Immigration

Laurie Fransman KC is a celebrated silk with market-leading knowledge of nationality and asylum law. He enjoys a glowing reputation, both domestically and internationally, thanks in part to his significant contribution to the leading literature in the area. His areas of expertise within asylum law include complex protection and exclusion cases. He is well versed in representing private clients. He is the founder of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.

Abigail Smith draws on her prior experience working for solicitors' firms and previous engagement with various NGOs to offer excellent immigration advice to a diverse clientele. She is often instructed in Article 8 claims and cases concerning family reunion. She frequently appears in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals in complex asylum and immigration matters.

Amanda Weston KC is a leading immigration barrister who routinely acts for high-profile clients in complex citizenship and inbound travel matters. Distinguished for her commitment to the representation of migrants, she also weights her caseload towards unlawful detention and trafficking work on behalf of vulnerable adults and children.

David Jones is an accomplished barrister who is adept at handling immigration, asylum and human rights law at all levels, from the First-tier Tribunal to the ECtHR. He has a strong track record of securing substantial damages for individuals who have been unlawfully detained. He has also represented business migrants and high net worth individuals.

Helen Foot is a highly erudite immigration and asylum specialist barrister focusing on nationality and citizenship cases for a range of vulnerable claimants including children, asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. She is regularly called upon to appear in the tribunals and the courts, and has deep experience in deportation matters as they relate to criminal convictions and the protection of human rights.

Kathryn Cronin is a first-class advocate with a wealth of immigration knowledge. She is regularly instructed in asylum and family law cases, and has notable expertise in matters concerning gender persecution, trafficking and child-related immigration. She remains a leading light in the crossover between immigration, family and public law. Cronin is admitted to practice in both the UK and Australia. She has made significant contributions to the literature on the subject of family and children's asylum.

Mark Symes is a high-quality barrister who offers an all-round immigration service and is noted for his work on international protection. Before coming to the Bar, he worked at the Refugee Legal Centre, and he is now best known for appearing in various landmark country guidance asylum cases and judicial review challenges. He has extensive experience before the higher courts, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

Patrick Lewis is a truly experienced barrister who handles a wide range of immigration and asylum matters, including matters before the Court of Appeal. He is a commercial immigration specialist who regularly advises both private individuals and large corporations. He has extensive experience with the PBS and regularly handles entrepreneur applications and civil penalties for businesses.

Rebecca Chapman offers broad immigration expertise. She regularly handles third-country and asylum cases and was appointed a deputy judge of the Upper Tribunal in 2015. She advises vulnerable clients, including children, individuals with mental health conditions or serious illness, and LGBT+ asylum seekers. She has deep experience in cases involving the deportation and extradition of foreign criminals and Article 3 ECHR.

Ronan Toal is much respected for a practice that has seen him become a favourite among fellow barristers and solicitors alike. His caseload is varied, with a particular focus on human trafficking and technical areas of asylum law such as country guidance and nationality. He has strong experience of judicial reviews and matters before the appellate courts.

Sadat Sayeed routinely handles politically sensitive cases on behalf of high-profile individuals within the political, business and sporting worlds. He is particularly noted for his deep knowledge of human rights and refugee law, regularly advising clients from Eastern European countries. He is adept at handling cases concerning deportation, extradition and international protection.

Sonali Naik KC is an esteemed silk with a wealth of experience appearing before tribunals and in judicial review proceedings. Her practice has a strong focus on test and country guidance cases. Recently she has been particularly active in cases concerning the deprivation of nationality, as well as Article 3 and Article 8 ECHR. While largely publicly funded, she also acts for private clients.

Stephanie Harrison KC is a highly esteemed barrister who is particularly well known for her adroit handling of the most complex immigration and asylum matters. She frequently appears in the highest courts in landmark immigration cases, such as national security matters and deportation appeals. She has a strong track record in bringing sophisticated challenges to Home Office decisions by way of judicial review.

Ali Bandegani is a highly regarded barrister with a strong immigration practice. He is particularly well known for his expertise in public law and human rights challenges to Home Office policy concerning asylum, detention and deportation. He is frequently called upon to represent refugees including victims of torture and individuals with mental health conditions.

Grace Brown is an immigration expert with particular strength in cases regarding deportation, including those challenging actions brought against 'Windrush' migrants. She represents vulnerable children and their families in a range of matters throughout the courts and tribunals.

Peter Jorro is highly experienced barrister with a varied practice covering areas such as the PBS, asylum and EEA law. He is also well versed at handling cases concerning criminal history, family naturalisation and extradition. He counts high net worth individuals, businesses and asylum applicants among his clientele. He has considerable experience advising corporate clients in relation to Tier 2 sponsor licences.

Raza Halim specialises in judicial review and appellate work in the fields of refugee law, civil liberties and national security. He acts in high-profile test case litigation challenging government policies and practices at first instance, through to the Supreme Court.

Bojana Asanovic is a well-regarded immigration barrister with an interest in EU free movement, sexual orientation and gender identity, and trafficking cases. Notable recent work includes acting as junior counsel to the appellant in Hussein v SSHD, before the Supreme Court.

David Sellwood is a popular choice with solicitors, who instruct him in a range of immigration and asylum appeals and complex judicial review challenges. He mobilises his knowledge and experience in the handling of complex national security, deportation, detention and wider human rights cases. He has often appeared before the Upper Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Duran Seddon KC is an experienced and recognised immigration and public law practitioner, with a wealth of experience across high-profile and developing cases. Notably, he is consistently involved in current cases, with recent involvement in a complex deportation challenge relating to Article 10 ECHR challenges and statements on the war in Palestine.

Edward Grieves KC is a highly praised immigration barrister who has a wealth of experience before SIAC, and frequently appears in complex and highly sensitive national security matters involving individuals with alleged links to terrorist activities or groups. He is also well versed in cases involving the Refugee Convention.

Emma Fitzsimons is a popular immigration law barrister who has acted in a number of judicial reviews on behalf of victims of trafficking or other vulnerable individuals. She has recently been involved in a challenge to the Home Secretary's change to immigration law as applied to stateless individuals seeking family reunion.

Gordon Lee is an immigration law specialist barrister with notable experience in unlawful detention and deportation proceedings. He has appeared in important cases before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. His recent work notably includes acting for former detainees in regard to the Brook House Inquiry.

Irena Sabic KC is held in high esteem for her work in various areas of immigration law. She is notably active on matters arising out of the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan.

Nicola Braganza KC is a barrister who continues to receive praise for her work with vulnerable appellants and their families. Her caseload includes complex work involving victims of slavery, torture and domestic abuse. She also has significant experience handling LGBT+ asylum claims. She regularly appears before the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal. She is associated with the Athens Refugee Legal Support project.

Bijan Hoshi demonstrates engagement in a range of matters relating to immigration and nationality law. He is notably active in asylum claims, particularly on behalf of individuals in politically sensitive contexts, and has recently appeared before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal. Notably, he offers deep expertise across matters emerging out of Windrush.

Colin Yeo is an esteemed and popular immigration barrister who is particularly highly regarded by his peers and widely recognised for his editorship of the Free Movement blog. He is known for his handling of EEA claims and has been active exploring the impact of Brexit on free movement. He is also experienced in challenges to deportation and deprivation of citizenship decisions. His client base is varied and includes high net worth private individuals, law centres and businesses of all sizes.

Established public barrister Gráinne Mellon brings a depth of knowledge and experience to matters across the immigration sector. She is most known for her navigation of the law as it applies to human rights, trafficking, migrant children and families. Recently, she has been appearing in the Upper Tribunal, acting as leading counsel in trafficking judicial review claims.

Greg Ó Ceallaigh KC continues to impress fellow barristers and clients alike with his flourishing immigration and asylum practice. He offers deep experience in areas such as EU law-related judicial reviews, third-country removal and detention matters. He is also well versed in the Dublin III Regulation.

Alex Grigg is an up-and-coming talent at the immigration Bar. His focus covers asylum and deportation, trafficking and modern slavery. His involvement in the complexities of the Rwanda case is further notable.

Ella Gunn is an experienced immigration practitioner handling cases across the sector. She has particular experience in ARAP and ARCS cases, as well as other refugee claims. Her knowledge of the space is deepened by her experience as a qualified solicitor in Australia, facilitating a unique perspective enjoyed by instructing solicitors.

Eva Doerr is a junior immigration specialist barrister notable for her involvement in high-profile appeals and judicial reviews. She has an impressive spread of expertise covering various human rights issues and the treatment of EEA nationals under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.

Maha Sardar is an experienced practitioner, mobilising her experience in the corporate sector to deliver dynamic and holistic counsel to her clients and instructing solicitors. Her expertise covers asylum, SIAC and public inquiries, with particular experience in matters relating to victims of trafficking and unaccompanied minors.

Taimour Lay boasts a highly regarded immigration practice with experience in complex asylum cases, deportation and commercial immigration matters.

Ubah Dirie has demonstrated a strong command of various issues in the immigration law field, including country guidance and citizenship registration. Regularly appearing at the Upper Tribunal, she has a wealth of knowledge in the representation of vulnerable appellants in complex asylum, human rights and deportation matters.

Isaac Ricca-Richardson is a rising star of the immigration Bar, providing specialist knowledge across asylum claims, deportation and migrants' rights. Notably, he recently represented a claimant in the opposition of the Home Secretary's Rwanda policy. He also has experience across SIAC and national security cases.

Nadia O'Mara is a rising star of the immigration Bar. Noted for her specialist knowledge covering human trafficking, detention and bail, she is frequently involved in matters presented across the range of domestic courts.

Adrian Berry KC is an exceptionally skilled barrister who is noted for the sheer depth of his knowledge in regard to nationality, statelessness and EU free movement considerations. He routinely receives instructions from large corporations on major commercial immigration matters. He is also engaged in academic writing in the sector, recently co-authoring the 4th edition of 'Fransman's British Nationality Law'.