Toufique Hossain is a director of public law and immigration at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. He works predominantly under legal aid in order to represent those most in need. His practise is dominated by judicial review, leading strategic litigation where he represents individual claimants and NGOs who seek to challenge Executive decisions, policies and practices. He has extensive experience in the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, litigating across a range of areas and regularly conducting high-profile challenges to unlawful policies and practices, including unlawful detention and unlawful removals from the UK.Some of his most notabe cases include: SM v Lord Chancellor [2021] EWHC 418 (CRA, CJO, CAS) v Lord Chancellor (challenge to LAA Regulations) Detention Action v SSHD (access to justice – phone access) FB & Anor v SSHD (Removal Window Policy) Hussein v SSHD & G4S Morita & Ors v SSHD Rehman & Ors v SSHD & SSJ TH and others [2016] EWCA Civ 815 Wasif v SSHD [2016] EWCA Civ 82 JS (Sudan) [2013] EWCA Civ 1378 Toufique continues to have conduct of several lead complex cases. He has had conduct in unlawful detention cases involving mental health issues; Rule 35 and evidence in relation torture; lead cases challenging removals to France, Cyprus and Malta; removals to DRC; challenges to detention involving long-term detention of Chinese nationals and Afghan charter flight cases. In addition to challenging injustice through litigation, Toufique aims to advocate human rights by speaking out in the media. His appearances in The Guardian, Sky News, Russia Today, BBC and Channel 4 brings attention to the crucial role of legal aid, in holding the executive to account and in providing justice for those most in need.
England - South East • Employment
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
With extensive knowledge in challenging human rights breaches in removal and unlawful detention cases, Duncan Lewis Solicitors frequently helms asylum, deportation and immigration mandates. Toufique Hossain often caters to asylum-seekers who have been victims of sexual abuse, torture, and trafficking. Rohena Wallace is experienced in representing vulnerable clients, including those being held under immigration powers and with mental health problems. All of the individuals that have been mentioned split their time between Harrow and London.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Duncan Lewis as a team have impressed me with their professionalism, patience, and responsiveness to my needs. The practice has a diverse workforce and effective collaborations with experts from the legal sector as well as other sectors.’
- ‘What distinguishes the Duncan Lewis is their genuine care which is reflected by their commitment to learning about, understanding and addressing my concerns, even the very small details.’
- ‘Duncan Lewis are vital partners for us, taking on asylum and immigration cases for clients in detention, often these are clients who would be without good representation otherwise.’
- ‘This team is unique in its ability to bring important test cases against key parts of government immigration policy, for example: the Rwanda litigation; the pushbacks litigation; challenges to the modern slavery statutory guidance.’
- ‘A leading practice in all the big strategic litigation around immigration. They are now the team to beat. Totally top end - completely brilliant; strategic thinking and judgment, they work at speed and under pressure.’
- ‘Toufique Hossain is a tireless advocate for migrants' rights. He has a unique eye for spotting strategic issues and a truly brilliant understanding of the sector.’
- ‘Toufique Hossain is a unique operator in the immigration field. He has put together an excellent team that has the capacity to identify issues of wider importance from Duncan Lewis's routine work. Nobody in the sector can match his breadth of vision, team-building skills, or contacts.’
- ‘Toufique Hossain quietly manages everything and everyone, and his juniors speak unbelievably highly of him.’
Key clients
- Public and Commercial Services Union, Care 4 Calais, Detention Action alongside six asylum seekers
- HT, Detention Action & Public & Commercial Services Union
- MG
- QH
- WRW v SSHD
- Hareth Brothers
- KA
- Public and Commercial Services Union and Care 4 Calais v SSHD
- F5
- SH
Work highlights
- Challenged the SSHD’s ‘Rwanda policy’ to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. This challenge ultimately resulted in no individuals being removed to Rwanda.
- Challenged the wrongful detention of thousands of asylum seekers in Kent were unlawfully detained.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Bahar Ata, Claire Ryan, Gergana Pentcheva, Nazia Khan, Pardeep Somel, Rohena Wallace, Satvir Sahota, Toufique Hossain, Vilash Gami