Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Immigration - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Doughty Street Chambers is a strong immigration set with significant expertise in judicial review proceedings challenging Home Office policy and decisions. The barristers are particularly well versed in asylum and deportation in the context of human rights law. An instructing solicitor notes that "every single one of the barristers is really exceptional". Members act for a large number of public access clients, as well as NGOs and private clients. These barristers have recently acted in cases emerging out of the Manston House asylum accommodation inquiry, as well as handling complex family reunion and asylum matters relating to Gazan refugees.

The clerking team is headed by Sian Wilkins.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Alasdair Mackenzie
1
Band 1

Prior to joining Doughty Street in 2005, Alasdair Mackenzie co-founded the charity Asylum Aid. He is now a leading immigration barrister, frequently appearing at all levels of tribunal, SIAC and the appeal courts. His noted areas of expertise include family law, human rights, asylum and deportation cases. He often appears in complex judicial reviews that seek to challenge Home Office immigration policy.

He is an excellent advocate - vastly knowledgeable and deeply committed to the work.

Alasdair is always a pleasure to work with. His understanding of the immigration and asylum system is second to none, and he is calm and incisive in giving advice.

He is very good technically; he knows the law in this area comprehensively. He is particularly good at the application of international law to the arguments in the case.

1
Catherine Meredith
1
Band 1

Catherine Meredith is an enterprising and experienced immigration barrister who is highly regarded for her strong commitment to cases involving trafficked children and sexual and gender-based violence. Her broad practice has a noted focus on judicial review, asylum claims and ECHR law. She is regularly instructed on behalf of prominent human rights NGOs, in both the Supreme Court and ECtHR.

Catherine is brilliant with trafficking cases. She understands the complexities and is happy to advise on all areas, which shows her unique qualities.

She has been really brilliant, with great attention to detail.

She is someone who really thinks outside the box. If your client has a problem, she will solve it via any means available. She will action all ideas, using her network.

David Lemer
1
David Lemer
1
Band 1

David Lemer enjoys a strong following among specialist immigration and asylum solicitors, who instruct him in appeals and judicial review applications. He has notable expertise in areas including Article 8 rights and criminal convictions.

He is a very successful advocate and appears as a special advocate.

David speaks for the client and finds a way to win a case. He is an outspoken and brilliant advocate.

David's written work is really strong.

Graham Denholm
1
Graham Denholm
1
Band 1

Graham Denholm is an experienced public law and immigration barrister with notable expertise in asylum and deportation matters, particularly cases involving vulnerable clients such as children and trafficking victims. He is a recognised immigration detention expert who is routinely called upon to act for clients in judicial review proceedings against the Home Office, including in cases before the Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal.

He is very punctual and organised. His expertise in false imprisonment is second to none.

Graham is extremely intelligent, and is clear and calm when advising on the most complex issues.

Graham is a standout, very experienced and very good.

1
Laura Dubinsky
1
Band 1

A leading light at the immigration Bar, Laura Dubinsky KC is famed among peers and clients alike for her nous and insight into complex asylum and detention law. The depth of her knowledge is reflected by her routine appearances in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, where she frequently advises on landmark litigation concerning detention and removal. Recent highlights include acting for the UNHCR in a challenge concerning the Home Secretary's policy of removing asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Laura is an excellent barrister whose knowledge and understanding of complex historical and nuanced public law issues is second to none. She commands the respect of the higher courts.

She is brilliant and hard-working.

She has a very good reputation, she is really strong.

Mark Henderson
1
Mark Henderson
1
Band 1

A leading claimant-focused immigration barrister, Mark Henderson is regularly instructed by top-tier solicitors, given his vast expertise encompassing asylum, human rights and EU law. He is particularly noted for his work in cases concerning detention, and routinely appears in the highest domestic and European courts on behalf of vulnerable clients.

Mark is a great practitioner.

Shu Shin Luh
1
Shu Shin Luh
1
Band 1

Shu Shin Luh is an excellent public law barrister who comes highly recommended for judicial review challenges to the lawfulness of detaining asylum seekers. Her clients are charities and vulnerable migrants claiming asylum in the UK on the grounds of torture, trafficking and other human rights abuses. She has appeared in immigration cases across all judicial forums, up to and including the Supreme Court and the ECtHR.

Shu Shin's knowledge of trafficking law in particular is phenomenal.

She is quite ferocious with her work and is fighting to win for clients. Her ability to digest information and come back with a response so quickly is incredible.

She is very good in public order disqualification orders. She is very knowledgeable and passionate.

1
Simon Cox
1
Band 1

Simon Cox's return to the Bar has been welcomed by many immigration-focused solicitors, who have rushed to instruct him in their most complex immigration and asylum cases. Among other areas, he is noted for his strong expertise concerning the rights of EU and third-country nationals in the UK post-Brexit, and particularly the issue of Zambrano carers.

Simon is brilliantly strategic, very generous with his time and insights, and a fantastic advocate.

He is incredibly helpful and offers an encyclopedic knowledge of immigration, with which he is generous.

Simon is an exceptional talent in the immigration law context.

2
Joseph Middleton
2
Band 2

Joseph Middleton KC is a well-established immigration and human rights silk, appearing in all levels of domestic courts, as well as taking on other complex cases across the world. His experience across extradition, human rights and related death litigation, for both private clients and the state, bestows him with a well-rounded depth of knowledge.

His international work is cutting-edge and he has a razor-sharp mind.

Joseph is an excellent advocate, both in the courtroom and in his written submissions. His attention to detail, thorough presentation and strategic input is second to none.

His written advocacy is highly persuasive and he commands the confidence of lay clients.

2
Michelle Knorr
2
Band 2

Michelle Knorr focuses predominantly on claimant-side immigration and public law, and is a particularly experienced representative of victims of trafficking and other vulnerable individuals. Recently, she has been active across a range of complex family reunifications in the context of the war in Gaza, in which she has mobilised her deep knowledge in the representation of separated children.

Michelle is an excellent, thorough and highly visionary practitioner.

Michelle is an absolute star! She is strategic, hard-working, understands the longer-term vision and also is absolutely committed to the interests of the individual client.

She is very hard-working, knowledgeable and passionate.

2
Philip Haywood
2
Band 2

Philip Haywood is an immigration stalwart who is highly regarded for his extensive experience and expertise. He routinely represents clients at all levels, including the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal. His recent work includes judicial review challenges and unlawful deportation claims relating to vulnerable individuals, particularly refugees.

He is a delight to work with because, in addition to his first-class knowledge and experience of immigration and asylum law, he is always readily available for advice and support.

3
Agata Patyna
3
Band 3

Agata Patyna has a growing presence at the immigration Bar thanks to her representation of vulnerable individuals such as minors. She is knowledgeable in areas of human trafficking, unlawful detention and asylum claims. She has particular strength in refugee work and often advises on EU free movement proceedings. Her skills extend to nationality deprivation challenges and deportation appeals before the tribunals, Administrative Court and Court of Appeal.

Agata's work is sharp and clear.

She is a delight to lead and she is a pleasure to work with. She is really excellent.

Agata is a first-class advocate.

Antonia Benfield
3
Antonia Benfield
3
Band 3

Antonia Benfield is an established junior barrister with a broad immigration and asylum practice. Particularly adept across appeals, she regularly handles complex family matters, with a focus on handling nuanced cases involving children and vulnerable adults. She also has a great depth of experience in asylum and refugee law claims, supporting the claimant in their navigation of age assessments, judicial reviews and other procedural components of matters.

Antonia is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is highly responsive, provides detailed and intelligent advice, has fantastic client care and drafts meticulous skeleton arguments.

Antonia is really strong across age assessments.

Antonia is a highly responsive, dedicated and intelligent barrister.

3
Rowena Moffatt
3
Band 3

Rowena Moffatt is an esteemed specialist barrister in immigration and asylum law. She is regarded for her ability to undertake the full suite of immigration matters on behalf of both private individuals and businesses. Her recent work includes matters relating to unlawful detention and indefinite leave to remain, among other issues.

She is a very smart barrister.

Rowena is absolutely amazing. She is our go-to barrister when we really need the best help.

4
Adam Straw
4
Band 4

An experienced immigration, trafficking and human rights barrister, Adam Straw KC is known for his strong work across judicial reviews and challenges to public authorities. His knowledge is also displayed via his authorship of 'Discrimination in Public Law' and other works.

He has the ability to present difficult points as attractively as possible. He is very intelligent and a really decent opponent. He is a very engaging advocate.

Adam is a very understated advocate. He has a very impressive, excellent legal mind and really super judgement. He is really well respected by the courts and does an outstanding job for his clients.

He does a really good job and he's made a real name for himself. Adam is very good at reading between the lines and is very strategic.

4
Asma Nizami
4
Band 4

Asma Nizami has a strong practice in asylum claims and deportation appeals, typically acting for vulnerable individuals such as victims of trafficking or those at risk in their country of origin.

She leads in some of the most complex cases. She is so thorough and so attentive and a very good legal mind.

She has expertise in complex family life and reunion aspects of immigration. She is a highly compassionate and intelligent advocate, and her written work is really outstanding.

Asma is very approachable, her work is focused and she is highly dedicated to the clients.

4
Grace Capel
4
Band 4

Grace Capel is a barrister with a well-respected immigration and asylum practice. She acts for claimants in appeals and judicial reviews, and has notable experience in relation to unlawful detention, bail accommodation issues and human trafficking.

Grace is a pleasure to work with. She is not only extremely approachable but is happy to advise throughout the case, not just at the time of a hearing.

She is amazing in what she does, and very easy to work with. She is not afraid to run complex arguments. She also has an eye for identifying policy challenges when needed.

Grace is a very strong barrister. Her commitment to the clients is very compelling, and her collaborative approach to working with solicitors is commendable.

4
John Walsh
4
Band 4

A seasoned immigration barrister, John Walsh routinely undertakes public access work, as well as legal aid and privately funded matters. He has notable experience advising on family-related immigration, deportation and free movement cases under EU law. He represents clients at all levels from tribunal to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the CJEU.

He is consistently impressive.

4
Marisa Cohen
4
Band 4

Marisa Cohen is a barrister known for her skill in immigration matters involving vulnerable individuals, such as unaccompanied children. She acts in a range of asylum and deportation appeals, and is experienced in bringing complex challenges through judicial review.

Marisa is an absolute pleasure to work with. She engages with the case immediately and is highly responsive. She provides detailed and intelligent advice, and has fantastic client care.

She showed exceptional skill in legal research and drafting, going the extra mile in preparing the skeleton argument and strategising in relation to the evidence.

She has a rare skill, identifying policy changes while never losing sight of client needs.

4
Zoe Harper
4
Band 4

Zoe Harper has a growing reputation as a strong barrister in the immigration field. She has expert knowledge in refugee protection and is often involved in cases concerning human trafficking or gender-based violence.

She is an expert in children and trafficking cases, she's very good.

Zoe is very strong intellectually, and this really comes through in her written work. She is very thoughtful and great to work with.

5
Camila Zapata Besso
5
Band 5

Camila Zapata Besso is impressively experienced in the full spread of asylum law issues, including cases overlapping with extradition law. Her recent work includes claims concerning change of accommodation and Article 3 issues.

She is great on trafficking cases.

Camila is really, really effective and she's a strong drafter.

5
Michael Spencer
5
Band 5

Experienced barrister Michael Spencer is noted for his expertise in EEA and EU settlement schemes, asylum and human rights appeals, and asylum and age assessment judicial reviews. His ranging practice is bolstered by his experience as a solicitor in the NGO sector, focusing on asylum and vulnerable peoples.

He is great.

Michael is very bright and very driven.

He is very bright. He has great judgement and a great understanding of public law. He is my go-to first-choice junior.

Anthony Vaughan
New Silks

Anthony Vaughan KC is an immigration specialist who routinely acts on behalf of high-profile individuals in challenges against decisions of the Home Office, particularly regarding deportation or removal actions. He also assists in cases concerning deprivation of citizenship, including those with a national security element, and detained fast-track claims. He makes regular appearances before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Anthony is a top barrister for complex asylum matters. He has a razor-sharp intellect and cuts through the noise to identify winning strategies.

Ranked Barristers at
Doughty Street Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Immigration

1
Laura Dubinsky KC
1
Band 1
2
Joseph Middleton KC
2
Band 2
4
Adam Straw KC
4
Band 4
Anthony Vaughan KC
New Silks

Juniors

London (Bar)

Immigration

1
Alasdair Mackenzie
1
Band 1
1
Catherine Meredith
1
Band 1
David Lemer
1
David Lemer
1
Band 1
Graham Denholm
1
Graham Denholm
1
Band 1
Mark Henderson
1
Mark Henderson
1
Band 1
Shu Shin Luh
1
Shu Shin Luh
1
Band 1
1
Simon Cox
1
Band 1
2
Michelle Knorr
2
Band 2
2
Philip Haywood
2
Band 2
3
Agata Patyna
3
Band 3
Antonia Benfield
3
Antonia Benfield
3
Band 3
3
Rowena Moffatt
3
Band 3
4
Asma Nizami
4
Band 4
4
Grace Capel
4
Band 4
4
John Walsh
4
Band 4
4
Marisa Cohen
4
Band 4
20 of 23 results