Ekaterina Aleynikova

Kat supports Maria Pilavaki and Grace Mowatt with their cases, working predominantly on public and private children law matters.

Kat supports clients from a range of different backgrounds, having previously worked as a caseworker at Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, supporting families of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants.

Prior to converting to law, Kat worked as a researcher, focusing on education and social welfare issues.

Kat has a masters degree in Education and International Development from the University of Cambridge, where she studied global frameworks for the protection of children’s rights. She completed a qualifying law degree at The University of Law with distinction in 2025.

Kat developed an interest in child protection law through her research career. She was motivated to pursue a career change to law to work directly with clients in challenging circumstances and to help fulfil the rights of children and families. Kat is particularly interested in the wider social impact of family law and intersections with other areas of law, particularly immigration and social welfare.

Kat’s strength and skills are:

• Client care, including supporting clients in challenging circumstances, such as mental health challenges, domestic abuse or homelessness
• Interviewing skills, with experience of interviewing children and young people, including those with learning disabilities or autism
• Research
• Writing for different audiences

Associations/Committees/Rep Groups

• Member of the Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Charity membership/fundraising activity

• Volunteering for Breaking Barriers
• Participated in the Legal Advice Clinic in family law at the University of Law

Publications

• Stokes, L., Runge, J., Stockland, K., Dorsett, R., Boshoff, J., Marioni, L., Harvey, M., Aleynikova, E., Rostron, J., Zuniga-Montanez, C., & Manzoni, C. (2023). Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads in Schools: Focus on Child Sexual Abuse. What Works for Children’s Social Care.
• Stokes, L., Runge, J., Aleynikova, E., Rostron, J., Marioni, L., Boshoff, J., Harvey, M., Stockland, K., Zuniga-Montanez, C., & Manzoni, C. (2023). Designated Safeguarding Leads Group Supervision in Secondary Schools. What Works for Children’s Social Care.
• Kitson, S., Runge, J., Stokes, L., Rostron, J., Aleynikova, E., Boshoff, J., Marioni, L., Harvey, M., Stockland, K., Zuniga-Montanez, C., Manzoni, C. (2023). Domestic Abuse and Schools: Evidence from the Supervision for Designated Safeguarding Leads Evaluations. What Works for Children’s Social Care.
• Stokes, L., Runge, J., Rostron, J., Dorsett, R., Boshoff, J., Marioni, L., Zuniga-Montanez, C., Harvey, M., Stockland, K., Aleynikova, E., Manzoni, C. (2023). Supervising Designated
• Safeguarding Leads in Primary Schools. What Works for Children’s Social Care.
• Stokes, L., Runge, J., Rostron, J., Dorsett, R., Marioni, L., Boshoff, J., Manzoni, C., Aleynikova, E., Harvey, M., Stockland, K., Zuniga-Montanez, C. (2023). Supervision of
• Designated Safeguarding Leads: Greater Manchester Combined Authority. What Works for Children’s Social Care.
• Aleynikova et al. (2024), Experiences of Displaced Young People Living in England: January to March 2023 – Peer Researcher Reflections, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
• Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 23 January 2024, ONS website, article, Experiences of displaced young people living in England: January to March 2023
• Aleynikova, E. & Mosley, M., “The Economic and Social Impacts of Lifting Work Restrictions on People Seeking Asylum”. June 2022. National Institute of Economic and Social Research. Discussion Paper no. 549
• Aleynikova, E., Atay, A., James, K. & Stevenson, A. (2022) Social prescribing and adult education in London. Greater London Authority, Learning and Work Institute.

Languages

• Russian
• Ukrainian