13.1.2025
Osbornes Law Secures Mental Health Support for Asylum...
Home office backs down over decision to deny mental health support to suicidal torture victim seeking asylum The Home Office...
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“Ed is really engaged with his cases. He is very capable, thorough and a real pleasure to work with. He takes on challenging matters and is brilliant with clients.”
“Edward Taylor is one of the hardest working and most conscientious, dedicated, and painstaking lawyers that I have ever had the good fortune to be instructed by.”
Edward Taylor
Edward is an Administrative and Public Law solicitor. He challenges at the High Court, by way of Judicial Review, unlawful, unfair, abusive, and unreasonable acts and omissions of public bodies. He represents clients in cases against central government, in particular confronting decision-making by the Home Office/Secretary of State for the Home Department. He also challenges local authority social services and housing departments in London and across the country, seeking to ensure access to justice for those living in areas without available legal aid representation.
Edward’s areas of specialism
- Asylum Law
- Age disputes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking putative minors.
- Unlawful detention of asylum-seeking minors/putative minors.
- Unsuitability of Home Office/NASS accommodation.
- Improper transfers to alternative Home Office/NASS accommodation.
- Lack of provision/delay of financial support from the Home Office.
- Community Care Law
- Failure to accommodate minors/putative minors as Looked After Children.
- Challenge to social care assessments, support provision, and meeting needs.
- Refusal to exercise discretion in terms of leaving care support.
- Failure to promote the educational achievement of Looked After Children.
- Acting for those who lack capacity, including working alongside the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee.
- Housing Law
- Refusal to provide interim accommodation following the making of a homelessness application.
- Unsuitability of interim accommodation provided.
- Failure to provide suitable accommodation following a finding of unsuitability or further to the acceptance of a main housing duty.
- Challenge to priority afforded under housing allocation schemes.
- Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year: Edward was the winner of this prestigious award in 2019, in the Children’s Rights category.
Edward not only brings cases on behalf of individuals but also pursues challenges to wider issues in society. In 2017, he acted in a case establishing the unreliability of dental age assessments for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors; in 2019, he acted in a case which determined that local authorities could not rely on medical opinion from their contracted doctors who had not met the homeless individual over medical opinion obtained from doctors who had done so; and in 2021 he acted in a case concerning the elements of lawfulness and fairness when conducting a ‘short form’ assessment of age.
Edward is frequently invited to speak at training sessions and conferences. He also assists the careers team at the University of Law, by speaking at panel events.
In his spare time, Edward enjoys camping and being outdoors as much as possible, if he can drag himself away from his cases!
Edward Taylor is extremely good at dealing with age disputes.
Taylor a really good public lawyer.
Ed is really engaged with his cases. He is very capable, thorough and a real pleasure to work with. He takes on challenging matters and is brilliant with clients.
Ed Taylor is a very good lawyer.
Ed is very good at picking out complex issues.
Edward Taylor is one of the hardest working and most conscientious, dedicated, and painstaking lawyers that I have ever had the good fortune to be instructed by.
He can always be relied upon to produce the highest quality work and to think strategically about how best to achieve a positive result for his clients.
Edward Taylor is an outstanding public law solicitor. He has particular skills in working with vulnerable clients and in complex and fast-moving cases.
Described as an outstanding public law solicitor, Edward Taylor has experience acting for asylum-seeking minors in judicial reviews challenging age assessments
Disrepair and possession-related cases are a key strength of Taylor.
Edward Taylor has a particular focus on representing disadvantaged individuals, including those who are homeless and those who have mental health difficulties.
Edward is an up-and-coming solicitor who gets good results on tricky cases
Edward Taylor is a really good solicitor. I would recommend him.
Edward is the leading solicitor in this sector for age assessment; he is considered to be a go-to for age assessment issues.
Edward has been very prompt in his responses - he is always very helpful and knowledgeable within his field.
Edward has worked on really complex cases and has always been really thorough; he also relays information in a way that can be easily understood.
Edward Taylor is a brilliant and committed solicitor who is well-respected in this field.
Edward Taylor is dedicated to acting for disadvantaged individuals, particularly those who are homeless and individuals with mental health problems.
Edward Taylor focuses his practice on young refugees and their rights to health and social care. He also specialises in age disputes.
Edward Taylor often acts for vulnerable clients on disrepair and homelessness claims as well as cases concerning unsuitable accommodation.
Edward Taylor combines this with a sharp mind, very hard work, and a comprehensive understanding of the wider issues at stake.
Edward Taylor has represented many of our clients and he is outstanding. He has a clear focus on the individual person he is representing, adapting his communication approach to meet their needs, and he strives to ensure that they understand the complex issues at stake and can engage meaningfully in any process.
Edward Taylor works to an exceptionally high standard throughout every stage of the legal process. He is very good at explaining technical legal points to clients and exploring the best evidence for the particular context.
Edward Taylor is singled out as ‘an exceptional advocate‘.
"Edward really cares about his clients, always trying to get the best outcome. He is very good at making services accessible to young people and building rapport with them."
"He is a very experienced lawyer who always works for the best interest of his clients. Edward is reliable and extremely thorough in his work, a delight to work with."
"Edward is very professional and approachable, with correspondence always responded to in a timely manner, and good client care."
"Edward Taylor is a very committed and capable solicitor."
"He is fantastic on complex cases, collaborative, brings insights and has a very good view as to strategy."
Associate Edward Taylor stands out for his expertise in legal challenges enforcing and protecting the rights of young refugees and asylum seekers.
Edward Taylor is a highly intelligent, hardworking, and dedicated solicitor with meticulous attention to detail. It is a pleasure to work with him.’
Edward Taylor – knowledgeable and dedicated.
Edward has in every case offered both useful insight and knowledge and works all hours, going to lengths and detailed instructions and input well beyond any other solicitor I work for; even if a rare couple come close. It is truly astonishing work ethic coupled to quality of legal skill.
"He goes the extra mile for his clients."
"He is an excellent lawyer with exceptional attention to detail. He leaves no stone unturned in finding the right solution for his clients."
Edward's directory quotes
Edward Taylor is extremely good at...
Edward Taylor is extremely good at dealing with age disputes.
Taylor a really good public lawyer.
Taylor a really good public lawyer.
Ed is really engaged with his...
Ed is really engaged with his cases. He is very capable, thorough and a real pleasure to work with. He takes on challenging matters and is brilliant with clients.
Ed Taylor is a very good...
Ed Taylor is a very good lawyer.
Ed is very good at picking...
Ed is very good at picking out complex issues.
Edward Taylor is one of the...
Edward Taylor is one of the hardest working and most conscientious, dedicated, and painstaking lawyers that I have ever had the good fortune to be instructed by.
He can always be relied upon...
He can always be relied upon to produce the highest quality work and to think strategically about how best to achieve a positive result for his clients.
Edward Taylor is an outstanding public...
Edward Taylor is an outstanding public law solicitor. He has particular skills in working with vulnerable clients and in complex and fast-moving cases.
Described as an outstanding public law...
Described as an outstanding public law solicitor, Edward Taylor has experience acting for asylum-seeking minors in judicial reviews challenging age assessments
Disrepair and possession-related cases are a...
Disrepair and possession-related cases are a key strength of Taylor.
Edward Taylor has a particular focus...
Edward Taylor has a particular focus on representing disadvantaged individuals, including those who are homeless and those who have mental health difficulties.
Edward is an up-and-coming solicitor who...
Edward is an up-and-coming solicitor who gets good results on tricky cases
Edward Taylor is a really good...
Edward Taylor is a really good solicitor. I would recommend him.
Edward is the leading solicitor in...
Edward is the leading solicitor in this sector for age assessment; he is considered to be a go-to for age assessment issues.
Edward has been very prompt in...
Edward has been very prompt in his responses - he is always very helpful and knowledgeable within his field.
Edward has worked on really complex...
Edward has worked on really complex cases and has always been really thorough; he also relays information in a way that can be easily understood.
Edward Taylor is a brilliant and...
Edward Taylor is a brilliant and committed solicitor who is well-respected in this field.
Edward Taylor is dedicated to acting...
Edward Taylor is dedicated to acting for disadvantaged individuals, particularly those who are homeless and individuals with mental health problems.
Edward Taylor focuses his practice on...
Edward Taylor focuses his practice on young refugees and their rights to health and social care. He also specialises in age disputes.
Edward Taylor often acts for vulnerable...
Edward Taylor often acts for vulnerable clients on disrepair and homelessness claims as well as cases concerning unsuitable accommodation.
Edward Taylor combines this with a...
Edward Taylor combines this with a sharp mind, very hard work, and a comprehensive understanding of the wider issues at stake.
Edward Taylor has represented many of...
Edward Taylor has represented many of our clients and he is outstanding. He has a clear focus on the individual person he is representing, adapting his communication approach to meet their needs, and he strives to ensure that they understand the complex issues at stake and can engage meaningfully in any process.
Edward Taylor works to an exceptionally...
Edward Taylor works to an exceptionally high standard throughout every stage of the legal process. He is very good at explaining technical legal points to clients and exploring the best evidence for the particular context.
Edward Taylor is singled out as ‘...
Edward Taylor is singled out as ‘an exceptional advocate‘.
"Edward really cares about his clients,...
"Edward really cares about his clients, always trying to get the best outcome. He is very good at making services accessible to young people and building rapport with them."
"He is a very experienced lawyer...
"He is a very experienced lawyer who always works for the best interest of his clients. Edward is reliable and extremely thorough in his work, a delight to work with."
"Edward is very professional and approachable,...
"Edward is very professional and approachable, with correspondence always responded to in a timely manner, and good client care."
"Edward Taylor is a very committed...
"Edward Taylor is a very committed and capable solicitor."
Edward’s notable cases
- R(AS) v Kent CC [2017] UKUT 446 – established the unreliability of dental age assessments for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors. Also clarified the benefit of the doubt principle and disparaged the local authority’s attempt to rely on a portfolio of photographs of those of different ages to assist in an age assessment context.
- Troy Guiste v Lambeth LBC [2019] EWCA Civ 1758 – concerned the vulnerability test in homelessness cases, and in particular successfully challenged local authority use of ‘NowMedical’ opinions from doctors summarily reporting without even examining the homeless individual.
- R(YA) v Achieving for Children [2020] CO/3619/2020 – successful challenge to reliance on bone development X-ray age assessment.
- R(AM) v Wirral MBC [2021] UKUT JR/670/2020 – proving AM to be a minor of 15 years of age rather than an adult of 20 years of age. Findings also made around the minded-to process, interpreter suitability and social worker supervision requirements.
- R(M) v Waltham Forest LBC [2021] EWHC 2241 (Admin) – relating to the elements of lawfulness and fairness when conducting a ‘short form’ assessment of age. It was determined that the unfair first assessment had not been cured by a further assessment which simply incorporated and built on the earlier assessment.
- R(AA) v Kent CC [2022] UKUT JR-2021-LON-00335 – establishing AA to be a minor of 17 years of age rather than an adult of 20 years of age as had been assessed. Findings also made regarding the weight of physical appearance and demeanour observations.
- R(AA) v Essex CC [2022] UKUT JR-2021-LON-000155 – proving AA to be a minor of 17 years of age rather than an adult of “22+” years of age. While the age assessment had been Merton compliant, the Judge reached a different factual conclusion, finding AA to be a credible witness and giving weight to third-party opinion adduced.
Insights from EdwardVIEW ALL
- 5.4.2024
DWP Exposed for £32,000 Underpayment of Disability Benefits
Osbornes Law has assisted a vulnerable client to recover underpaid disability benefits totalling over £32,000. Our client, a disabled young man,...
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25.1.2021Hackney Council ignore vulnerable resident’s request
Paranoid schizophrenic ignored by Hackney Council for four years wins legal battle over unsafe front door A man who suffers...
Read more- 25.1.2021
Teenage asylum seeker wins legal battle against Council...
Vulnerable teenage asylum seeker wins age case against the council which unlawfully assessed him A vulnerable teenager who sought asylum...
Read more - 2.12.2020
Education provision to age disputed migrants
The thorny issue of education provision to age disputed migrants There was an interesting article in The Guardian last week...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Osbornes bring High Court challenge to secure accommodation
Edward Taylor has challenged Westminster City Council at the High Court after the local authority failed to meet its absolute...
Read more - 23.5.2019
Housing Disrepair Claim against Housing Association
Enforcement Proceedings issued against Housing Association Osbornes Law recently enforced a binding agreement reached with a housing association concerning much-needed...
Read more - 8.4.2019
Young asylum seekers – children being classified as adults
On BBC Newsnight, last night (5 April) reporters revealed young asylum seekers are being incorrectly classified by the Home office as...
Read more
