Administrative & Public Law
UK Bar Guide 2025 : London (Bar)
Band 4
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7993 7600Chambers Review
Garden Court Chambers' well-known expertise in areas such as immigration and civil liberties is grounded in a firm command of public law principles and judicial review. Its capability in this area is strongly geared towards safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups and individuals, by challenging policies of the Home Office and other government departments. One source praises the "exceptional" barristers who ensure that "one is always in good hands." Members of this set have appeared in numerous high-profile immigration-related cases, including a High Court challenge to the lawfulness of the Home Office accommodating unaccompanied asylum seeking children in hotels. The barristers possess notable experience covering policy on human trafficking, mental health and criminal justice.
Colin Cook leads the clerking.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The clerks are excellent. They are prompt, responsive, reliable and always helpful."
"The clerks are beyond responsive, helpful and dutiful."
"The clerking team is exceptionally helpful and nothing is ever too much trouble."
"The clerks at Garden Court are all incredibly helpful and friendly."
"The clerks are excellent. They are prompt, responsive, reliable and always helpful."
"The clerks are beyond responsive, helpful and dutiful."
"The clerking team is exceptionally helpful and nothing is ever too much trouble."
"The clerks at Garden Court are all incredibly helpful and friendly."
Notable Practitioners
Amanda Weston KC operates an excellent public law practice with a strong emphasis on advocating for the rights of minorities and vulnerable people. She is experienced in cases relating to immigration and asylum, education and equality law.
"Amanda is just a pleasure to work with. She explains things very simply and seems to know everything about children's right issues."
"Amanda is an outstanding public law KC."
Stephanie Harrison KC is a strong choice for public law challenges involving immigration, asylum and human rights, including major challenges to immigration detention and the use of medical evidence in asylum claims. Another area of expertise is public law claims concerning protest rights.
"Stephanie is a good advocate."
"Stephanie Harrison is formidable. Her drafting skills are very good and she is very easy to work with."
Sonali Naik KC leverages her enviable expertise in immigration law to handle judicial reviews and statutory appeals of central government decision making and wider policy. She has a strong track record in matters involving detention and deportation as well as the rights of trafficking victims and asylum seekers.
"Sonali is very strong on strategy."
Ali Bandegani represents vulnerable claimants in asylum and trafficking challenges. He has made recent appearances in the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.
"Ali is a great advocate. He always identifies the issues at hand in an incredibly succinct form."
"Ali is impressive in his drafting and equally impressive on his feet. His advice is very sharp, polished, clear and to the point."
Raza Halim is noted for his considerable expertise in public law. He specialises in the crossover between public law, immigration and human rights and is often involved in high-stakes claims relating to deprivation of liberty and victims of trafficking.
"Raza is an excellent combination of being approachable, great to work with and an effective advocate in difficult cases. He’s exactly who a client wants in their corner because he is tenacious."
"His advice is very helpful. He is always very fast, thorough and careful about cases. He is great to work on asylum judicial reviews."
"Raza is extremely forensic. He has such an eye for detail. His advocacy is fantastic, mainly down to being very well prepared when coming into court and having such a clear grasp of the issues."
Ollie Persey has a broad-ranging claimant public law practice. He has strong experience in a variety of challenges based on human rights claims, including those concerning eligibility for legal aid.
"What Ollie has is an outstanding intuition for a point that will run. He has a very acute eye for the point."
"Ollie is good at thinking of innovative points."
"Ollie Persey is really extra good. He is very enthusiastic and straightforward."