Garden Court Chambers is praised as ‘the go-to set for quality advice and representation in immigration law‘. The set fields expertise in the full range of claimant-side immigration work including asylum and international protection, human rights, trafficking, family and children and business immigration, including appearing in front of all courts such as the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Multiple barristers have notable capabilities handling national security cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. Sonali Naik KC led Mark Symes, Eva Doerr, Isaac Ricca-Richardson, Adrian Berry and Ella Gunn in AAA and others v SSHD, the high-profile challenge to the previous government’s policy of transferring irregular arrivals to Rwanda, in which Ali Bandegani and Raza Halim were also involved in separate teams. Stephanie Harrison KC, Gordon Lee and Alex Schymyck were recently involved in the Brook House Inquiry looking into the mistreatment and abuse of detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. With extensive experience in cases relating to the Afghanistan Relocation and Assistance Programme, Nicola Braganza KC and Maria Moodie acted for a senior Supreme Court judge (prior to the Taliban’s takeover of the country) in Afghanistan in a judicial review of the refusal to grant settlement under the scheme, and Duran Seddon KC is also active in this space. Gemma Loughran, as was, is now an Upper Tribunal judge.

The well-regarded immigration team at 39 Essex Chambers has expertise in broad range of immigration appeals and judicial reviews, and ‘especially those at the cutting edge of immigration policy‘. Notable for representing both claimants and the Home Office, the set appears in all courts including the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union, and with members such as Charlie Cory-Wright KC – notable for his activity as a security-cleared special advocate – sought-after in cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. Members like Lisa Giovannetti KC are regularly instructed by the government in immigration test cases, and Alan Payne KC recently acted for the Secretary of State in a case involving the obligation to consult and addressed a policy challenge that, as a result, impacted on the payments owed to thousands of trafficking victims. Rory Dunlop KC led the government side in R3 v SSHD, the leading case on the territorial scope of Article 8 ECHR in immigration cases, whilst Katherine Apps KC was instructed by the SSHD in a case concerning the principles that can be used to challenge refusals of citizenship.

Praised as an ‘extremely strong set for public law work‘, the immigration barristers at Blackstone Chambers are frequently involved in high-profile and complex immigration cases, and are particularly well-placed for work at the intersection of immigration, human rights and public law. Multiple members of chambers were highly involved in the litigation surrounding the ill-fated Rwanda policy, with James Eadie KC and Lord Pannick KC acting for the Home Secretary in AAA v SSHD, Jason Pobjoy acting as lead junior in the case representing eleven lead refugee claimants and Charlotte Kilroy representing a claimant charity. Naina Patel recently represented six Afghan claimants in a challenge to the UK government’s ending of a policy of using bridging hotels to accommodate individuals eligible for resettlement under the ARAP scheme upon arrival in the UK.

Doughty Street Chambers has expertise in the full range of immigration, nationality and asylum law with a broad range of sub-specialisms, including business immigration, national security, detention, trafficking and EU settlement issues. Described as ‘fast becoming a go-to set for immigration and asylum work‘, members act for a diverse range of individuals, charities, transitional organisations and companies, and appear before all levels of the court system, including specialist immigration tribunals. Laura Dubinsky KC was lead counsel for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Rwanda litigation, supported by Agata Patyna, whilst Alasdair Mackenzie and Michelle Knorr were instructed in the case as part of other teams. Adam Straw KC, a Special Advocate in national security cases, has been involved in a number of judicial review and SIAC claims relating to Afghan nationals seeking relocation under ARAP, and David Lemer, who is also a Special Advocate, regularly appears before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and on appeal in national security cases. Other notable members are Joe Middleton KC, sought after for his specialism in business immigration, Shu Shin Luh and Simon Cox. Anthony Vaughan was elected Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe in the 2024 general election.

Landmark Chambers fields extensive knowledge and experience in a broad range of immigration matters. Members of the set act for both claimants, intervening NGOs and the government, and appear at all levels of the appellate system. David Blundell recently led Julia Smyth in R (Roehrig) v SSHD in a defining case of whether a child born to an EU citizen exercising treaty rights automatically acquires British citizenship. Samantha Broadfoot KC is a key name for systemic challenges in immigration law, whilst Tim Buley KC acted for an intervening charity in the case R (AAA) (Syria) v SSHD concerning the Rwanda plan at the Court of Appeal. Alex Goodman KC appeared in the judicial review of the opening and operation of Derwentside IRC, the sole all-female immigration detention centre in the UK, and was supported by Miranda Butler.

A ‘first-class set‘, Matrix Chambers has extensive expertise in all areas of immigration and asylum law, with particular emphasis on complex and sensitive claims, as well as cases concerning national security issues before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. Raza Husain KC acted in R (AAA) v SSHD, the judicial review claim challenging the SSHD’s policy of removing asylum seekers to Rwanda. Nick Armstrong KC is a key member for detention cases, and Chris Buttler is sought after for his expertise in cases regarding human trafficking. Samantha Knights KC and Ayesha Christie represented Shamima Begum in the challenge of the deprivation of her British nationality before the SIAC and Court of Appeal, in which Jonathan Glasson KC was instructed by the Government. Hugh Southey KC is also active in this space.

The ‘brilliant‘ immigration barristers at Goldsmith Chambers have extensive experience in all aspects of immigration law. Members regularly appear before all levels of the court and tribunal system, and are particularly strong in cases that involve a cross-over element with practice areas such as family and criminal law. Anthony Metzer KC has been leading Sanaz Saifolahi in a number of immigration cases representing EU/EEA clients, including the novel case Gentjan Hasanaj v SSHD concerning the interpretation of ‘facilitation of residence’. Charlotte Bayati is experienced representing victims of gender-based violence, and Julian Norman has particular expertise in Ukrainian asylum claims. Sarah Pinder, as was, was appointed as a Judge of the Upper Tribunal in June 2024.

Praised for its ‘impressive, dedicated and very experienced immigration group‘, No5 Barristers Chambers has a group of highly specialised immigration practitioners who regularly appear before every domestic court, as well as the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights. Manjit Singh Gill KC recently acted in the high-profile judicial review of the Government’s Rwanda Policy. Benjamin Hawkin led Jessica Smeaton  in Halil Celik v SSHD concerning the Home Office’s interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement in relation to spouses of EU nationals who were not married before 31st of December 2020. Another recent work highlight includes Philip Rule KC leading David Gardner in a judicial review of the Home Secretary’s systems for providing adequate accommodation to pregnant and new mother asylum seekers.

One Pump Court is ‘a very strong set in immigration’ and has expertise in all aspects of immigration, asylum and deportation cases, with sub-specialisms in areas such as gender-related persecution, trafficking, bail, unlawful detention, business immigration and protection claims. 2024 silk David Chirico KC and Benjamin Bundock were instructed by the UNHCR in R (AAA and others) v SSHD, the challenge to the government’s Rwanda Policy, in which Angelina Nicolaou was instructed as part of a separate claimant team. Victoria Laughton is a notable member for her specialism in immigration detention cases, and Emma Daykin has extensive experience with judicial review cases relating to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.