Immigration: London

THE SET Garden Court Chambers leads the way in immigration law due to the unparalleled strength in depth it offers. Its impressive range of market-leading silks and juniors cover the complete immigration law spectrum and regularly appear in the most important cases both domestically and internationally. Its counsel are so authoritative in the area that many contribute to the leading academic texts on immigration law. Leading solicitors firms instinctively look to them when difficult cases arise.    

SILKS Laurie Fransman QC "invented nationality law as a modern academic subject." Solicitors look to him for advice on "highly complex citizenship issues - what he doesn't know about British citizenship law isn't worth knowing," they say. He works across jurisdictions, drawing together immigration and human rights law to protect individuals who are subject to political persecution.

Stephen Knafler QC is currently working on important cases involving unaccompanied asylum seekers under the age of 18. He is an acknowledged expert on the crossover between immigration and community care law. Fellow counsel and instructing solicitors are extremely complimentary of Knafler's written and oral advocacy and respect his innovative contribution to immigration law.   

Ian Macdonald QC is the author of key immigration practitioners' textbooks. His elevation to Senior Statesman status is in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the field of immigration law.  

Immigration luminaries have "huge respect" for Stephanie Harrison QC. National security cases and unlawful detention are key areas of focus for her, and her expertise in human rights and public law enables her to secure notable wins against the state. According to one source, "she is someone with a very high success rate in an area where most cases go down in flames."

JUNIORS Kathryn Cronin is particularly known for her work with vulnerable women and on cases where there are difficult family elements, including adoption and surrogacy. "She has an incredible ability to cross-fertilise immigration and family law, and is very useful on adoption cases," say those that instruct her. 

Duran Seddon has recently worked with individuals fleeing from political persecution, and Muslim figures who have been excluded from the UK on the basis of comments that they are alleged to have made in a public context. These cases raise important issues concerning Article 10 and the right to freedom of expression, and also questions of nationality law and deportation.

Broad immigration practitioner Navtej Singh Ahluwalia has a specialism in EU freedom of movement law and is called upon to lecture on this subject. Solicitors highlight his client care skills - "the people he represents always know that he really cares what happens to their case."

Adrian Berry "has real flair" according to the solicitors he works with, and is described by a number of interviewees as "excellent on EU points." In PM (Turkey) it was established that the lack of a common family home is not an obstacle to spouses of EU nationals who are seeking the right to permanent residence.

Sadat Sayeed works closely with Laurie Fransman QC, and together the two are instructed on cases which often involve wealthy or powerful individuals who are the subject of political persecution and are seeking asylum in the UK.

David Jones is involved with ongoing work on Article 8 cases, concerning the balance of exclusion based on criminal grounds and the right to family life. He is popular in the market as is Peter Jorro, who works with businesses challenging sponsorship licence withdrawal, wealthy businessmen seeking asylum in the UK and individuals who are facing deportation. He is strongly endorsed by leading immigration solicitors firms.

Patrick Lewis works with businesses challenging the effects of new immigration guidance. He is a counsel of choice for his expertise on the points-based system (PBS) and also undertakes a substantial amount of work on criminal deportation appeals. He is described as "bang up to date, really well prepared and very good with clients."

In AMM & Others Somalia CG, Ronan Toal successfully argued a breach of Article 3, in a case concerning the safety of returning Somalis to Somalia. One source said of him: "He is very bright and hard-working and he thinks of really good points."

Solicitors "go back again and again to" Nadine Finch when faced "with complex immigration and family law crossover cases." She often works with children and has been successful in securing substantial damages for unlawful detention.

Sonali Naik "is completely on top of immigration and a really good operator" according to one source. She has done important work on the safety of returns to Iraq and Iran. Naik is recommended along with Navita Atreya, who commentators describe as "a very strong advocate in the tribunal. If you get bogged down, she is very good at spotting straight away the points to be made and what needs to be done." Other rated juniors at the set include Michelle Brewer, a dedicated immigration practitioner with expertise on trafficking, unaccompanied minors and human rights, and Louise Hooper, an asylum-focused immigration practitioner. Hooper represents clients from initial application to judicial review in the higher courts. 

Also recommended is Bryony Poynor, who has carried out important work relating to Dublin II and the removal of unaccompanied minors.

THE SET A highly respected group of Blackstone silks brings its public law expertise to bear upon the most complicated immigration cases, often leading for the government, but also running test cases for claimants. Blackstone counsel frequently lead immigration cases in the Supreme Court, the ECHR and Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). A number of juniors at the set are also working in this area to a high standard.

SILKS Michael Fordham QC is widely respected for his work on the claimant side, and he handles high-profile cases that often have implications for immigration policy as a whole. His joint head of chambers is Monica Carss-Frisk QC, whose immigration practice is heavily Supreme Court-based, as she is brought in to defend the government in particularly difficult cases. Her recent work has focused on Articles 8 and 12 and the weight which they should be accorded in relation to immigration control. 

David Pannick QC is routinely described as "the best public lawyer in the country." In terms of immigration, he has recently represented the Hong Kong government in cases raising questions over foreign domestic workers and permanent residency.  

Mark Shaw QC is instructed in immigration solely as a special advocate in the context of SIAC. He is an expert on control order regimes and complex cases where national security arguments are advanced by the State.

THE SET Doughty Street Chambers is strong right across the immigration field. A claimants' set, it works with the likes of multinational corporations, legally aided asylum seekers and universities challenging the removal of their Tier 4 sponsor status. National security and SIAC work is a key strength for it and it is involved in many headline-grabbing cases. Solicitors also look to Doughty Street for expertise on EU applications and the PBS, amongst other areas. 

SILKS The highly regarded Judith Farbey QC is credited with having an unrivalled strategic understanding of the higher education sector and its relation to constantly changing immigration policy. She also has a strong corporate client practice and is instructed as a special advocate in national security cases.

JUNIORS Laura Dubinsky is widely acknowledged to be an expert in the field of immigration detention and is a star of the junior Bar. Her recently published book on foreign national prisoners attracted much positive comment. She is described as "incredibly knowledgeable, extremely thorough and highly committed."

The case of NS is one example of the important work that Mark Henderson has undertaken concerning the legality of removal to EU states under Dublin II where there is risk of an Article 3 breach. Solicitors instruct Henderson on complicated EEA cases as he is "absolutely excellent on really difficult, technical cases."

Philip Haywood is instructed for "his expertise in sponsorship issues" relating to Tier 4 of the PBS and his long-standing and wide experience of immigration more generally. He has fought a number of judicial reviews on Article 8 grounds.

Joseph Middleton works closely with corporate immigration specialists and higher education institutions, and maintains a human rights-focused extradition and asylum practice. He is identified as "very much up and coming" by his peers, and is described by clients as being "very good in court."

John Walsh is respected for his expertise in matters with an EU dimension and for his specialist understanding of the Ankara agreement. He is described as "very good, particularly on deportation cases." Stablemate Alasdair MacKenzie "has got a great brain," according to one source. "He is very committed to tackling injustice and is always there to give a legal opinion." Also recommended, Alison Pickup is "unbelievably hard-working and very approachable." She is frequently instructed in the Upper Tribunal and has worked with senior immigration silks in the Supreme Court. She has been involved in cases raising important issues on the detention of HIV-positive asylum seekers and the conditions under which an individual responsible for crimes against humanity can be returned to a country where there will be an Article 3 breach. Her set is also home to David Lemer, who regularly represents clients, from unaccompanied asylum seekers to educational institutions, in the tribunal system and before the higher courts.

THE SET The small but potent team of immigration-focused practitioners at Matrix Chambers punches significantly above its weight. At any one time members are involved in internationally significant cases at the ECHR, or to be found litigating points in the higher courts that often impact on deportation and detention policies in the UK. The barristers here can draw upon a wealth of human rights knowledge and they win respect whether they be silks or juniors. 

SILKS Raza Husain QC is a counsel engaged in high-profile, law-changing matters. He appeared in the case of Al-Skeini, which determined that UK soldiers serving in Iraq were under the jurisdiction of the UK and thus bound by human rights law. In Othman, he established that deportation could breach Article 6, the right to a fair trial. In Saeedi, he acted for the UNHCR in its first ever intervention against a member state in the ECJ. His involvement in such matters leads commentators to say that "he is in an utterly different league" to most other barristers in the field.

JUNIORS Nicholas Armstrong's immigration practice deals heavily with cases looking at the grounds for deportation and immigration detention. He specialises in fighting instances of discrimination and challenging exposure to poor detention conditions. Instructing solicitors deem him to be "absolutely excellent."

Samantha Knights has regularly appeared in the Supreme Court and the European courts in cases where important questions relating to the scope of Dublin II and the Refugee Convention have been asked. She is described by her peers as "very, very good."

THE SET Junior members of Thirty Nine Essex Street routinely serve on the Attorney General's panels of preferred counsel, and the government calls upon the set's silks to defend appeals against immigration rulings in the higher courts and Europe. Counsel are instructed as special advocates in closed hearings, and successfully defend challenges on human rights and public law grounds. Peers respect the set's presence in this area and indicate that "a number of their counsel are often involved in the big matters in immigration."

SILKS Steven Kovats QC has a long track record of litigation at the highest level, and has frequently represented the State in the Supreme Court and the European courts. He maintains a strong tribunal-based practice, and has recently been working on cases concerning the treatment of unaccompanied child asylum seekers, denial of bail for those awaiting deportation and national security. 

Lisa Giovannetti QC undertakes appeal work at the highest level, and is considered "the go-to silk if ever the Secretary of State has a difficult case." She was recently instructed by the government to intervene in the case of MSS v Belgium & Greece. This case raised an important tension between Article 3 of the convention and the responsibilities of states under Dublin II. 

Eleanor Grey QC is a public law and immigration specialist. Her peers recommend her oral advocacy and concise preparation. She has recently been instructed by the state in cases which have contributed to country guidance on Zimbabwe.

JUNIORS Rory Dunlop has developed a broad immigration practice, working across the claimant/defendant divide and acting on behalf of businesses, educational institutions, individuals and the State. He is described as "very good - he's precise, fast and user-friendly."

THE SET At Tooks Chambers, public law and human rights expertise drives a well-regarded, claimant-focused immigration practice. Respected immigration solicitors highlight Tooks' immigration capability, citing the set's "really, really good" practitioners. The counsel here have experience of working with leading human rights NGOs, and regularly tackle deportation matters and important public law cases regarding the workings of the tribunals.

SILKS Hugh Southey QC is frequently instructed as a special advocate in closed hearings, and has recently led public law challenges to the powers of deportation escorts, and the compatibility of immigration bail hearings with Article 6. "He is really outstanding" and "thoroughly deserves his high reputation," according to solicitors. 

JUNIORS Immigration is at the core of Rebecca Chapman's practice. She is particularly interested in domestic violence and trafficking in the context of immigration law. "She really stands out" according to one source, and is valued for her strategic approach when litigating cases against the Home Office.

Amanda Weston has expertise in cases concerning exclusion and refusal of naturalisation on national security grounds, and has recently been instructed in the Court of Appeal. Instructing solicitors praise her intellect and "ability to always get a very good result."

Immigration and asylum specialist Glen Hodgetts is recommended by solicitors, who say that when you instruct him "you feel as though you have someone on board who you can make decisions with and who can add value." He is recommended along with Abigail Smith, who "is fantastic" according to one source. She is regularly instructed on immigration and asylum cases at first instance in the tribunals and on appeal in the higher courts. 

THE SET 1 Pump Court is "definitely on the rise," according to peers at the Immigration Bar. Human rights-driven immigration, from first instance to the ECHR, is the key focus of this group of widely respected juniors. Counsel at the set have conducted important work on Dublin II and have had particular success with Article 8 arguments.

JUNIORS David Chirico was unanimously praised to researchers by an impressive number of leading claimant solicitors. His commitment to his clients and to the field of immigration law is total. His intellect, determination and work rate mean that "once you instruct him you want him on as many cases as possible."

Parosha Chandran's work has important implications for the handling of asylum appeals of trafficked women and HIV-positive individuals. She is praised for her creative thinking and work ethic, and enjoys strong market approval along with Ranjiv Khubber, who specialises in public law challenges to immigration decisions. His work in the cases of Moussaoui and OM contested the detention of asylum seekers suffering from mental health problems. He is described as "right on it every single time - he's great." Others to impress here include Doron Blum, who is a fee-paid immigration judge and an experienced practitioner in this area. He has successfully resisted the deportation of investors, asylum seekers and criminals, using public law and human rights arguments.

THE SET Claimant-focused Lamb Building merged with Mitre House Chambers in January 2012. This move is seen by the market as having led to "an important strengthening of Lamb Building's immigration team." Barristers here are experts on immigration detention, nationality, access to public services and deportation appeals.

JUNIORS Eric Fripp has a track record of successful appeals in the higher courts and has a particular interest in nationality law. He recently appeared for the appellant in ST (Eritrea) in the Supreme Court.

Victoria Laughton maintains a broad practice and is regularly instructed on human rights-based asylum appeals and business immigration matters.

THE SET Renaissance Chambers is growing in stature in the immigration and asylum field. Instructing solicitors refer to the set for its human rights expertise, "especially when considering difficult cases."  

JUNIORS Shivani Jegarajah is recommended for her work on children-based human rights applications, and appears frequently for claimants in judicial reviews in the higher courts. She has carried out interesting work surrounding the political implications of deportations to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and is praised by her clients for her commitment, pragmatism and creative thinking.

Colin Yeo is an "excellent" barrister, who is rated highly by instructing solicitors. He is acknowledged by the immigration practitioners' community not only for the casework he undertakes but also because of the widely read 'Free Movement' blog he produces.