Department profile
39 Essex Chambers

Immigration

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


39 Essex Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Immigration - London (Bar)

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

39 Essex Chambers, managed by director of clerking Sheraton Doyle, is an impressive immigration and public law set that has significant experience acting for both the government and claimants. A peer notes that the members deal with complex matters "fearlessly and with enormous skill". Members are frequently instructed in sensitive and high-profile litigation before the higher courts, including SIAC. Areas of complementary expertise include asylum, EU law, civil liberties and nationality law. Barristers from the set have acted in prominent recent cases including concerning challenges to the policy of seeking to remove some asylum seekers to Rwanda for the determination of their claims.

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsLisa Giovannetti
    Star IndividualsLisa Giovannetti

    Lisa Giovannetti

    Lisa Giovannetti KC is a leading immigration specialist with a vast and varied practice consisting of government, public body and private individual work. Her caseload encompasses the full spectrum of human rights, national security and asylum matters, and she routinely appears in the highest domestic and EU courts.

    • She demonstrates a masterclass in advocacy every time she is in court. She commands the attention, respect and trust of the court by being measured, fair and transparent.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Rory Dunlop
    Band 2Rory Dunlop

    Rory Dunlop

    Rory Dunlop KC is an esteemed silk offering capabilities that cover the full range of immigration law. He routinely acts both for and against the government and is a familiar face in the High Court. He is noted for his expertise in complex cases concerning asylum and detention.

    • His style of advocacy is naturally suited to the courts, and you can see judges appreciate it.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • He is very impressive and a great case manager.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • Rory is a recognised expert on the interaction between immigration and detention law. He is a great advocate and a courteous opponent.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Alan Payne
    Band 3Alan Payne

    Alan Payne

    Alan Payne KC is an accomplished barrister who routinely acts for the government in immigration and human rights cases. His broad public law knowledge serves to strengthen his work in the field. He is particularly adept at handling Article 8 cases that concern the interaction between Strasbourg and domestic law.

    • In every case, he is able to identify ridiculously clever and persuasive arguments in what can at times seem like unarguable cases.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • I have a lot of respect for Alan. He is very dedicated and so smart.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • He has a keen eye for detail, and is meticulously prepared, pragmatic and strategic in his advice.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Jack Anderson
    Band 3Jack Anderson

    Jack Anderson

    Frequently acting for the Home Secretary, Jack Anderson has experience in judicial reviews and statutory appeals, including flagship government immigration policies. He has recently appeared before the High Court and Court of Appeal.

    • Jack does some of the most complex work in the space. He really knows his stuff.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • I found Jack to be astute and strategic in his advice and in his management of the issues connected to the matter.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • Jack is very able, very analytical, totally fair in his approach and even-handed. He does not take bad points.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Colin Thomann
    Band 4Colin Thomann

    Colin Thomann

    Colin Thomann KC is an established immigration barrister who receives frequent instructions from the Secretary of State in important challenges. He draws on extensive experience in a range of matters including country guidance and no recourse to public funds.

    • He is trusted as an advocate. Courts rely on his knowledge as a key source in matters.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • He is a strong barrister.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Emily Wilsdon
    Band 4Emily Wilsdon

    Emily Wilsdon

    Emily Wilsdon's well-regarded practice covers immigration decisions, trafficking policy challenges and immigration bail and curfews, in which she has been involved in key tort law. Wilsdon has also acted in national security cases before SIAC.

    • She is really good.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • Emily is one of the future stars of the Bar. She is adept at handling the most challenging of immigration judicial reviews in the Administrative Court.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • She has great judgement and is thoughtful. She's a great lawyer.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Katherine Apps
    Band 4Katherine Apps

    Katherine Apps

    Katherine Apps KC is an impressive barrister with expertise in immigration law. She regularly advises vulnerable individuals before the Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal. She is particularly noted for her knowledge on the interpretation of Article 8 ECHR, and EEA regulations relating to EU national workers.

    • She's very smart and very effective.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Tom Tabori
    Band 4Tom Tabori

    Tom Tabori

    Well-regarded barrister Tom Tabori is making a great name for himself in the sector. He is known for his careful navigation of cases across all aspects of immigration law, boasting particular expertise in legislative and policy challenges. He is gaining further experience and exposure as a result of his appointment to the Attorney General's A Panel.

    • He is smart, he's very aggressive in the most positive way and he's forthgoing, and it's good to be with people like that. I have a lot of respect for him.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • He is very intelligent, and his written work is strong and easy to follow.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • Tom has achieved a remarkable profile and body of cases, and it came as no surprise to me that he has recently been appointed to the A Panel. He is sure-footed and industrious.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Zane Malik
    Band 4Zane Malik

    Zane Malik

    Zane Malik KC is an experienced and respected silk whose practice has an emphasis on immigration, asylum and EU regulatory matters. He mobilises his experience as a junior on the Attorney General's Panel of Counsel to the Crown to effectively handle complex and high-level matters.

    • He is excellent to work with or against.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Jennifer Thelen
    Band 5Jennifer Thelen

    Jennifer Thelen

    Jennifer Thelen is a well-regarded junior who regularly appears for the Secretary of State in immigration matters. A member of the Attorney General's A Panel, Thelen regularly appears in SIAC as well as courts in the first instance and at appeal.

    • Jenni is particularly adept when dealing with data protection and security-related issues arising in the context of immigration. She is also lightning quick in her written pleadings.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
    • She is really clever and smart. She's very decisive and sensible.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksChristopher Staker
    New SilksChristopher Staker

    Christopher Staker

    Christopher Staker frequently represents the Home Secretary in human rights immigration and asylum cases, involving issues of family life and trafficking, among others. He has appeared before the Court of Appeal on numerous occasions in such cases.

    • He is so measured and balanced in his approach to the case. The clarity with which he offered complex concepts was astounding. He really has that quality.

      Immigration respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 39 Essex Chambers (11)

London (Bar)

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