had. We can now move forward but will definitely use again in the future if and when needed. Thank you.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Daniel
Verified Daniel Added 8 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
July 15, 2024 20240715232141

Great service and support with EHCP formation and LA engagement

5

Hi Emma,

We hope this finds you well.

We wanted to let you know we have taken your advice and are moving forward with the final EHCP for Alice.

There is no shadow of doubt in our minds that we would not have got the EHCP outcome that we ended up with, without your support and guidance.

You have done an amazing job, always available, sound advice and direct management of the LA SEN team.

Words cannot express our gratitude, but hopefully this goes some way in expressing how we feel.

Very best and hopefully speak soon.

D & B

[See More]

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Reviews collected on

S
S Added 4 years ago 1 found this helpful Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
November 23, 2020
Collected on
20201123141706

A client

5

Watkins have been instrumental in helping us appeal our daughter’s EHCP and getting the fundamental and necessary changes approved. Emma Grimbly has been an excellent communicator throughout, giving clear and concise advice and keeping us well informed.
We are grateful to her and her team for their professionalism and expertise and for pushing for the best outcome.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Marcia
Marcia Added 4 years ago 1 found this helpful Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
October 14, 2020
Collected on
20201014191421

Marcia

5

I cannot recommend this legal team highly enough the support i received to help me win my son is ECHP was outstanding.
Thank you Emma

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

paul
paul Added 4 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
August 10, 2020
Collected on
20200810142158

paul

5

I would like to thank Emma for all her hard work and with her knowledge of the SEN system she succeeded in getting my daughters school named in her EHCP after the initial plan had named a mainstream school that would never be able to meet her needs.
I would recommend Watkins Solicitors to anybody having issues with ECHP funding if your child needs to go to the school of your choice and you are not happy with your local council's decision don't give up give Watkins Solicitors a call i am sure they will be able to help.

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anurag
Anurag Added 4 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
June 11, 2020
Collected on
20200611085055

Anurag

4

Thank you to Beverley and Emma with our SEN appeal, which was successful. Seemed a bit last minute/rushed at times, but didn't seem to be a barrier to producing documents of quality which I guess comes from experience. Also open to feedback and responsive on email, so thank you

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Emma
Emma Added 4 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
June 10, 2020
Collected on
20200610152927

Emma

5

I used Watkins Solicitors for assistance in challenging my local authority regarding an unfit for purpose EHCP. Emma Grimbly and Liz Smith helped me secure a bespoke education for my son, via a Personal Budget, and my son is now thriving in his studies. Liz has a fantastic knowledge and background in SEN and education, and all were extremely professional. Watkins (Liz Smith and Keith Lomax) then helped enormously in pursuing a large complaint with my Local Authority, for years of failures relating to SEN support, which resulted in a very positive financial outcome for us. I could not recommend Watkins more highly when it comes to legal support relating to Education and SEN

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

Reviews collected on

Lois Boysan
Lois Boysan Added 4 years ago 2 found this helpful Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Watkins Solicitors
September 17, 2020 20200917131213

Lois Boysan

5

Through a very difficult process Emma and Beverley have been absolutely fantastic. They have helped advise, support and helped reduce the monumental stress of the EHCP. Their knowledge and expertise, working with the LA really helped us get the very best EHCP we could have hoped for. They have since given us follow up support in annual reviews and we will continue to use them each year. Thank you!

Lawyer named in this review: Emma Thompson

Was this review helpful? Yes

About Emma Thompson

Emma is a highly skilled Education Solicitor with over six years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector as an advisor-advocate, before choosing to specialise in Education Law. Emma joined Watkins Solicitors in October 2018 as an Education Paralegal and has since dedicated herself to advocating for the educational rights of children and their families. Emma’s focus is on helping families navigate the often complex processes involved with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Emma brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having dealt with a wide range of issues, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Education Otherwise Than In School (EOTIS), Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Her extensive experience has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the challenges families face in securing the right educational support, and she is passionate about providing practical, effective solutions tailored to each child’s unique needs. When she’s not working, Emma enjoys kayaking and is actively involved in teaching young people the sport, sharing her love of the water and the outdoors.

Languages Spoken: English

Contact Emma Thompson

Address

Watkins Solicitors Incorporating Brain Sinnott & Co

192 North Street

Bedminster

Bristol

BS3 1JF



Phone 0117 939 0350

Website

Resume

WORK EXPERIENCE

Title

Name

Duration

Paralegal

Watkins Solicitors Incorporating Brain Sinnott & Co

?-2022

Trainee Solicitor

Watkins Solicitors Incorporating Brain Sinnott & Co

2022-2024

Solicitor

Watkins Solicitors Incorporating Brain Sinnott & Co

2024-Present

Get Advice Now