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
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘A very strong immigration team with excellent individuals.’
‘Jacqueline McKenzie stands out for her brilliant, tireless advocacy on behalf of all of those within the Windrush cohort who have suffered as a result of the so-called ‘hostile environment'.'
‘Leigh Day's immigration team is very effective, led by the highly impressive Jacqueline McKenzie and with key member Nath Gbikpi.’
‘Leigh Day is an innovative, leading human rights firm that frequently takes significant test cases challenging immigration law and policy. The firm has a leading team and is known for its unique approach with cross-fertilisation over its different specialist legal areas. Leigh Day is a pioneering firm at the forefront of legal change, which also offers a fantastic service to individual clients to ensure that the best possible outcome is achieved in every case.’
‘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.'
- 'Jacqueline McKenzie is a gifted lawyer with decades of specialist experience and knowledge in the field. She very much embodies the pioneering approach that Leigh Day is famous for.’
‘What is great about Leigh Day is how they combine their immigration work with their wider human rights and public law work, with each feeding into the other, giving a really broad spread of support and knowledge.’
‘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.'
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