Region Area

Barristers

Jessica Smeaton

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.

 

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

Mentions

Midland Circuit • Regional Bar

Employment

Leading junior3
Jessica Smeaton – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Jessica really is the full package. She is wonderful with clients, extremely sharp intellectually and also a great tactician, with a clear will to win. Her advocacy is thoughtful, well-structured and very effective. Jessica has a great blend of being a balanced and courteous advocate, yet very impactful.'
London Bar

Employment

Leading junior5
Jessica Smeaton – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Jessica is always immaculately prepared. Her advocacy style is calm and incisive, and her advice is succinct and clear.'
London Bar

Immigration (including business immigration)

Leading junior3
Jessica Smeaton – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Jessica is a highly intelligent lawyer that sees the wood from the trees. She puts clients at ease and is a wonderful advocate with an ability to to get the attention and sympathy of the court even in difficult cases.'