Distinguished as a ‘pioneering firm at the forefront of legal change’, Leigh Day continues to strengthen its immigration and asylum offering, with a particularly robust practice assisting victims of the Windrush Scandal. Jacqueline McKenzie heads the practice, with extensive expertise spanning asylum, human rights claims and appeals against deportation. ’Intellectual heavyweight’ Nath Gbikpi is adept at handling asylum applications based on sexual identity, domestic abuse, as well as applications by children in care and care leavers. Frances Swaine and Freya Danby are also noted for their work on Windrush claims.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘I have worked with Nath Gbikpi over many years. She is widely recognised as an exceptional talent with unwavering commitment to her clients and a hugely deep and broad knowledge of immigration law. She is the real deal and will continue to go very far indeed.’'Nath Gbikpi is hugely talented and worked tirelessly to show that women subjected to transnational marriage abandonment were entitled to the same rights as victims of domestic abuse in the UK.'
- ‘Nath Gbikpi is an intellectual heavyweight with huge specialist knowledge across the immigration and asylum field. As a talented lawyer, she can identify the legal issues in a case with ease and use her ample skills to advocate effectively on behalf of her clients. Nath is a pleasure to work with for both lay clients and other lawyers. She applies her innovative approach to great effect in her case load.'
Key clients
- Stonewall and African Rainbow Family
Work highlights
Advised on a claim for Citizenship under the Windrush Scheme.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Jacqueline McKenzie
Other key lawyers
Nath Gbikpi; Frances Swaine; Freya Danby