Landmark Chambers ‘stands out for its depth of expertise in all aspects of public law’, with its immigration barristers acting on behalf of both the government and claimants at the tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court level. David Blundell KC recently acted on behalf of the Secretary of State in Begum v SSHD, a high-profile case concerning the relationship between national security and procedural fairness whereby the Court of Appeal ultimately dismissed the appeal of the 25-year old who left Bethnal Green to join Islamic State in Syria a decade ago. Julia Smyth KC, who was appointed King’s Counsel in 2025, has led on several prominent cases involving provisions within the Withdrawal Agreement, while Alex Goodman KC led the successful appeal in ASY and Others v SSHD, a case concerning damages for breaches of Article 3 ECHR for migrant mothers whose children were denied recourse to public funds. Tim Buley KC continues to act as lead Special Advocate in a number of cases under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Alex Goodman KC is ranked in Legal 500 (2024) in tier 1 for all his core areas - planning, environment, local government, immigration, and administrative and human rights law and is described as “one of the best advocates of his generation”.
He frequently appears in the higher courts and recently led the successful appeal about open space in the Supreme Court in Day v Shropshire. He was awarded the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Outstanding Achievement award in 2021. He was appointed to the EHRC’s ‘A’ Panel in 2019. He is the Joint Head of Landmark Chambers’ Public Law Group.
Alex acts for any client: developers, individuals, local authorities, central government, NGOs. He is particularly known for public interest litigation. His broad practice includes: planning, environment, public law, public Interest litigation, human rights and civil liberties, immigration, discrimination and equality, Local Government, climate change, habitats and public inquiries.
Alex wrote the Atkins Court Forms edition on Common Land and Village Greens. Alex helped set up Medical Justice, a charity working with immigration detainees (of which he was chair for five years) and a human rights NGO Kindred which he helped establish initially to organise advice to migrants in Northern France during a career break 2015-2018. Alex is a former councillor at the London Borough of Camden.
International work
As a fellow of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law Alex has worked on the constitutions of Myanmar, Palestine and The Gambia. He is currently instructed on climate change cases in South America and East Africa.
Education
Qualifications
• Inns of Court School of Law 2003: Bar Vocational Course, Very Competent
• City University 2002: Diploma in Law, Commendation
• Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University 2000: English Literature M.A. First
Scholarships
• Lincoln’s Inn Scholarships
• Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship, Lord Denning Scholarship, Megarry Scholarship
Awards
Alex was awarded the Outstanding Achievement award at the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year. The Brook House Inquiry, which Alex had a significant involvement in, was awarded as ‘Highly Commended’ for the Halsbury Rule of Law Award at the LexisNexis UK 2023 Awards.
Memberships
Alex has been a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s ‘A’ panel since May 2019.
• Research Fellow at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law where his work has included co-authoring Constitutional Reform in Myanmar: Priorities and Prospects for Amendment (2014)
• Trustee of Medical Justice, a charity working for immigration detainees
• Former councillor at London Borough of Camden.
Publications
• Guerrilla Law: Campaigning and the Law podcast - Discussion with Harriet Wistrich: Founding Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, about her 25 years of work campaigning for women’s rights and for reform of the Met Police
• Guerrilla Law - Abuse in Immigration Detention the Brook House Inquiry podcast - Discussion with Stephanie Harrison KC about the Brook House Inquiry into abuse in immigration detention
• Kambadzi Podcastwith Toufique Hossain of Duncan Lewis about the Kambadzi case on immigration detention
Content supplied by Landmark Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'One of the best immigration chambers in the country.'
- 'Landmark are a top set for public law and human rights which includes much immigration related litigation. They have a great stable of barristers and their clerking is extremely user friendly.'
- 'Clear, knowledgeable, personable and well structured.'
- 'Very professional outfit, with good strength in depth at both senior and junior levels and the clerking service is excellent.'
- 'Landmark Chambers really stands out for its depth of expertise in all aspects of public law, including in particular immigration.'
- 'Very highly regarded in immigration, public law and other areas.'
- 'Clerks are always very helpful and responsive.'
- 'Very approachable, in-depth knowledge, works as a team and excellent advocacy and drafting.'