Wilson Solicitors LLP
Wilson Solicitors LLP works on a wide range of complex and sensitive asylum, human rights, and deportation mandates, deploying its team of specialists who are each regarded as ‘highly knowledgeable in their respective fields’. Anita Vasisht heads the practice, with experience in complex asylum claims and specific niches in national security and Palestinian refugee claims. Ana Gonzalez handles work concerning asylum and apostacy, and Muhunthan Paramesvaran has notable experience before appellate courts. Matthew Davies has a practice that encompasses human rights in respect of EU nationals and international surrogacy, Marcela Navarrete has expertise in handling claims around detention and is noted for her ‘excellent work on Afghan judiciary judicial review work’, Aisling Ni Chuinn remains at the forefront of matters concerning the removal of vulnerable asylum seekers to third countries, and Chris McKendry has a strong track record in work relating to national security. Associates Imogen Townley and Mala Savjani are also key contacts, as is senior consultant Michael Hanley.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Wilsons are second to none for legal aid immigration work, in my experience. They are highly organised and effective, put the client at the heart of everything, and spare no effort or step if it will help the case. The firm works at scale, but without any compromise to their very high quality of work.'
- 'Marcela Navarette is extremely experienced and has superb judgement. She is reliable and efficient, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Aisling Ni Chuinn is brilliant: extremely knowledgeable, skilled and committed. She is also fantastic to work with, being very collaborative.'
- 'The immigration team at Wilsons is superb. From trainees through to partners, there is a real quality in the depth and expertise of the team. Solicitors are extremely competent in managing both judicial review litigation and appeals. They also are highly knowledgable in their respective fields on substantive immigration law and practice.'
- 'Marcela Navarette has excellent tactics in complex judicial review litigation and appeals. Very collegiate to work with, and her experience shines through. Has done excellent work on Afghan judiciary judicial review work. '
- 'Wilsons has a cohesive, expert and committed team of fine immigration litigators skilled at getting excellent results for highly vulnerable adult and child migrants, refugees, victims of trafficking including those with criminal convictions. They are intensely skilled at securing public funding and in litigating hard against an often implacable opponent.'
- 'Unrivalled in its range and depth of experience. There are experts in every sub-specialism within immigration.'
- 'Mala Savjani is one of the bright stars of the new generation; particularly good on EU Settlement Scheme issues. Ana Gonzalez is excellent on LGBT asylum. Matthew Davies has a wealth of experience.'
- 'Muhunthan Paramesvaran provides extremely high quality service dedicated to winning his client's case. Imogen Townley takes apparently hopeless cases and turns them into winners. Aisling Ni Chuinn has forensically brilliant case preparation.'
Key clients
- Islington Council
- European Commission
- Here for Good
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Wilson Solicitors LLP
Matthew is a partner in the immigration department with 20 years of immigration law experience. He specialises in all areas of immigration and nationality law including advising individuals and organisations. His recent focus of activity has been in respect to relationship applications, human rights work, students, workers and the points-based system. He has represented on many appeals over the years including numerous reported cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has experience of large complex cases including national security appeals before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. Matthew sits as a part-time immigration judge in the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Ana specialises in asylum and immigration. Her main areas of expertise are human trafficking, gender/sexuality-based persecution claims and EU law. She has conducted many cases in the immigration courts, Court of Appeal and Administrative Court. Ana has a growing practice in human trafficking cases, EU law applications and privately funded matters. Ana successfully represented the country guidance case of AM and BM (Trafficked women) Albania CG [2010] UKUT 80 (IAC), the first human trafficking case to come before the Court of Appeal, PO (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWCA Civ 132, the country guidance cases of AB (Protection – Criminal Gangs – Internal Relocation) Jamaica and MK (Lesbians) Albania, and in the Supreme Court case of RT [2012] UKSC38 on political opinion.
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Senior partner specialising in all aspects of asylum, nationality and immigration law, including family and relationship-based applications. Michael specialises in finding solutions to unusual situations and has experience of using the full range of immigration options including the points-based scheme and business solutions. He has had three cases in the House of Lords, namely Hasan Adan v SSHD [1997] 2 All ER 723 (on refugee protection for victims of civil war), Lul Adan v SSHD [1999] 4 All ER 774 (interpretation of Refugee Convention in context of a removal to Germany) and Saadi v SSHD [2002] UKHL (legality of detention of asylum seekers and Article 5 of the ECHR – this case proceeded to a full hearing in the Grand Chamber in Strasbourg in 2008). He has had the conduct of numerous cases at all levels of the judicial ladder. Michael was appointed as a fee paid immigration judge in 2006.
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Muhunthan became a partner in 2010. He has a broad immigration and asylum practice and extensive experience of litigating in the higher courts. He has been instructed in numerous cases in the Upper Tribunal, Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Muhunthan also sits on the Law Society Immigration Law Committee. The committee exists to keep the law under review and to promote improvements in immigration and asylum law, practice and procedure. In 2016 the committee published a practice note on immigration judicial review aimed at solicitors in this area http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/practice-notes/immigration-judicial-review/ In 2017 the committee published a practice note on immigration appeals. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/practice-notes/immigration-appeals/ In 2019 the committee published a response to the Law Commission consultation on the simplification of the immigration rules with Muhunthan’s input. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/policy-campaigns/consultation-responses/simplification-of-the-immigration-rules/ In 2018 Muhunthan acted for Rhuppiah in the UK Supreme Court. He had previously acted for the client in the Court of Appeal. The appeal was successful in the UKSC and the client has been awarded a full costs order, which is very important to her because it means that she will get a full refund in respect of her legal aid contributions. The Supreme Court clarified the correct approach to “precarious” in S 117 in the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. https://www.wilsonllp.co.uk/supreme-court-gives-guidance-on-the-right-to-private-life-in-immigration-removal-cases In open court at the conclusion of the oral hearing Lord Wilson stated: “This case was beautifully prepared by the solicitors - just how an appeal to the Supreme Court ought to be presented”. That was an oral endorsement for the quality of the work undertaken by Muhunthan in the Supreme Court and was included in the live streaming broadcast of the proceedings. The UKSC report is at: https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/uk/cases/UKSC/2018/58.html&query=(rhuppiah)
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Anita Vasisht, Ana Gonzalez, Muhunthan Paramesvaran