Wilson Solicitors LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

Wilson Solicitors LLP
697 HIGH ROAD
TOTTENHAM
LONDON
N17 8AD
England

Living Wage

Employment > Immigration Tier 1

Wilson Solicitors LLP works on a wide range of complex and sensitive asylum, human rights, and deportation mandates, deploying its team of specialists who are each regarded as ‘highly knowledgeable in their respective fields‘. Anita Vasisht heads the practice, with experience in complex asylum claims and specific niches in national security and Palestinian refugee claims. Ana Gonzalez handles work concerning asylum and apostacy, and Muhunthan Paramesvaran has notable experience before appellate courts. Matthew Davies has a practice that encompasses human rights in respect of EU nationals and international surrogacy, Marcela Navarrete has expertise in handling claims around detention and is noted for her ‘excellent work on Afghan judiciary judicial review work‘, Aisling Ni Chuinn remains at the forefront of matters concerning the removal of vulnerable asylum seekers to third countries, and Chris McKendry has a strong track record in work relating to national security. Associates Imogen Townley and Mala Savjani are also key contacts, as is senior consultant Michael Hanley.

Practice head(s):

Anita Vasisht; Ana Gonzalez; Muhunthan Paramesvaran

Testimonials

Wilsons are second to none for legal aid immigration work, in my experience. They are highly organised and effective, put the client at the heart of everything, and spare no effort or step if it will help the case. The firm works at scale, but without any compromise to their very high quality of work.’

Marcela Navarette is extremely experienced and has superb judgement. She is reliable and efficient, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Aisling Ni Chuinn is brilliant: extremely knowledgeable, skilled and committed. She is also fantastic to work with, being very collaborative.

The immigration team at Wilsons is superb. From trainees through to partners, there is a real quality in the depth and expertise of the team. Solicitors are extremely competent in managing both judicial review litigation and appeals. They also are highly knowledgable in their respective fields on substantive immigration law and practice.

Marcela Navarette has excellent tactics in complex judicial review litigation and appeals. Very collegiate to work with, and her experience shines through. Has done excellent work on Afghan judiciary judicial review work. ‘

Wilsons has a cohesive, expert and committed team of fine immigration litigators skilled at getting excellent results for highly vulnerable adult and child migrants, refugees, victims of trafficking including those with criminal convictions. They are intensely skilled at securing public funding and in litigating hard against an often implacable opponent.

Unrivalled in its range and depth of experience. There are experts in every sub-specialism within immigration.

‘Mala Savjani is one of the bright stars of the new generation; particularly good on EU Settlement Scheme issues. Ana Gonzalez is excellent on LGBT asylum. Matthew Davies has a wealth of experience.’

Muhunthan Paramesvaran provides extremely high quality service dedicated to winning his client’s case. Imogen Townley takes apparently hopeless cases and turns them into winners. Aisling Ni Chuinn has forensically brilliant case preparation.

Key clients

Islington Council

European Commission

Here for Good

Work highlights

Private client > Family Tier 4

Wilson Solicitors LLP has ‘a superb team of lawyers with an impeccable client-focus in all they do’. Key contacts include Aysen Soyer and Patricia Beckett. The group handles the core areas of divorce and financial settlements, private children law, and domestic abuse, but also many others, including international adoption, child abduction, forced marriage, and surrogacy work. In addition, the group is recommended for its public law children work. Amna Khaliq and Baljit Bains are key members of the practice.

Practice head(s):

Aysen Soyer; Patricia Beckett; Amna Khaliq; Baljit Bains

Other key lawyers:

Darren Greene; Felicity Jones; Ian Whitbread

Testimonials

‘Patricia Beckett and Aysen Soyer are proactive, tenacious and diligent partners.’

‘They were completely professional yet understanding and helpful. Their attention to every aspect gave me complete confidence in the way my case was being handled. Aysen Soyer’s pragmatic approach was reassuring in a very difficult time in my life.’

‘Patricia Beckett is a seasoned practitioner. She is extremely knowledgeable and communicates with me in human terms, has a sensitive approach, she is clear and concise, and has taken real care and a lot of time into understanding my background and what is best for my daughter and myself.’

‘I worked with Amna Khaliq, who was very helpful and took our case without hassle. All that was expected of her was done.’

‘A superb team of lawyers with an impeccable client focus in all they do. Briefs are comprehensive with incredible attention to detail, and papers come in on time or usually very early. Cases are very well prepped with an eye on creative legal argument. A brilliant team.’

‘Amna Khaliq is top drawer. She knows her stuff, is polished and professional and works extraordinarily hard to argue and succeed on her client’s behalf.’

‘Patricia Beckett goes the extra mile for all of her clients. She is extremely able and knowledgeable about family law. She is proactive and has a keen eye for detail, meaning that she represents her clients extremely effectively. She is very approachable and friendly.’

‘Baljit Bains is great. She makes being a solicitor look effortless, though you know that she is putting the work in and to a very high level.’

Public sector > Administrative and public law Tier 4

Wilson Solicitors LLP is known for its legal aid work and regularly represents clients affected by the actions of public bodies, with a commitment to acting for the most marginalised individuals, including victims of torture and trafficking, children, vulnerable families, disabled people, and those with mental health problems. Head of public law James Wilson, who has also been acting as firm managing partner since April 2023, has overseen an expansion into inquest work to complement the established judicial review and test litigation experience. Nina Rathbone Pullen and Katy Robinson lead the work, with the latter having particular expertise in community care. Nusrat Uddin specialises in strategic litigation relating to modern slavery and trafficking. Jed Pennington was promoted to partner in January 2023 and specialises in judicial review and civil actions challenging immigration detention.

Practice head(s):

Nina Rathbone Pullen; Katy Robinson

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Wilson Solicitors consistently excels in complex claims and those involving cross-over areas of practice. They are an excellent team with exceptional lawyers at all levels and are a go-to firm for strategic claims.’

‘Brilliant, inventive lawyers who really care about their clients.’

‘Wilsons are at the top of their game in all aspects of public law concerning the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. Their expertise in immigration law feeds into the public and administrative court work.’

‘They have strategic insight into using judicial reviews as a vehicle to get damages for clients. All their lawyers are brilliantly trained, diligent and smart.’

‘Excellent strategic thinking in terms of systemic litigation without losing sight of each client’s individual case; Nina Rathbone Pullen’s knowledge of the field is exceptional.’

‘Really top-class public law team with particular expertise in trafficking, migrant support and immigration public law cases.’

‘Brilliant team for migrant support-related community care and public law.’

‘Wilsons is the firm I most regularly recommend to people looking for representation. Brilliant from top to bottom; filled with passionate and exceptional lawyers who represent the very best that the legal aid sector has to offer.’

Key clients

ASM (Iraq)

Medical Justice

20 individuals who were detained at the Manston detention facility

6 individuals who brought judicial reviews challenging GPS tags

Wong v Basfar

R (on the application of All the Citizens) & Supply Chain Coordination Limited, Collaborative Procurement Partnership LLP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Migrants Organise

G – client held at Napier barracks

FAO and ALN – clients held in unsuitable asylum support accommodation in former jail cells at ‘Clink 78’ hostel

IZ – age disputed client

Work highlights

  • Represented a victim of trafficking in a Supreme Court case, in which the client successfully established that a diplomat is not immune from civil claims of trafficking and domestic servitude.
  • Representing an asylum seeker and victim of modern slavery in a challenge to the government’s Rwanda plan.
  • Acted in a successful challenge against the UK government’s decision to procure rubber gloves from the PPE supplier Supermax, despite clear indicators of forced labour in the supply chain.

Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights Tier 4

Wilson Solicitors LLP provides ‘excellent human rights expertise, particularly in the immigration area’, regularly bringing test cases of significant public interest, including challenging the government’s intention to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda – Jed Pennington is a key contact in this space. Following the promotion of James Elliot to firm managing partner in April 2023, the practice is jointly led by Nina Rathbone Pullen and Katy Robinson; both are highly skilled regarding civil liberties of immigration detainees and compensation claims for human rights violations.

Practice head(s):

Nina Rathbone Pullen; Katy Robinson

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Brilliant, tenacious and clever lawyers.’

‘Wilson Solicitors consistently excel in complex claims and those involving cross-over areas of practice. They are an excellent team with exceptional lawyers at all levels and are a go-to firm for strategic claims.’

‘Gold standard team for migrant rights work.’

‘Katy Robinson is a top notch lawyer.’

‘Excellent human rights expertise in particular in the immigration area – raise novel and complex points in appeals, judicial review, detention claims and damages claims.’

‘Wilson Solicitors is the firm I most regularly recommend to people looking for representation. Brilliant from top to bottom; filled with passionate and exceptional lawyers who represent the very best that the legal aid sector has to offer.’

‘They are unparalleled in their work on complex human rights and civil liberties claims, including issues of trafficking, detention, immigration, age assessment, and strategic litigation.’

‘Wilson Solicitors is outstanding in every area of its work and provide the very highest level of service to all their clients. You know that a case is in the best of hands with the firm.’

Key clients

ASM (Iraq)

Medical Justice

20 individuals who were detained at the Manston detention facility

6 individuals who brought judicial reviews challenging GPS tags

Wong v Basfar

R (on the application of All the Citizens) & Supply Chain Coordination Limited, Collaborative Procurement Partnership LLP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Migrants Organise

G – client held at Napier barracks

FAO and ALN – clients held in unsuitable asylum support accommodation in former jail cells at ‘Clink 78’ hostel

IZ – age disputed client

Work highlights

  • Represented a victim of trafficking in a Supreme Court case, in which the client successfully established that a diplomat is not immune from civil claims of trafficking and domestic servitude.
  • Representing an asylum seeker and victim of modern slavery in a challenge to the government’s Rwanda plan.
  • Successfully challenged the UK government’s decision to procure rubber gloves from the PPE supplier Supermax, despite clear indicators of forced labour in the supply chain.

Wilson Solicitors became an LLP in April 2010. Prior to then, the firm was called Wilson and Co and was founded in 1989 by the late Andrew Wilson and current senior partner Michael Hanley.

The firm: The firm has grown from a small legal aid firm into a substantial 13-partner practice employing 90 people with a national reputation for excellence. The firm receives the vast majority of its work through personal recommendation from satisfied clients, or specific referral from other professionals.

The firm has four key practice objectives: to provide effective legal advice at a competitive cost; deliver a quality professional service; sustain and grow the firm’s reputation; and use law to promote and defend human rights.

Types of work undertaken: The firm provides advice and representation in three broad areas of law:

Immigration: the firm has one of the largest immigration law departments in the UK with 25 specialist solicitors. The firm’s clients come from a wide range of backgrounds. With thorough preparation, many applications are successfully resolved on initial submission to the Home Office. The firm has a “get it right first time” approach. As the immigration rules steadily grow in complexity careful preparation of applications is essential. Where cases run into difficulties the firm is highly experienced in conducting appeals and judicial review. Wilson Solicitors LLP has acted in many high-profile cases in the Supreme Court. The firm appears regularly before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in cases involving national security. All the firm’s lawyers are accredited by the Law Society Asylum and Immigration Law Accreditation Scheme. Two of its partners were appointed as part-time judges in 2006 and sit in the FTT (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).

Family and children law: the firm has ten solicitors specialising in this work. The firm has three members of the Law Society Children Panel who are appointed to represent the best interests of children in care proceedings. The firm also has members of the Law Society Advanced Family Law Panel and of Resolution. It advises on all aspects of marriage and civil partnerships, from pre nuptials to divorce and dissolution, including domestic violence and ancillary relief. The firm receives referrals from a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies working with children. The practice has considerable experience in high-value financial disputes. The firm provides a highly professional service to private clients.

Public law: the firm has a dynamic department of eight specialist solicitors advising on all aspects of decisions taken by public authorities. The firm specialises in challenging unlawful detention, abuse of state power, especially in immigration removal centres, and securing financial compensation. There is also a particular commitment to community care cases. The firm has brought cases against local authorities, the police, the Home Office and the General Medical Council. The firm has legal aid contracts in public law, civil actions against the police and community care.

Department Name Email Telephone
Senior partner Michael Hanley
Head of Immigration Team Matthew Davies
Immigration Damian Hanley
Immigration Anita Vasisht
Immigration Michael Hanley
Head of Family Team Aysen Soyer
Family and children Patricia Beckett
Family and children Michelle Flynn
Head of Public Law James Elliott
Photo Name Position Profile
Baljit Bains photo Baljit Bains Partner
Patricia Beckett photo Patricia Beckett Patricia specialises in children and family law, and her areas of work…
Russell Blakely photo Russell Blakely Russell has a general practice in personal immigration, citizenship and EU law.…
Penny Brownbridge photo Penny Brownbridge Solicitor
Zoe Cooley photo Zoe Cooley Solicitor
Becky Cutler photo Becky Cutler Solicitor
Matthew Davies photo Matthew Davies Matthew is a partner in the immigration department with 20 years of…
Tim Davies photo Tim Davies Solicitor
James Elliott photo James Elliott Partner in the immigration department, specialising in immigration and asylum law, and…
Siobhan Foulner photo Siobhan Foulner Solicitor
Michael Goldin photo Michael Goldin Solicitor
Ana Gonzalez photo Ana Gonzalez Ana specialises in asylum and immigration. Her main areas of expertise are…
Michael Hanley photo Michael Hanley Senior partner specialising in all aspects of asylum, nationality and immigration law,…
Rachel Henson photo Rachel Henson Solicitor
Rebecca Ives photo Rebecca Ives Solicitor
Felicity Jones photo Felicity Jones Solicitor
Andrew Jones photo Andrew Jones Solicitor
Amna Khaliq photo Amna Khaliq Amna is a partner in the family department. She undertakes private and…
Rachael Lenney photo Rachael Lenney Solicitor
Chris McKendry photo Chris McKendry Solicitor
Daniel Merriman photo Daniel Merriman Solicitor
Rebecca Morris photo Rebecca Morris Solicitor
Marcela Navarrete photo Marcela Navarrete Solicitor
Aisling Ni Chuinn photo Aisling Ni Chuinn Solicitor
Muhunthan Paramesvaran photo Muhunthan Paramesvaran Muhunthan became a partner in 2010. He has a broad immigration and…
Kirsten Powrie photo Kirsten Powrie Solicitor
Nina Rathbone Pullen photo Nina Rathbone Pullen Solicitor
Katy Robinson photo Katy Robinson Solicitor
Aysen Soyer photo Aysen Soyer Aysen is a partner and head of the family department. She undertakes…
Shahailya Stephenson photo Shahailya Stephenson Solicitor
Imogen Townley photo Imogen Townley Solicitor
Nusrat Uddin photo Nusrat Uddin Solicitor
Anita Vasisht photo Anita Vasisht Newly appointed head of Wilsons’ immigration department, Anita leads our national security…
Ian Whitbread photo Ian Whitbread Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
Number of UK partners : 13
Number of other UK fee-earners : 60