> members of the immigration team

Chambers is recognised as one of the leading sets in the country for its provision of specialist advice on all aspects of asylum, immigration and nationality law. There has been a specialist Immigration team in Chambers from the outset. Our head of Chambers, Ian Macdonald QC is an acknowledged leader in the field and the co-author of Macdonald's 'Immigration Law & Practice' to which Melanie Plimmer is a contributor.

Practitioners regularly appear before the AIT, the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal.

The list which follows, while not exhaustive, gives an indication of the areas of the team's expertise : Asylum; welfare support and benefits; detention and bail; extradition; human rights applications and appeals; judicial review; entry clearance; family reunion; work permits; business applications; immigration-related family and child matters (including care, inter-country adoption and abduction); illegal entry; association agreements; European Union rights of free movement; deportation and removal; marriage applications; dependant relatives; students and working holiday-makers; visitor appeals; immigration-related criminal matters; discretionary/exceptional cases; bail and prisoners who are subject to immigration control.

Recommendations

"Lawyers laud the 'breadth of experience evidenced by a number of practitioners who are all committed experts in this field'. " (Chambers & Partners 2008)

" 'There are no rivals to this set for immigration prowess in the North,' interviewees confidently asserted. A host of 'talented barristers' handle all aspects of immigration, asylum and nationality law. These barristers 'do not merely acquiesce with accepted principles, they are always challenging the norm,' said one source. This makes the set popular for complex immigration cases. " (Chambers & Partners 2007)

"This set stands out in the Northern Circuit for its work on all aspects of asylum, immigration and nationality law." (Chambers & Partners 2006)

"The members of this set, which rules the Northern circuit for immigration, are praised for their ability to 'analyse critically' and to 'make independent judgments'." (Chambers and Partners 2005, p1629)

Members of the immigration team are also recommended in Legal 500 2008, 2007 and 2006.

Immigration Team Legal Bulletin

The team produces a regular legal bulletin which may be subscribed to via e-mail.

Reported cases

> Click here to see details of reported cases.

Seminars

Members of the team regularly provide specialist training to practitioners including training on behalf of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA).

Specialist immigration team

Individual members of the team are able to combine their specialist immigration knowledge with other areas in order to be better placed to provide comprehensive advice and representation. Individual members also specialise in judicial review, employment and discrimination law, housing and local government law, prison law, mental health law and civil actions against the police.