Geraldine Peterson > Richmond Chambers LLP > London, England > Barrister Profile

Geraldine Peterson

Work Department

Immigration

Position

Immigration Barrister

Career

Geraldine (Geri) has specialised in immigration law since 1999.  With over 20 years experience, she has an established reputation for her advocacy and for her preparation of  high quality visa and immigration applications.

Geri is committed to fostering an understanding of the complexity of the procedures her clients and their families are facing, in order to advise and guide them through to a successful conclusion.  She has a particular interest in assisting those with vulnerable family members abroad.

Geri has experience in assisting with successful applications for the family members of British or settled persons (entry clearance, extension and switching applications) including:- Spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners; Fiancé/es and proposed civil partners; Parents; Children, including adopted children; and Adult dependent relatives.

She has successfully assisted EU nationals and their family members (partners, children and dependent relatives) in the following EU Settlement Scheme applications (including late applications and applications for administrative review):- Pre-Settled Status; Settled Status; Family Permits; and Derivative and Retained Rights applications.

Geri has prepared successful applications in matters which include:- Indefinite leave to remain applications (including under the long residence provisions); Naturalisation applications; Registration for British citizenship (children and adults); Ancestry visa (including indefinite leave to remain under the provisions); Visit visa applications, including marriage and medical visit visas (initial applications and applications made after previous refusals); Applications for further leave to remain outside the Immigration Rules (Human Rights applications); and Returning resident applications.

She further has specialised in assisting with applications and appeals under the European Community Association Agreement (the ECAA or ‘Ankara’ Agreement) provisions, including: Initial ECAA applications; ECAA extension applications; Indefinite applications for indefinite leave to remain; and Dependents of ECAA applicants.

Before her legal studies and call to the Bar, Geri had successful careers in the theatre (as an actor and director) and in the Fine Art market.  She further served on British Actors’ Equity’s panel advising on the grants of visas to visiting foreign artists. This experience has given her a sound and sympathetic understanding of the issues facing creative artists who wish to visit or work in the UK.

Geri has appeared as an advocate at all levels of the Immigration Tribunal, in the Upper Tribunal and Administrative Court for judicial review matters and in the Court of Appeal, including emergency applications, successfully seeking to challenge decisions of the Home Office.  Her work has encompassed applicants from every continent in asylum and human rights appeals, and all matters relating to immigration law including deportation, entry clearance, variation/extension of leave, and bail.  She also has frequently advised on multi-jurisdictional family matters.  As a Master of the Bench at Middle Temple, she teaches advocacy and is committed to the training of student barristers.

Geri accepts instructions on a direct access basis from individuals and businesses in addition to those from solicitors and OISC regulated representatives.

Languages

Conversational French

Memberships

Bar Council of England & Wales

Immigration Law Practitioners Association

Education

Mediation and ADR Accreditation, Regent’s College 

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law

MA (Hons) (Law), Cambridge University