Jessica Smeaton > Chambers of Adrian Keeling KC and Jonathan Jones KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
No5 Barristers' Chambers Offices
No5 Barristers' Chambers
Fifth Floor, 7 Savoy Court
London
WC2R 0EX
England
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Jessica Smeaton
Work Department
Employment Immigration, Asylum and Nationality International Human Rights Business Immigration |
Position
Barrister specialising in all aspects of employment and immigration law.
Jessica is a specialist in employment litigation and regularly acts in multi-day trials. She has particular experience in representing respondent public authorities, often acting for the NHS. She has an increasing appellate practice in the EAT. In addition to court representation at first instance and appeals, Jessica advises on all aspects of employment litigation, including unfair dismissal, equal pay and discrimination and provides day-to-day advice on employment issues and employee relations. Jessica is also an experienced immigration practitioner, undertaking work on a private and publicly-funded basis. She frequently appears in the first-tier and upper tribunals in both immigration and asylum cases and is regularly led in cases of significant legal value at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Her Business Immigration practice centres on JR challenges to sponsor licence revocations and appeals against civil penalties imposed on businesses found to have been employing illegal workers. She regularly advise business on day-to-day immigration issues, including navigating the Resident Labour Market Test. Jessica is well-placed to undertake matters involving an overlap between employment and immigration issues including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims concerning the right to work. Jessica has considerable experience in working with vulnerable clients, including clients who lack capacity to give evidence or conduct proceedings. Prior to joining the Bar Jessica worked in the pro bono department at Hogan Lovells LLP, advising and representing clients in a range of matters including corporate law, employment, immigration, landlord and tenant, and a broad range of human rights work. She is experienced in advising charities and start-up social enterprises on employment rights. Jessica continues to undertake pro bono employment work for charities and social enterprises.
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Career
Called 2008, Middle Temple.
Panel counsel for the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, 2019
Languages
French (conversational)
Memberships
Employment Lawyers Association; Employment Bar Association; Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.
Education
The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, Venice and Université de Montpellier 1, European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation, 2008-2009
Inns of Court School of Law, Bar Vocational Course, 2007-2008
University of Leeds, LLB Law, 2004-2007
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Employment
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 5Jessica Smeaton – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Jessica is very proactive, communicates well with clients and absorbs complex issues quickly.’
London Bar > Immigration (including business immigration)
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Jessica Smeaton – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Jessica is very good in what she does. She has good legal thinking.‘
Regional Bar > Midland Circuit > Employment
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Jessica Smeaton – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Jessica has excellent knowledge, and her advocacy is very impressive. She is very approachable.’