Kerry Smith

Practice

Immigration

Specialises in all areas of immigration, asylum, and human rights law. Kerry offers advice and representation, with the range of cases including refugee, entry clearance, settlement, criminal deportation, nationality and EEA. Experience in cases before the AIT, High Court and Court of Appeal. A determined and able advocate who is responsive and approachable.

Employment and Discrimination

Represents employees and trade unions before Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She has expertise in unfair and wrongful dismissal, redundancy, "whistleblowing", health and safety, TUPE, equal pay, statutory dispute and trade union related matters. Particular interest in discrimination law offering advice and representation to individuals complaining of discrimination, harassment or victimisation on grounds such as race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, political opinion and trade union affiliation or activity.

Accustomed to undertaking complex and lengthy cases. Valued for her diligent approach to case preparation and her personable attitude towards lay clients.

Personal Injury

Claimant personal injury practice. Appears regularly in the County Court. Undertakes written advisory work and drafting of pleadings. Able to draw upon her experience in employment law, she has a keen interest in developing a practice in industrial injury claims.

Notable cases

Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v Haddington (2008) UKEAT/0519/07 (unfair dismissal and disability discrimination)

Lyle v Bury Metro Racial Equality Council and ors [2008] All ER (D) 182 (Jul) (compliance with s32 Employment Act 2002; Statutory Grievance Procedure; disability discrimination) > judgment

SM (Entry clearance application in Jordan - proportionality) Iraq CG [2007] UKAIT 00077 > judgment

Other activities

Regularly provides legal education in the areas of immigration and employment law.

Immigration: recently involved in training immigration caseworkers for a national charity assisting refugees.

Employment and discrimination: includes in-house courses for voluntary organisations and leading trade union solicitors firms.

Professional Associations

Member of the North West Free Representation Unit (NWFRU)

Background and personal profile

Having successfully completed her pupillage with Garden Court North Chambers, she became a tenant in 2005. Prior to pupillage, she gained two years' experience in immigration and human rights law as an in-house Advocate for a specialist firm of solicitors.