39 Essex Chambers

The ‘strong multi-disciplinary’ team at 39 Essex Chambers is distinguished for its robust immigrations appeals and judicial review practice, with the set representing both claimants and the Home Office in ’some of the leading cases’ before all levels of the courts. The highly regarded Lisa Giovannetti KC is noted for acting on behalf of the government in immigration test cases, with recent cases involving the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, family reunion policy for refugee children and the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. Rory Dunlop KC successfully represented the Home Office in AM (Belarus) v SSHD before the Supreme Court, setting a new precedent regarding whether there may be a positive obligation under Article 8 ECHR to give lawful status to an illegal immigrant who has obstructed removal. Colin Thomann KC centres his practice upon new country guidance determinations and policy challenges, while Alan Payne KC recently acted for the Home Office defeating a challenge to Home Office policy on the allocation of accommodation to vulnerable asylum seekers.