Jessica Smeaton

Employment

Immigration, Asylum and Nationality

International Human Rights

Business Immigration

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.

 

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