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Ahmed Aydeed , Duncan Lewis , Public Law Solicitor , City of London

Ahmed Aydeed

Director & Solicitor

Contact Information

Profile / Experience

Awards and Recommendations for Ahmed Aydeed
Legal 500 Chambers

"I have been very impressed by him."

Chambers UK 2024 Edition.
Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation  / UK-wide

Ahmed Aydeed is a Recommended Lawyer across 4 practice areas in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500. He is recommended for his expertise in Immigration: Human Rights, Appeals and Overstay; Administrative and Public Law; Civil Liberties and Human Rights; and Immigration Law in the West Midlands. The Legal 500 guide describes him as "excellent in asylum work".

Legal 500 2024 Edition.
Immigration; Administrative and Public Law; Civil Liberties and Human Rights; Immigration: human rights, appeals and overstay / London; West Midlands

"Ahmed is developing the law in a really positive way"

Chambers UK 2023 Edition.
Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation / UK-wide

'Ahmed, "an excellent strategic litigator" is ranked as a Recommended Lawyer across 5 practice areas in the 2023 edition of the Legal 500. He is recommended for his expertise in Public Law across London and South East; for his Immigration work across London and West Midlands, and his Civil Liberties work in London. The Legal 500 describes Ahmed as "highly innovative and has a real eye for spotting chinks in the immigration system that are vulnerable to challenge, and goes at them like an attack dog."

Legal 500 2023 Edition.
Administrative and Public Law / Civil Liberties & Human Rights / Immigration / London, South East & West Midlands

Ranked as 'Up and Coming', they comment: "Ahmed Aydeed is routinely instructed in judicial reviews that challenge Home Office immigration detention policy. His clients often include vulnerable individuals, from victims of trafficking and abuse to individuals with mental health needs. 'He gets very good results and is impressive.'"

Chambers UK 2022 Edition.
Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation / UK-wide

Ahmed is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 and "is highly regarded".

Legal 500 2022 Edition.
Immigration / South East; West Midlands

"He is very strategic - he looks at the bigger picture and maximises the effect of the litigation he is involved in. He is very on top of the law and he cares hugely about his client base."

Chambers UK 2021 Edition.
Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation / UK-wide

Duncan Lewis Solicitors fields a large immigration team that has significant expertise in immigration, asylum and judicial review claimant matters under the leadership of Ahmed Aydeed.

Legal 500 2021 Edition.
Immigration / West Midlands

Ahmed Aydeed is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500.

Legal 500 2020 Edition.
Human Resources: Immigration / South East

Ahmed Aydeed is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500,

Legal 500 2020 Edition.
Human Resources: Immigration / West Midlands: Birmingham

"Ahmed Aydeed has extensive experience asylum claims and unlawful detention matters"

Legal 500 2019 Edition.
Immigration / Milton Keynes and Luton

I am a Director of Public Law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I have extensive specialist experience in advising individuals on all types of public law issues. I have a broad practice in the areas of public law & human rights, including asylum, international protection, EU law, nationality law, administrative detention, discrimination & equality, family and child care proceedings. I am a Recommended Individual The Legal 500 for my immigration work, described as having "extensive experience asylum claims and unlawful detention matters"


I have represented individuals in Judicial Review proceedings against the Lord Chancellor, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Crown Court & Local Authorities.


I have been at the forefront in the battle against the unlawful detention of migrants in the UK, the unlawful processions of asylum claims in the UK through the Detained Fast Track system and, in particular, the criminalisation & detention of trafficking victims, torture victims & unaccompanied minor refugees.


I have brought successful class action challenges against the Secretary of State for the Home Department for:

  1. The procession of asylum claims and the administrative detention of highly vulnerable asylum seekers under the fast track process (DFT) and the Detained Asylum Casework process (DAC);
  2. The criminalisation & administrative detention of victims of trafficking; and
  3. The policy and application of Detention Centre Rules 34 and 35. These rules outline the Secretary of State’s obligation to guarantee that a medical practitioner carries out a mental and physical examination of all detainees, in order to ascertain whether or not detention is suitable in each case.


The litigation brought against the Secretary of State for the Home Department has had a significant impact on thousands of asylum-seekers, by ensuring that the Secretary of State implements effective safe-guards to prevent the unlawful procession of asylum claims and the unlawful detention of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.


I supervise a team of solicitors, trainees and caseworkers all dedicated to representing the most vulnerable in society.



Education

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) - BPP Law School
  • LLB Honours – University of Hertfordshire

Career

  • Duncan Lewis Solicitors 2012-present
  • Caseworker at Hersi & Co

Testimonials

  • "I have worked with Ahmed in two High Court judicial reviews, a case pending before the Court of Appeal, FTT proceedings, three urgent applications for interim relief, and a complex statelessness/Article 8 challenge. He is exceptional. He has a rare knack for thinking strategically about evidence and working backwards from the end-game in litigation. In all discussions, Ahmed is absolutely focused on his clients' best interests. This is also obvious when Ahmed undertakes media interviews in relation to his cases - I was touched by his remarks in a media interview following interim victory in NN and LP when he (rightly) said it was down to the courage of two vulnerable people who wanted to ensure that others also trafficked and enslaved did not lose their support. Ahmed thinks creatively (I have seen him spot a policy challenge our counsel team did not) and holistically (in trafficking cases he often manages actions against several government departments simultaneously). I am also aware that people in his team chose to move offices when he did so that they could continue working closely with him. That is testament to the person Ahmed is." - Zoe McCallum, Matrix Chambers

  • “Ahmed was kind, supportive, approachable and passionate about my case. Whenever I had a problem, I would call him and he would explain everything clearly." - Client, HTP (2017).

  • "My family & I would be in so much danger without Ahmed’s help, he has helped us when no one else would." - Client, HKD (2015).

  • High Court Judge Andrews DBE, in a case where a client had three previous legal representatives noted, after the case was referred to me, that "...the Claimant had finally managed to secure proper legal representation, after being referred to [Duncan Lewis] by the Helen Bamber Foundation" - Judge Andrews DBE quashed the Home Secretary’s decision and directed that she pays substantial damages for falsely imprisoning our client.

  • "As well as skill, dedication and commitment, he brings a rare combination of both a steely determination to seek justice for his clients and a warmth and generosity of spirit in his dealings with clients, many of whom face the most challenging of circumstances. These traits inform all of his professional relationships and mark him out as an excellent colleague." - Stephanie Harrison QC (Barrister), Garden Court Chambers.

  • "Ahmed has been tireless in his efforts to get these people proper justice. I have been most impressed by his hard work, commitment and efficiency. Ahmed has excellent tactical sense." - Nathalie Lieven QC (Barrister), Cornerstone Chambers.

  • "Ahmed is a highly motivated lawyer who is always looking for points of principle which can have a broader impact beyond the justice of the individual case. He has an ability to see trends in the case law and identify areas on which the boundaries of the law can be pushed. A number of other caseworkers work under him, and he is able to use the assets of his wider team to run test litigation on issues of complexity involving multiple clients with similar legal and factual issues." - Anthony Vaughan (Barrister), Garden Court Chambers.

  • "Ahmed is a lawyer who is relentless in his pursuit of a just remedy for his clients. He has an astonishing ability to run test cases involving a very wide class of persons, marshalling evidence, devising and managing litigation strategy, all the while maintaining a clear focus on the relief sought...above all else, Ahmed is a formidable lawyer, deeply and fundamentally committed to his clients." Raza Halim (Barrister), Garden Court Chambers.
  • "Ahmed is the most well-regarded and experienced lawyer in the area of trafficking. He is developing the law in a really positive way." Chambers and Partners UK, 2023.

  • "He is an impressive lawyer." Chambers and Partners UK, 2023.

  • "Ahmed does fantastic strategic litigation work on trafficking. He has really moved the law forward in this area." Chambers and Partners UK, 2023.

  • "Ahmed has made a particular name for himself in anti-trafficking challenges" - Legal 500 UK 2023

Awards

  • Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500, (2024 - 2019)
  • Ranked Band 3 - Chambers and Partners UK, (2023) - Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation, UK-wide
  • Ranked 'Up and Coming' - Chambers and Partners UK (2022 - 2021) - Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation, UK-wide
  • Highly Commended - Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award (2020) - Law Society Excellence Awards
  • Marsh Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fight Against Modern Slavery (2019) - Human Trafficking Foundation’s Anti-Slavery Day Awards
  • Rising Star (Private Practice) Award - UK Diversity Legal Awards, (2019)
  • Highly Commended - Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award - Law Society Excellence Awards, (2018)
  • Shortlisted - Partner of the Year - Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards, (2018 and 2022)
  • Winner - Junior Lawyer of the Year award - Law Society Excellence Awards, (2017)

Notable Cases

Court of Appeal
  • TH (Bangladesh) & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWCA Civ 815 (10 August 2016) – Court of Appeal - The claimants’ generic challenge to the fairness of the overall policy was also rejected by the Court of Appeal on the basis that the inclusionary criteria for the DII are contained in the well-established Chapter 55 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance (EIG) and that the policy was not unfair as a whole.This matter was important as, following that litigation, the Home Office brought in an Equality Act assessment and amended their policy for the betterment of detainees seeking asylum.

High Court
  • R (KTT) v SSHD [2021] - Challenge against Home Office decision to refuse our client leave to remain whilst her asylum claim was being processed. As a result of the decision, the law now means that many recognised victims of trafficking seeking asylum in the UK will be granted discretionary leave to remain.
  • R (KG) v SSHD (CO/386/2016) - Challenge against the policy and application of Detention Centre Rules 34 and 35. These rules outline the Secretary of State’s obligation to guarantee that a medical practitioner carries out a mental and physical examination of all detainees, in order to ascertain whether or not detention is suitable in each case. This litigation could have a significant impact on thousands of asylum-seekers, by ensuring that the Secretary of State has effective safe-guards to prevent the detention of the most vulnerable individuals.

  • ZS (A Child) v SSHD - Challenge to transfer unaccompanied asylum seeker to the UK.

  • TN & US v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] AA/05919/2014 AA/07130/2014 - The tribunal found that it has no jurisdiction to consider setting aside appeal determinations promulgated under the 2005 Fast Track (Tribunal Procedure) Rules, and it has no power to undertake a review of its own initiative.

  • TN (Vietnam) & US (Pakistan), R (On the Applications Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department & Anor (Rev 1) [2017] EWHC 59 (Admin) (20 January 2017) – High Court - This was a High Court Judicial Review class action case, it was chosen by the high court as the lead case on the vires of the 2005 Fast Track (Tribunal Procedure) Rules. The High Court declared that the 2005 Fast Track (Tribunal Procedure) Rules are ultra vires.

  • R (Zafar) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWHC 1217 (Admin) (25 May 2016) - High Court - The High Court struck down the Home Secretary’s refusal and certification of an asylum claim which was made in the structurally unfair and unjust Detained Fast Track (DFT) and ordered the Home Secretary to remake the decision afresh without regard to material obtained in the unfair process. The High Court also directed the Home Secretary to pay substantial damages for falsely imprisoning the Claimant, a vulnerable victim of torture, for 213 days as a result of subjecting him to an unlawful detained fast track asylum process and seeking to return him to Pakistan without giving him the opportunity to have his asylum claim fairly determined.

  • Hossain & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Rev 1) [2016] EWHC 1331 (Admin) (07 June 2016) – High Court - The Judicial Review challenge was brought as a test case and the four lead cases were selected as representative of the cohort of approximately 100 other stayed claims, also challenging the processing of their asylum claim in the Detained Asylum Casework (DAC). A generic challenge was advanced to the lawfulness of the SSHD’s policy ‘Detention: Interim Instruction and Process Map’ (the DII) and the unfairness suffered by the individual claimants as a result of their inclusion in the DAC process. The claimants argued that the SSHD’s decision to detain them solely for the purposes of examining and determining their asylum claims was unlawful. It was also contended that in devising and formulating detention policy, through implementing the DII, the SSHD failed to comply with her public sector equality duty (PSED) under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 by failing to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment.

Civil Court
  • Alvi & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] – Upper Tribunal - Judicial Review where generic relief was obtained by way of the ‘Rule 32’ process for all persons subject to an unlawful appellate process within the Detained Fast Track, reopening all appeals heard under the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Rules 2014 upon application, without more.

  • MOJ & Ors (return to Mogadishu) CG> [2014] UKUT 442 (risk of return to failed asylum seekers to Mogadishu) - Somali country guideline case assessing the risk on return to Mogadishu for failed asylum seekers.

Membership & Accreditations

  • Level 2 Immigration & Asylum Scheme
  • ILPA
  • Oxford University Advisory Group

Interests

  • Mixed martial arts
  • Football
  • Music

Articles

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