No.8 Immigration & Human Rights Team
No.8 Chambers has the largest Immigration and Human Rights Teams outside London. We have a long history of association with the fields of Immigration and Asylum work. Current and former members of Chambers hold judicial appointments in the Immigration Appellate Authority and the Tribunal and now in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.
"No 8 Chambers provides valuable expertise across immigration and asylum matters. The set is noted for its excellent track record in complex cases involving countries across the Middle East and Africa. Barristers from the chambers frequently appear before tribunals but have also tackled cases at all levels of the judicial system, including the High Court and Court of Appeal." ---- cited by Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2021-22.Chambers provide regular Immigration Law updates on a 
resource channel.
Mark Jackson
MA, LLB (Hons), BSc (Hons); Dip Social Learning Theory & Practice; Dip. Child Care Law & Practice; Cert. Social Service; Cert. Social Care
Mark was called to the Bar in 1997. He is Head of Chambers and is a specialist criminal practitioner.
He has extensive trial experience including serious fraud and money laundering cases, associated confiscation proceedings, cases concerned with drugs importation and the evasion of duty and cases involving serious violence and sexual offences including rape and allegations of child sexual abuse.
He has particular expertise and experience in relation to commercial, company and Revenue and Customs fraud prosecutions and Money Laundering cases having defended in cases prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and is able to provide advice and representation in relation to the seizure, forfeiture, restraint, confiscation and recovery of assets in both criminal and civil recovery.
Mark specialises in regulatory law, including Fire Safety Law, Trading Law, Food Safety, Health and Safety, Environmental and Planning prosecutions and Licensing including Taxi Licensing.
He has acted on behalf of members of the armed forces and the police and is an accredited High Cost Case panel advocate. He is regularly instructed to advise and act on behalf of Local Authority Regulators and the Fire and Rescue Authorities.
He is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers. Mark is authorised by the General Council of the Bar to take instructions on a Direct/Public Access basis.
Hamza Ahmed
LLB (Hons) Call 2019 (Lincoln's Inn)
Upon successfully completing his pupillage, Hamza’s early career focused on employment law, his practice now extends across various areas namely, crime, immigration, family, and general civil law disputes.
As Counsel, Hamza has regularly appeared before the Employment Tribunal, in addition to appearing before the High Court, Crown Court, County and Magistrates Court.
Hamza’s experience includes:
- Successfully obtaining judgment acting for an employee at a three-day hearing in the ET concerning (1) automatic unfair dismissal, (2) direct sex discrimination and (3) unauthorised deduction from wages (including remedy hearing).
- Appearing in the High Court of Justice for a director in injunction proceedings, concerning trespass of commercial property.
- Successfully securing acquittal for client charged with §.84 and §.89(1) of the RTRA 1984 and §.172 of the RTA 1998 before the Magistrates Court.
- Successfully appealing on both elements of appeal against decision made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at the FTT Social Entitlement Chambers.
- Successfully obtaining judgement in the ET acting for a wholesale food company to reject and strike out claims on the grounds of failure to comply with the Tribunal Rules.
- Appearing on behalf of Claimants or Respondents in relation to interim applications and preliminary hearings.
Hamza is keen to develop his practice further and welcomes all enquiries.
Practice Groups
Crime, Civil, Family, Immigration & Human Rights
Direct Access
In suitable cases, Hamza is able to undertake public access work.
Interests
Outside of law, Hamza is a keen cricketer, having represented University of Oxford Blues team, Oxford MCCU and Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
Lord Thomas of Gresford OBE QC
Call 1968 QC 1979
Martin Thomas is one of the most respected and experienced QCs in England and Wales. His practice has involved him in more than 250 homicide trials and appeals in England and Wales, including significant courts martial, the most prominent of which was the Baha Mousa case.
Lord Thomas has appeared in terrorist cases both prosecuting and defending, the most notorious being the 'Brighton Bomb' case. He has been counsel in many appeals and applications to the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords. In the Privy Council, he has appeared in cases from Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei and the Caribbean. His career has taken him frequently to Hong Kong on both criminal and civil matters. He has appeared in Malaysian courts in connection with the Carrian fraud case from Hong Kong on behalf of Lorrain Osman, following a long series of habeas corpus and judicial review applications in the UK on extradition issues.
He defended libel actions in Singapore brought by Lee Kwan Yu against the then leader of the Workers' Party, Ben Jeyaretnam. In the Carribean, he has appeared in the Trinidad Court of Appeal. His wide experience in civil litigation, mainly in personal injury cases, was recognized by his appointment to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in 1985, a position from which he resigned on the introduction of the tariff system. In Wales, he has been instructed in a number of Statutory Inquiries ranging from road construction to proposals for the drowning of the Dulas Valley and the digging for gold in the Mawddach Estuary.
Lord Thomas has had a long and illustrious political career where he was made a Life Peer in 1996. He is a spokesman on Welsh Affairs and on Home Affairs (Specifically Criminal Justice Reforms, including anti-terrorism).
Lord Thomas's interests are Welsh affairs, law reform (criminal justice, human rights), Far Eastern affairs (Hong Kong and China), sport, rugby, where he is a WRU coach and referee, rowing (Captain House of Lords Eight), hill climbing, fishing, golf, scuba diving and music and music making.
Areas of Practice
Civil Law, Criminal Law, The Court Martial, Fraud and White-Collar Crime, Homicide, Gang-related offences
Qualifications
Cambridge. MA, LLB (Classics and Law)
Appointments
Recorder of the Crown Court 1976-2002
Deputy High Court Judge 1985-2009
Bencher: Grays Inn 1991
Member, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board 1985-1993
Advisor to East Asia Institute, University of Cambridge 1998-2002 and Patron of China Law Conferences, Cambridge, 1998-2001
Shadow Attorney General 2003-2006
Shadow Lord Chancellor and Law Officers 2006-2007
Shadow Attorney General 2007-2010
Chairman, Association of Military Advocates (Current)
Memberships
Gray's Inn, LCLCBA
Notable Cases
Chief Constable of North Wales v Evans [1982] 1 WLR 1155 HL, Judicial Review of decision to dismiss probationary constable: appropriate remedy.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner v Caldwell [1982] AC 341 HL, Arson with intent to endanger life; whether intoxication a defence to element of intention.
Wills v Bowley [1983] 1 AC 57 HL, Police power of arrest; constable may arrest where honest belief that an arrest has been committed.
Regina v Hancock and Shankland [1986] AC 455 HL, Homicide; murder convictions reduced to manslaughter; distinction between causal connection between defendants' acts and death and foreseeablity.
Regina v Court [1989] AC 28 HL, Indecent assault; section 14 of Sexual Offences Act 1956; prosecution must prove that right-minded people would think the assault indecent; evidence of secret intention admissible.
Jeyaretnam v Law Society of Singapore [1989] AC 608 PC, Solicitor also officer in Singapore political party; convicted of misappropriation of donations to the party to pay costs of related unsuccessful actions; solicitor struck off roll; donation cheques altered voluntarily by donors - cheques not property of the party - convictions quashed; solicitor restored to roll.
Somchai Liangsiriprasert [1991] AC 225 PC, Conspiracy in Thailand to import heroin to USA; drug trafficking offences; defendant arrested in Hong Kong. Whether acts subject to extradition from Hong Kong.
Hui Chi Ming v The Queen [1992] 1 AC 34 PC, Defendant convicted of murder as a joint enterprise with another, who had killed the victim, and at an earlier trial had been convicted only of manslaughter. Evidence of manslaughter conviction properly excluded at defendant's trial.
A-G of Hong Kong v Lee Kwong-kut [1993] AC 951 PC, Right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law; Ordinance providing that previous legislation inconsistent with principle deemed repealed. Requirement that accused "give an account ... how he came by" stolen goods inconsistent and repealed. Provisions for statutory defences in drug trafficking legislation not inconsistent.
Chan Wai-keung v The Queen [1995] 1 WLR 251 PC, Homicide; material prosecution witness giving evidence in expectation of reduced sentence for unrelated offence. Witness received reduced sentence; defendant convicted. Conviction upheld because jury properly warned as to unreliability of witness's evidence.
Mills v The Queen [1995] 1 WLR 511 PC, Homicide; directions regarding identification evidence, alibi evidence, and dying victim's accusation. Convictions upheld.
Wu Chun-piu v The Queen [1996] 1 WLR 1113 PC, Defendant and co-defendant convicted of robbery and firearms offences; defendant's counsel in mitigation refers to probation report which includes admissions, and expresses defendant's remorse for offence. Co-defendant's conviction overturned form inadequate direction on identification evidence; co-defendant acquitted on retrial. Defendant's application to appeal out of time on same grounds rejected because of admissions. Privy Council allows appeal and grants leave to appeal out of time.
Luc Thiet Thuan v The Queen [1997] AC 131 PC, Homicide; provocation; whether mental disability affecting defendant's self-control relevant to degree of provocation; held not relevant to the ordinary person, the "reasonable man" for the purpose of establishing the defence of provocation.
Regina v Martin [1998] AC 917 HL, Civilian son of serving soldier is subject to military law. Juvenile son of corporal charged with murder. No abuse of process in trying him by court-martial in Germany.
Regina v Spear [2003] 1 AC 734 HL, No breach of Article 6 right to a fair trial in trying by court-martial offences against the ordinary law of the land; no such breach by reason of the fact that courts-martial presided over by permanent president.
Cases
Regina v Burnett (9 November 2009),
Daniel Janner QC
Call 1980 QC 2002
“Provides excellent first instance and appellate advocacy... Has excellent rapport with juries....First rate legal acumen and particularly fine drafting.” Legal 500 Directory.
High profile cases include:
The Heysel Stadium football extraditions; The Knightsbridge Safety Deposit box robbery; Oyston and Martin rape trials; French student murder trial; “Happy slap” murder trial; London City Bond fraud trial; Gouldbourne Cayman Islands murder; McGrath [Preston politician] money laundering; Cleeve Prior missing body murder; Lord of Fraud, Rodley trials.
His appellate work includes appeals against conviction relating to bad character, defective summing up; and jury interference. He has been an editor of the Criminal Appeal Reports since 1994 and is chairman of Sweet and Maxwell’s Criminal Appeals annual conference.
His advisory work has included advising a major public school faced with blackmail; an MP in the expenses scandal; A State Governor of Nigeria regarding immunity from prosecution.
Daniel has been called to the Cayman Islands Bar and has been instructed by the International Criminal Court as a member of its panel of defence advocates.
He is qualified to accept instructions directly from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access scheme; and he is an accredited mediator.
Daniel was President of the Cambridge Union Society and was awarded Dr Cooper’s Law scholarship at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was a Jules Thorn Scholar of the Middle Temple and is a Bencher of the Middle Temple.
He is a former Parliamentary Candidate, Chairman of school governors and is a trustee of the Cambridge Union Society.
Homicide
Daniel Janner QC is frequently instructed in murder trials, often featuring drugs and firearms. These have involved complex forensic evidence such as death by arson; cell site analysis; anonymous witness and cases of “cut-throat” defences. He has considerable experience representing young defendants charged with murder.
Notable cases include:
Barratt [2012-13]. Multi-handed stabbing murder trial. Complex CCTV expert evidence. Victim was a former European Welter Weight boxing champion. http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1488390_eight-men-arrested-on-suspicion-of-murder-in-connection-with-rochdale-nightclub-stabbing-of-john-lee-barrett.
Jesse Richards murder trial [2012]. Difficult issues arose concerning the gypsy victim whose body could not be found and anonymous identification witnesses. The main prosecution witness was shot during the course of this high security case. http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2012/03/21/jesse-richards-murder-trial-drug-smuggler-pleaded-with-gang-to-spare-his-life-92746-30587789.
Simon Sheen [2009]. Defended a young man charged with the murder of his mother and attempted murder of his two siblings in a house fire. The case involved challenging highly complex forensic evidence as to the cause of the fire. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/coventry-man-jailed-for-starting-killer-246228
Shosanya [2008]. prosecuted defendant who murdered a French student.
Chuong Nguyen [2007]. Vietnamese contract killer trial featured on Crimewatch.
Gouldbourne [2007]. Cayman Islands diminished responsibility murder trial. Defendant stabbed and shot his girlfriend. Daniel appealed the conviction to the Privy Council. http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1014013
South bank “Happy Slap” Murder trial [2006]. Daniel represented a 16 year old in murder of survivor of Soho pub bombing case. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/dec/15/ukcrime.sandralaville
Chaplin murder trial [2006] Daniel represented a 15 year old girl charged with murder of a friend’s boyfriend.
Brima, identification murder trial. 16 year old defendant, street stabbing. [2006] EWCA Crim 408.
Ogier [2004] Ascot Racecourse murder trial.
Fraud and Financial crime
Daniel Janner has appeared in numerous complex and serious fraud trials, often representing professionals [including solicitors, accountants and financial advisers].
Notable cases include:
The “Lord of Fraud” Rodley bank and boiler room fraud trials [2009 and 2012], involving over £200 million. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2171543/Self-styled-Lord-Hugh-Rodley-guilty-targeting-600-pensioners-6million-suck-lists-scam.html.
Gillespie [2011]. This was the largest counterfeit medicines prosecution in Europe involving several million pounds. The prosecution described it as “the most serious breach of the medicines control regime in the EU with far reaching consequences for the pharmaceutical companies, the control mechanism, patients and the confidence of the general public”. Daniel represented first on the indictment and main defendant. Leave to appeal was granted to appeal the ruling on bad character. The appeal was heard in December 2011 before Elias LJ. [2011] EWCA Crim 3152. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-13020208.
Darienzo; [2011] Operation Erasure. £20 million VAT fraud. Multi-handed complex serious fraud trial lasting 4 months.
Cotton [2011] Daniel represented a financial advisor charged with a long-term and involved Ponzi type fraud.
McGrath [2010]. The defendant was a former Preston politician and well known businessman who had been acquitted for serious fraud in the 1990s. He had been represented by Daniel during those cases. In 2010, Daniel represented him in respect of laundering the proceeds of drugs money. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/7309305/Ex-councillor-guilty-of-laundering-drugs-cash.html.
Peacock [2007-2010]. Daniel represented an accountant charged with money laundering and a mortgage fraud in three successive trials. Twice leave was granted to appeal convictions to the Court of Appeal on the basis of unfair summing-up. [2010] EWCA Crim 1746. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/the-final-chapter-in-a-seedy-story-of-lust-and-money-1-2284740
Shah [2010]. Daniel represented a solicitor on a multi-million mortgage fraud.
Issitt [2007] Operation Divert. £85 million carousel fraud trial. One of the largest ever frauds of its kind prosecuted in this country. The trial lasted several months in Liverpool.
Daniel appeared for one of the main defendants in the notorious London City bond trial. Liverpool Crown Court 2002. The case was stayed following three month abuse of process hearing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/feb/09/ukcrime
Serious crime [including sexual offences, drugs, blackmail, kidnapping]
McDonnell [2008]. This was a blackmail and kidnapping case involving the abduction of a co-conspirator in a fraud.
Kevin O’Dowd [2004]. Daniel was court appointed cross-examiner in this rape trial.
Lawson and others [2003/4]. Daniel prosecuted a multi-handed drugs trial. The Court of Appeal considered the judge’s mistake in referring to inadmissible evidence in his summing-up. [2005] EWCA Crim 605.
Briggs-Price [2003]. Daniel defended in one of the largest and most difficult drugs investigations in the East Midlands. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/4255237.stm
Smith [2002] Aylesbury Crown Court. Child sex abuse ring trial.
Police civil actions
Daniel has acted for both Claimants and defendants in actions involving malicious prosecution, false imprisonment and assault.
In 2010 he acted for the Claimant arising out of arrests in the Reading child murder trial.
Reported decisions include:
Elguzouli‐Daf v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [1995] 1 WLR 9 (CPS immunity from actions in negligence)
Preston Borough Council v McGrath TLR 19th May 2000; ILR 19th May 2000 (disclosure by police of material obtained in criminal proceedings and released to third parties for use in subsequent civil proceedings)
Darker and others v Chief Constable of West Midlands [House of Lords 2000] 3 WLR 747 (police immunity for acts as law enforcers or investigators)
Joakim v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis LTL 14th April 1997 (police negligence)
Disciplinary and regulatory
Daniel has acted in police disciplinary tribunals and solicitor regulatory hearings.
Reported cases include:
Barnett JJ, ex p. Wood [1992] Cr.L.R. 312 (procedure at committal proceedings)
R v Chief Constable of Lancashire, ex p. Parker [1993] 97 Cr.App.R. 90 (police search procedures)
R v Bromley JJ, ex p. Smith and Wilkins [1995] 2 Cr.App.R. 90 (disclosure principles)
R v Warley JJ, ex p. DPP [1999] 1 WLR 216 (new procedure on committal for sentence to the Crown Court)
R v Worcester Crown Court ex p. Norman [2000] 3All ER 267 (custody time limits)
R v McCadden and others [2002] (construction of time limit regulations)
R v Fehily and others TLR 18th July 2002 (interpretation of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Service of Prosecution Evidence) Regulations 2000)
Watson v Council of Licensed Conveyances’ The Times, 16th June 2000
Brabazon‐Drenning v UK Central Council for Nursing and Midwifery and Health Visiting, LTL 4th January 2001 (first challenge under Article 6 of ECHR of a nursing disciplinary Hearing).
Kaupaitis v The Prosecutor General’s office, the Republic of Lithuania [2006] EWHC 2185 (Admin), extradition and judicial review proceedings
Stephen Vokes
BA (Hons) University of Wales
Call 1989
Stephen Vokes is, and has been for a number of years, rated leading junior Counsel in the Midlands in the areas of Immigration and Asylum work according to Chambers and Partners Guide to the Legal Profession.
He practices exclusively in this field, and has done so for over 30 years, and appears regularly in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Stephen has represented Appellant's in the leading Country Guidance cases in respect of Afghanistan, Sudan, Uzbekistan and also Iranian Christians and Afghani women.
Recent work includes the latest Country Guidance cases by the Upper Tribunal on Afghanistan (AK (Article 15 (c)) Afghanistan CG [2012] UKUT 163 (IAC)) and Uzbekistan (LM (returnees-expired exit permit) Uzbekistan CG [2012] 390 (IAC);
Patel (AKA Ravel) R (on the application of) SSHD (IJR) [2015] UKUT 95 (IAC);
IM & AI (Risks - membership of Beja Tribe, Beja Congress and JEM:Sudan) GG [2016] UKUT 188 (IAC).
Stephen appeared for the person whose refugee status was being revoked in the leading case on the cessation of refugee status SSHD v MS (Somalia) 2019 EWCA Civ 1345.
Practice Groups
Immigration & Human Rights
Reported Cases
R (Rusdi Mohammed) v An Adjudicator, The Times 12th December 2002
Skanderaj v SSHD [2003] 4 AllER 555
R (Bosombangwa) v IAT [2004] EWCA 1656 Admin
FS & Others v SSHD (Iran-Christian converts) CG Iran [2004] UKIAT 00303
NS v SSHD (Social Group - Women - Forced Marriage) CG Afghanistan [2004] UKIAT 00328
B2 DR (Risk-Political Journalist) Iran CG [2002] UKAIT 06452
Nhengu v SSHD [2004] EWCA Civ 298. Link to case here.
OS (10 years' lawful residence) Hong Kong [2006] UKIAT 00031
R (Yusuf & Others) v SSHD [2006] EWHC [Admin] 3513
ZH (Afghanistan) v SSHD [2009] EWCA Civ 470
EM (Zimbabwe) v SSHD [2009] EWCA Civ 1006
AK (Article 15 ( c)) Afghanistan CG [2012] UKUT 163 (IAC)
LM (returnees-expired exit permit) Uzbekistan CG [2012] 390 (IAC)
Patel (AKA Ravel) R (on the application of) v SSHD (IJR) [2015] UKUT 95 (IAC)
IM and AI (Risks-membership of Benjamin Tribe, Beja Congress, and JEM; Sudan) CG [2016]
MS (Art. 1C (5) Mogadishu) v SSHD [2018] UKUT 196 (IAC)
SSHD v MS (Somalia) [2019] EWCA CIV 1345
Membership of Professional Organisations
Immigration Law Practitioners' Association
Gary Cook
BEd (Hons) 1st class
Call 1989
Gary is a vastly experienced advocate in Criminal cases. He also practices in regulatory law.
Gary undertakes Inquest work on behalf of interested parties and FSA hearings.
Practice Groups
Crime
Membership of Professional Organisations
Criminal Bar Association
Davinder Dhaliwal
LLB Law & Politics (Hons), Deputy District Judge (Civil, family and financial remedy)
Introduction
Davinder Dhaliwal is a busy and respected specialist family law barrister who is routinely instructed in complex and sensitive proceedings covering both financial and children’s issues particularly where there is an international element.
She brings a wealth of specialist knowledge to her FRC practice and is regularly instructed in both public and private law cases. Davinder has a strong reputation as a robust and skilled advocate. She is committed to assisting her clients to achieve the best outcomes. She has a strong track record as a “problem solver” who is experienced and knowledgeable with a calm and effective approach. She remains focused on social justice and the best outcomes for children, applying her cross-jurisdictional immigration law.
Expertise
- Financial remedies
- Care and placement orders (children: public law) in issues of neglect, serious abuse, significant injuries, especially where there are parallel proceedings
- Private law children matters and Domestic Abuse, particularly where there are allegations of Honour-Based Violence and forced marriage
- Recognition of foreign marriages and divorces
- Non-marriage and nullity/declaration of the validity of marriage
- Injunctions pursuant to the FLA 1996 and MCA 1973
- Forced Marriage Protection Orders
- FGM Protection Orders
- Court of Protection
- PII
- Written Opinions on the Validity of Overseas Marriage
- Cohabitation claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Schedule 1 Children Act 1989
- Drafting pre/post nuptial Marital Agreements
Children (Public law)
Davinder is instructed by parents, local authorities, children’s guardians and interveners/connected persons in complex care and placement proceedings where there are issues of neglect, serious abuse, significant injuries , especially where there are parallel criminal proceedings or an international perspective. She represents vulnerable clients with mental health or learning difficulties.
Financial Finance and Remedies
Davinder is a specialist in all financial claims arising from the breakdown of a family relationship either in marriage/civil partnership or property disputes between cohabiting couple in Trusts of Land Act matters. Her practice involves a wide spectrum of matrimonial assets, disputed Trusts and business structures or matrimonial assets abroad or determining third party beneficial interests. She is regularly instructed when there are allegations of dissipating matrimonial assets.
Children (private law)
She covers all aspects including child arrangement orders after separation where there are allegations of domestic abuse (sexual, physical or financial) especially in the context of a Fact Finding Hearing or intractable disputes. Specific issues applications on change of name, school or medical treatment. Declaration of parentage. Application for removal of children from the jurisdiction (both temporary and permanent) and wardship. Child abduction cases involving both Hague Convention and non-Convention countries.
Voluntary Work
Davinder has been a Board Member with voluntary sector organisations assisting women and children experiencing domestic abuse. She lectures and provides training seminars to lawyers and community groups on domestic violence, childcare law, forced marriages and human rights. She been invited as a guest speaker to a number of universities and has been a Mentor.
Davinder is available to accept instructions as a private FDR Judge.
Practice Groups
Family, Immigration & Human Rights
Membership of Professional Organisations
Middle Temple
WMFLBA
Midland Circuit
Middle Temple Chambers Representative
Languages
Punjabi
Alison Scott-Jones
LLB (Hons)
Call 1991
Alison Scott-Jones has a particular focus on family and crime matters.
Practice Groups
Family, Crime
Membership of Professional Organisations
Criminal Bar Association
Family Law Bar Association
Interests
Horse Riding
Philip Brunt
BSc Econ (Hons), Diploma in Law
Call 1991
Philip Brunt has practised at the Birmingham Bar since 1993 and joined No.8 Chambers in 2006.
He prosecutes and defends all kinds of criminal cases, and has a varied civil practice as well.
On the civil side he has a particular interest in Employment, Planning and VAT cases.
Practice Groups
Civil, Crime
Reported cases
R v Shillam [2013] EWCA Crim 160
R v Hussain [2013] All ER (D) 125
R v B (JJ), Times, May 8, 2012
R v Twist & Others [2011] EWCA Crim 1143
R v RGB [2009] EWCA Crim 906
Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Zielinski Baker & Partners Ltd [2004] UKHL7, [2004] 1 WLR 707, [2004] 2 All ER 14
R. v C (A Juvenile) (Persistent Offender) [2001] 1 Cr App R (S) 120
Robert Cowley
LLB (Hons)
Call 1992
Robert Cowley has a particular focus on crime matters. He also practices in regulatory law.
Practice Groups
Crime
Membership of Professional Organisations
Criminal Bar Association
Naomi Hobbs
LLB (Hons)
Call 1992
Naomi has been a practicing Barrister called to the Bar in 1992. She specialises in Family and Immigration law. In particular Naomi has developed a practice in which she has gained considerable experience in all jurisdictions including the High Court and Appeal cases.
Naomi's practice includes Care Proceedings, cases involving children being removed from the jurisdiction to non-Hague Convention countries, Private Law and Domestic Violence cases.
Naomi is particularly experienced in assisting cients who suffer from mental health difficulties, cases in which same sex relationships may be a feature, discrimination cases and clients who have learning disabilities.
Naomi undertakes work from Local Authorities and private firms in respect of all aspects of her Family Law practice.
Practice Groups
Family, Immigration & Human Rights
Membership of Professional Organisations
Employment Law Bar Association
Family Law Bar Association
Maninder Chagger
LLB (Hons)
Call 1992
Maninder Chaggar is an experienced advocate who has maintained an extremely successful Immigration and Asylum practice dealing with cases in all courts including the AIT, High Court and Court of Appeal. Maninder is willing to advise and represent all clients and has extensive knowledge of most nationalities, and has particular experience in Gender Persecutions.
As well as Human Rights issues Maninder also maintains a Criminal law Practice dealing with both defence and prosecution in both the Crown Courts and Magistrates Courts. Maninder has dealt with many trials including sexual offences, robbery and assault. Maninder is especially good at dealing with cases which have sensitive issues.
Practice Groups
Crime, Immigration
Reported cases
EB (Risk – Return - Ethiopian - Eritrea) Eritrea [2002] UKIAT 06317
Reference link here.
Richard Franck
BA (Hons)
Call 1993
Richard is an experienced advocate in Criminal cases. He defends and prosecutes in the Crown Court and is a Grade 3 prosecutor.
He also practices Immigration Law.
Practice Groups
Crime, Immigration and Human Rights
Membership of Professional Organisations
Criminal Bar Association
Ruth Manning
LLB (Hons)
Call 1993
Ruth practices in all areas of Private and Public Family Law in the Family Court, High Court and Appellate Courts.
She is instructed on behalf of applicant local authorities and respondent parties in care and adoption proceedings.
Ruth also has extensive experience in applications concerning all aspects of Child Arrangement Orders, Occupation and Injunctive proceedings.
Ruth prides herself on providing excellent client care.
Direct Access
Ruth is registered with the Bar Council to undertake direct access work.
Practice Groups
Family and Human Rights.
Appointments.
Ruth was a tutor at the College of Law, Birmingham from April 2008 to January 2010. She taught Civil Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Immigration options based on her previous experience at the Bar.
Membership of Professional Organisations
The Family Law Bar Association
West Midland Family Bar Association
Mohammed Azmi
LLB (Hons)
Call 1998
Practice Groups
Civil, Family, Immigration & Human Rights
Reported cases
DJ (Bantu-not generally at risk) Somalia CG [2005] UKIAT00089
Membership of Professional Organisations
Personal Injury Bar Association
Languages
Hindi and Urdu
Interests
Oil Painting, Wood Sculpting
Saiqa Aslam
LLB (Hons) MSt in Law and Economics University of Oxford
Call 1995
Saiqa was called to the Bar in 1995 and, having accumulated considerable and wide-ranging experience in general civil law, family and immigration over more than two decades, she now has a broad family, immigration and asylum and civil practice.
Practice Groups
Family, Immigration, Civil
Family
Saiqa has a broad family practice encompassing private and public law. She is regularly instructed in cases involving domestic abuse, residence and contact.
Immigration and Asylum
Saiqa has a wide range of experience in Immigration, Nationality and Asylum law. She has a particular interest in Human Rights cases.
Civil
Saiqa has extensive experience of personal injury and road traffic accidents including credit hire. She represents claimants and defendants in small claims trials, fast track trials.
Direct Access
Saiqa is accredited to accept instructions on a public access basis.
Membership of Professional Organisations
Family Law Bar Association
Inner Temple
Languages
Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Adam Pipe
LLB (Hons), LLM (Legal Aspects of Medical Practice), FInstCPD
Call 1999
Adam is experienced in all aspects of immigration and asylum law. He is particularly interested in refugee law. He has appeared at all levels of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and in the Administrative Court and Court of Appeal. In his spare time Adam enjoys reading, especially theology and he teaches on an applied Christian studies course.
In 2016 Adam was part of the Bar Standards Board's Public and Licensed Access Review - Task Completion Group.
Adam is ranked Band 1 for Immigration in the Midlands by Chambers and Partners 2016.
In 2015 Chambers and Partners noted of Adam:
"An immigration specialist with a particular focus on refugee law. He is an experienced advocate."
Expertise: "He is a case law guru who is always very well prepared in front of the Tribunal."
The 2014 edition of Chambers and Partners stated: "An experienced practitioner who regularly advises on immigration and asylum issues. His peers praise his advocacy and the strength of his tribunal work."
Expertise: "He's a good advocate and his paper work is always top quality. He's brilliant with case law."
Practice Groups: Immigration & Human Rights
Reported Cases
B (Zimbabwe) [2004] UKIAT 00076 (23 April 2004)
GK (Return, Sentenced by Former Regime) Serbia and Montenegro [2004] UKIAT 00203 (02 July 2004)
RH (Para 289A/HC395, no discretion) Bangladesh [2006] UKAIT 00043 (18 April 2006)
LM (risks on return) Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) CG [2008] UKAIT 00064 (01 September 2008)
BD (work permit - continous period) Nigeria [2010] UKUT 418 (IAC) (21 October 2010)
AH (India) v SSHD [2012] EWCA Civ 1619
R (on the application of Collin) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] All ER (D) 92 (Jun)
MA (Pakistan) v SSHD [2014] EWCA Civ 163
R (on the application of Chikasha) v Secretary Of State For The Home Department [2014] EWHC 1071 Admin
Gu v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 1634 (Admin)
Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 2968 (Admin). Law Gazette Report.
SS, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (declaratory orders) (IJR) [2015] UKUT 462 (IAC) (28 July 2015)
Ruhumuliza (Article 1F and "undesirable" : Rwanda) [2016] UKUT 284 (IAC) (19 May 2016)
ZMM (Article 15(c)) Libya CG [2017] UKUT 263 (IAC) (28 June 2017)
Secretary of State for the Home Department v Ruhumuliza [2018] EWCA Civ 1178 (23 May 2018)
Mujahid, R (on the application of) v First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and the Secretary of State for the Home Department (refusal of human rights claim) [2020] UKUT 85 (IAC) (25 February 2020)
Professional Memberships
Fellow, Institute of Continuing Professional Development
Justice, Medico-Legal Society
Immigration Law Practitioners' Association
ALBA (the Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association)
Publications
Contributing Editor to Butterworths Immigration Law Service
Contributing Author to Lexis PSL
Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards - Shortlisted for Barrister of the Year 2013, 2014 and 2019.
Listed in Who's Who Legal directory
Direct Access: In suitable cases Adam will undertake public access work.
Interests: Theology, Reading, Cinema
Seminars: Adam regularly conducts seminars in immigration law for MBL Seminars; HJT Training Ltd and The Solicitors Group
Social links to Adam
Adam has an Immigration Law resource channel on
Harleen Masih
LLB (Hons)
Call 1999
Harleen has been a barrister at No. 8 Chambers since December 2008.
Her principal areas of practice are Immigration and Family Law.
Immigration Law
Harleen is experienced in all areas of Immigration and Nationality Law, including:
- Asylum claims and related matters
- Points-based system applications
- EEA applications
- Marriage applications
- Family reunion applications
- Student visas
- Settlement visas
- Applications outside the immigration rules
- Citizenship applications
- Applications for indefinite leave to remain
- Fresh Claims
As well as providing representation at the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tier Tribunal, she has also contributed to seminars on immigration issues. Her work has increasingly involved Human Rights challenges.
Family Law
Harleen’s family practice includes, Injunction Applications, Children Act Proceedings, Care proceedings, Divorce and Matrimonial Finance.
She is qualified to accept Direct Access Instruction.
Emma Rutherford
LLB (Hons)
Call 2002
Emma specialises in immigration, crime and general civil litigation.
She advises and represents in all types of immigration and asylum cases and has an interest in nationality law. She appears frequently before the First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal, including as junior counsel in the recent country guidance case of AK (Article 15(c)) Afghanistan. She is experienced in judicial review work and is instructed in Court of Appeal matters, recently having appeared for one of the Appellants in SS and Others (Zimbabwe). Her experience as a criminal practitioner enables her to be particularly effective in deportation cases. She also has a specific interest in immigration cases with an EEA element.
Emma is in the up and coming category for Immigration in the Midlands in Chambers and Partners 2013.
The 2013 edition of Chambers and Partners observes that Emma has a strong following and maintains a broad immigration and asylum appellant practice.
The 2012 edition of Chambers and Partners observes that the "hard-working" Emma Rutherford has developed a notable immigration practice acting for both claimants and defendants. Clients praise her fighting spirit, saying that "she never gives up."
Emma is an experienced criminal advocate providing advice and representation in all types of criminal cases including sexual offences, drugs offences, offences involving violence and dishonesty. She appears regularly in the Crown Court for both the prosecution and the defence. She has an expertise in representing vulnerable defendants and has experience in acting in cases for Defendants in cases involving issues surrounding fitness to plead.
She is also experienced in representing in driving matters in the Magistrates Court and the Crown Court. In respect of general civil litigation, Emma represents both Claimant and Defendants appearing in cases listed on the small claims track and the fast track.
Practice Groups
Immigration and Human Rights, Crime and Civil
Reported cases
A B (Sudan) CG [2004] UKIAT 00260
AK (Article 15(c)) Afghanistan CG [2012] UKUT 163 (IAC)
SS and Others (Zimbabwe) v SSHD [2013] EWCA Civ 237
Membership of Professional Organisations
Immigration Law Practitioners Association.
Midlands Circuit
Direct Access
In suitable cases Emma will undertake public access work.
Interests
Tennis, Formula One, travel, belly dancing, history and theatre and the arts.
Carol Strongman
LLB (Hons) University of Leeds
Call 2003
Carol Strongman qualified as a solicitor in 1985. She was a partner in private practice and a sole practitioner.
She specialises in family matters relating to children, in both public and private law.
She was a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel from 1998 to 2003 before transferring to the Bar.
During the five years prior to her transfer to the Bar, Carol worked almost wholly as a solicitor agent for local authorities in the West Midlands, representing them in care and freeing applications in the Family Proceedings, County and High Courts. Since her transfer to the Bar, Carol has continued to specialise in public law work, with the representation of local authorities accounting for much of her practice.
Carol also represents parents and children in Public Law Proceedings.
Practice Groups
Family
Membership of Professional Organisations
Family Law Bar Association
Languages
French
Interests
Reading, embroidery and walking.
Sally Cairns
LLB (Hons) 1st Class, MA (Humanities), BA (Langs), Dip. M
Call 2006
Sally is an experienced advocate in all aspects of criminal law appearing regularly in the Crown Court for both prosecution (Grade 3 CPS approved) and defence. She also practices in regulatory law.
She has undertaken a range of work in the Family Proceedings Court and County Court representing parents and Local Authority in care proceedings and in private law cases including residence and contact.
Sally has experience in a wide range of asylum and immigration law in the AIT.
She is authorised by the Bar Council to take instructions on a Direct / Public Access basis.
Practice Groups
Crime, Family, Immigration & Human Rights, Civil
Membership of Professional Organisations
Gray's Inn
Midland Circuit
Chartered Institute of Marketing
Appointments
Appointed to the Board of Governors at Woodhouse School 2006.
Languages
French, German, Spanish, Italian
Paul Hevingham
LLB (Hons) MRICS FCIArb
Call 2006
Paul is a former Chartered Surveyor and now has a full time practice as a barrister, mediator, adjudicator and arbitrator.
His practice has a broad civil and commercial base specialising in construction, planning, landlord and tenant, insolvency, insurance and professional negligence including all aspects of:-
- Building, construction and other engineering disputes of any type.
- Health and Safety at Work matters.
- Professional Negligence claims against Architects, Surveyors, Engineers and other designers or professionals.
- Sale of Goods and Supply of Goods and Services matters.
- Property Development, joint venture arrangements and option agreements.
- Companies Act disputes.
- Land and Property matters including neighbour disputes, boundaries, party wall issues and rights of light, easements and covenants.
- Insurance matters including subrogation claims.
- Landlord and Tenant including dilapidations actions.
- Insolvency matters including personal bankruptcy.
- Town and Country Planning matters including s106 negotiations Planning Appeals and Enquiries, Conservation area or listed building disputes and enforcement.
Paul is an experienced mediator and is accredited as being ‘Grade A’ with the ADR group. He is also an accredited family mediator.
Practice Groups
Civil, Crime (regulatory)
Membership of Professional Organisations
Western circuit
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Interests
Music, history, tennis and all competitive sports including walking and skiing.
Arnela Imamovic
LLB (Hons) Call 2008
BVC College of Law Birmingham
Arnela is experienced in all aspects of immigration and asylum law and is instructed at all levels of the Asylum and immigration Tribunal.
Arnela takes particular interest in EEA immigration applications and has been instructed by the Home Office. She is experienced in drafting Judicial Review and Permission to Appeal grounds.
Prior to coming to the bar Arnela had worked as a County Court Advocate. Her experience extends to Possession Hearings (Landlord and Tenant) and Infant Settlement Approvals.
Practice Groups
Immigration & Human Rights, Civil
Membership of Professional Organisations
Immigration Law Association
Languages
Serbo Croat, Bosnian
Olumide Sobowale
LLB (Hons) Call 1998
Mr Sobowale is an experienced advocate with a broad depth of involvement in the field of Asylum, Immigration and Human Rights law.
Prior to joining the Bar, Mr Sobowale spent 14 years in the Home Office through which he gained invaluable experience in all areas of asylum and immigration practice at Tribunal level.
Since joining the Bar, Mr Sobowale has drawn on his previous experience to develop a uniquely client focused practice in both tiers of the Tribunal. As a result, he is regularly instructed in all aspects of asylum, immigration, deportation, EEA and human rights including work pertaining to the process of Judicial Review.
Mr Sobowale’s knowledge and experience in the above areas also feeds into his other area of professional practice which is criminal law.
Practice Groups
Immigration & Human Rights, Crime
Shabinah Ladha
BA (Hons) Law, Development Studies and Arabic, SOAS, University of London. LLB (Hons)
Call 2011
Shabinah is an experienced advocate and litigator known for her straight-talking no-nonsense approach as well as being approachable to both lay and professional clients. She is committed to delivering excellent service to every client by supplying prompt, pragmatic paperwork as well as providing fearless advocacy. She has experience of successfully navigating away from court action with the use of her negotiation skills. However, where cases result to trial, her clients are well prepared as she adopts a commercial and economic approach to costs
She takes an active interest in legal issues that pertain to ethnic minorities and the Law including religious marriage (abuse of nikah), religious divorce (Get, Talaq, Khul, Mubaraat), mahr, polygamy (non-recognition of polygamous wives), honour based violence and legal pluralism.
She is authorised by the Bar Council to take instructions on a Direct / Public Access basis.
Practice Groups
Immigration & Human Rights, Crime, Family, Civil
Immigration and Human Rights
Shabinah has experience in dealing with the following:
• Entry Clearance applications/appeals • Human Rights applications/appeals • Applications for indefinite leave to remain • Cases concerning EEA nationals and/or the family members of EEA nationals • Asylum Appeals • Deportation hearings • Bail hearings
Crime
Shabinah has experience of the youth court, questioning vulnerable witnesses through an intermediary, probation breaches and experience of criminal defence work including:
• Bail Applications • Case Management Hearings • Trials • Road Traffic Offences (Exceptional hardship and special reasons arguments) • Sentence Hearings • Plea and Mitigation
Family Law
She has experience of representing applicants and respondents at all stages, from FHDRA, interim contested hearings, finding of fact hearings and final hearings under the Children Act 1987 and applications under the Family Law Act 1996 including:
• Child Arrangement Order • Prohibited Steps Order • Specific Issue Orders • Non-Molestation Order • Occupation Order
Consumer Credit
Shabinah has acted for both Claimants and established High Street banks and finance providers at trial and interim hearings in unfair relationship claims (in particular s140A CCA 1974) and has achieved consistently positive results when acting for finance providers in having claims dismissed under the Limitation Act 1980 and arguing compromise and estoppel.
Personal Injury
Shabinah represents both Claimants and Defendants in small claims, fast-track trials and interim applications and provide written advice and representation across a wide variety of personal injury matters including:
• Road traffic accidents including credit hire claims • Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) • Stage 3 Hearings • Occupiers Liability • Public Liability Claims
General Civil
Shabinah is a well-rounded advocate with experience in dealing with other general civil matters including:
• Contractual Disputes • Lease Interpretations • Commercial Forfeiture • Landlord and Tenant including possession hearings • Licensing • Debt Recovery • Return of Goods • Insolvency • Winding up Petitions • Bankruptcy • Statutory Demands
Membership of Professional Organisations
The Honorable Society of Middle Temple
Personal Injury Bar Association
Family Law Bar Association
Immigration Law Practitioners' Association
Appointments
School Governor (behavior management and careers lead)
Exclusion Panels & Complaint Panels-The Mead Educational Trust Schools
Languages
Gujarati, Kutchi, Arabic
Interests
Outdoor swimming, trail running, foreign film, craft beerArticles
Ramadan and Adjustments to the Court Process (April 2022)
Hair Discrimination Should Not Be Brushed Aside (March 2022)
Dear Sirs, Happy International Women’s Day (March 2022)
Love, ‘Honour’, Layla and Majnun (February 2022)
Niqab, Burka and Giving Evidence in Court (February 2022)
Withholding Religious Divorce Recognised As Abuse -The Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Britain’s ‘Other’ Citizens From East Africa (2007)
The Consequences of the 1968 Commonwealth Immigration Act on British Protected Persons and British Overseas Passport Holders (2006)
Michael Brooks
Middle Temple Call 2007
Michael specialises in Immigration, Asylum and Civil Law including Credit Hire and Firearms appeals.
Michael is a mature entrant to the Bar having previously had a successful career in industry. As a result he brings with him a wealth of experience in dealing pragmatically with issues and a natural empathy with clients.
Completing pupillage in Manchester he moved nearer to his home in Worcester, joining Rowchester Chambers in Birmingham. There he developed his Immigration practice where he accepts a broad range of instructions from bail applications to Judicial Review.
His move to No. 8 Chambers marks a desire to undertake more Immigration work both in the First Tier and in the higher courts. In his Civil practice he has appeared in the County Court in the Fast and Small Claims tracks. His commercial background means that contractual disputes are another area where his background assists his clients.
He undertakes Firearms appeals on behalf of the police where his personal knowledge of the subject assists in negotiations with aggrieved appellants. He is keen to expand this part of his practice to represent appellants.
Practice Groups
Immigration & Human Rights, Civil