The 36 Group

36 Public and Human Rights

Tom is an experienced first instance and appellate advocate, who is used to taking novel or niche points of law on appeal. His practice across Public Law includes immigration, education and public law; he also practices in employment, and has experience in related regulatory matters. He is often instructed to take cases on further on onward appeals when he did not represent below. Tom is ranked as a leading junior in Immigration law (tier 4) by the Legal 500.

Tom has been appointed by the Attorney General to the ‘C Panel’ of Civil counsel.

Immigration Law

Tom is an experienced immigration practitioner in a career spanning over 20 years as an advocate appearing in both the First Tier and Upper Tribunal before and since coming to the independent bar.

Tom has experience across the jurisdiction in all types of appeals including protection, exclusion, deportation, deprivation of citizenship, human rights, skilled migrant and EEA/EUSS matters.

He has numerous reported decisions to his name from the UT(IAC), including 2 country guidance decisions, and several on UT procedure and costs. Tom has particular experience in the UT on error of law applications, and is frequently brought on board for further appeals beyond the FTT, even where he did not appear below.

Tom’s Public Law practice in Immigration spans both decisions made in relation to visa applications and Trafficking decisions under the NRM, and he is experienced in both the Administrative Court and the UT(IAC) in bringing such claims.

Education Law

In Education Law Tom is regularly instructed by Appellant’s/Claimants, Local Authorities and Responsible Bodies in claims and appeals before the First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal. He has broad experience in EHCP appeals, and discrimination claims before the Tribunal, bringing in his experience from other areas of practice on Equality Act matters.

He is experienced in Public Law challenges to Local Authorities in the High Court in a range of Education related matters including when the LA’s s19 duty is engaged, and the failure to implement EHCP’s under s42 CFA 2014.

Employment Law

Tom has experience in the ET and EAT on the range of claims brought. He represents both claimants and respondents, including Local Authorities in unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and discrimination claims.

He drafts ET1’s and ET3’s as well as further amendments, and skeleton arguments as necessary. He advises respondent’s on HR policies, and misconduct matters, both in the abstract and on ongoing matters of sensitive and complex issues.

He has experience in undertaking investigations on allegations made.

Tom has experience on statutory appeals from regulators.

Tom sits as both a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber and as a fee-paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal in the same Chamber.

Call 2006

Appointments & Memberships

• Administrative Law Bar Association
• Education Law Association
• Employment Lawyers Association
• Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
• Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
• First Tier Tribunal Judge (Fee-paid) (Immigration and Asylum Chamber