‘A willingness to take risks on behalf of their clients’ characterises Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ civil liberties and human rights practice, which shines in immigration judicial review cases and migrant rights. The ’extremely determined’ Toufique Hossain leverages extensive experience in leading strategic litigation on behalf of asylum-seekers before every level of the judicial system, and in public inquiries, while James Packer is ‘deeply committed’ to securing clients’ best interests in complex immigration matters. Bahar Ata regularly represents those detained under immigration powers, and Pardeep Somel engages with a wide range of immigration, asylum, and unlawful detention issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This is a very large practice, but excellently supervised by senior staff and with good quality of work.’
‘James Packer is very intelligent, and deeply committed to clients with cases at all levels from tribunal to Supreme Court.’
‘Toufique Hossain is knowledgeable, extremely determined, a very capable leader, and builder of teams.’
‘Bahar Ata is very experienced and knowledgeable, calm and competent, a good supervisor.’
‘Vilash Gami is an excellent solicitor, experienced in working with Counsel on very complex cases, skilled and with great dedication and perseverance.’
‘Pardeep Somel is excellent, a very skilled and experienced solicitor, with excellent client skills, and a tremendous commitment to clients’ interests.’
‘The team at Duncan Lewis is committed, skilled, and gets excellent results. They work on cases that really matter and have deep experience of how to run a case in the Administrative Court.’
‘Industry and energy, and a willingness to take risks on behalf of their clients. They fight.’
Work highlights
Represented six of the lead claimants in the Rwanda Policy litigation, from the Administrative Court through to the Supreme Court.
Represented six people who were formerly detained at Brook House, and Reverend Nathan Ward, a whistleblower who worked at Brook House and helped bring the mistreatment to light.
Acted for detainees at Harmondsworth IRC who were left in inhumane conditions and abandoned by staff during an evacuation in bringing several successful judicial review challenges.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Other key lawyers
Toufique Hossain; James Packer; Bahar Ata; Pardeep Somel; Ahmed Aydeed; Claire Ryan; Gergana Pentcheva; Jenna McKinney; Nazia Khan; Vilash Gami; Jeremy Bloom; Lewis Kett; Jamie Bell; Shalini Patel; Hannah Baynes