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Bahar Ata , Duncan Lewis , Public Law Solicitor , City of London

Bahar Ata

Director

Profile / Experience

Awards and Recommendations for Bahar Ata
CILEX2019.jpg Legal 500

"An excellent, experienced lawyer with a good strategic eye", Bahar is a Recommended Lawyer The Legal 500 2024 edition for her public law, immigration, and civil liberties work across London.

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

Bahar is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 for her Immigration work across the South East and for her Public Law and Civil Liberties expertise in London. Bahar is described as having "an expert eye for spotting the winnable issues in unattractive cases. She is brilliant, inspired, energetic and compassionate." The Legal 500 also notes her "great experience in asylum cases including the most complex."

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

Bahar is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500.

Legal 500 2022 Edition.
Immigration / South East

Bahar is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2021 edition of The Legal 500.

Legal 500 2021 Edition.
Immigration / South East

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

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

Bahar is the winner of the Legal Expert Award 2019

CILEX 2019 Edition.
Public Law / CILEX National Awards 2019

Bahar is listed as a Recommended Lawyer in the 2019 edition of The Legal 500 and is described as a 'key figure whose"...understanding of immigration issues, especially asylum support and EEA law, is second to none."

Legal 500 2019 Edition.
Immigration / Milton Keynes and Luton

"Bahar Ata has substantial experience representing clients at the High Court in judicial review cases."

Legal 500 2017 Edition.
Immigration: Human Rights, appeals & overstay / South East: Milton Keynes & Luton
I am an experienced director and lawyer specialising in all areas of public law with a niche practice in immigration and human rights judicial review claimant matters. I am a fearless and dedicated advocate for human rights, which is demonstrated through my leadership in high-profile cases and extensive experience in representing clients before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), Administrative Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and the resulting judgments having far-reaching implications beyond the immediate, individual clients. I pride myself on going the extra mile for vulnerable individuals in order to ensure that their voices are heard.

The complexity of my work is demonstrated by the significant cases I have managed, which have not only had a profound impact on my clients but have also influenced legal standards, and are frequently cited in both UK and European courts.

In a recent notable case, I led a team that successfully challenged the Home Office's decision, which had deemed an Albanian asylum seeker's claim as unfounded without merit. This individual, known as 'H', was escaping potential violence related to a blood feud and threats from money-lenders in Albania. Despite guidelines suggesting Albania's limited protective measures against such feuds and the challenges of relocating within the country, the Home Office's stance has been to classify similar claims as baseless, typically preventing appeals. This certification had led to 'H's detention and the risk of deportation.

I have particular expertise and experience in representing clients before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) where I represent clients against deprivation and exclusion decisions, where individuals are deprived of their status in the UK and are excluded from the UK on either national security grounds or serious organised crime grounds. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institutes of the Legal Executives and a Director within the Public Law Department. I was promoted to lead the Immigration and Public Law departments shortly after qualifying, and at the time, I was the only Legal Executive to hold the post of Director within Duncan Lewis.

The Lord Chancellor appointed me as an Independent Funding Adjudicator and cost assessor to the Legal Aid Review Panel in 2021. A Legal 500 recommended lawyer since 2017 in the field of immigration and public law, I was also the winner of the Legal Expert award in 2019 awarded by the Chartered Legal Executives.

I am one of only 63 individuals in England and Wales to be accredited as an Advanced Caseworker in Immigration Law by the Law Society.



Education

  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives - CILEX Law School

Career

  • Appointed as Director of Public Law and Immigration at Duncan Lewis Solicitors (2016 - Present)
  • Qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Legal Executives (2016)
  • Accredited as a Level 3 Advance Caseworker - Law Society Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (2016)
  • Caseworker at Duncan Lewis Solicitors (2011 - 2016)
  • Caseworker at Hersi & Co Solicitors (2005 - 2011)

Testimonials

  • "Bahar Ata has an expert eye for spotting the winnable issues in unattractive cases. She is brilliant, inspired, energetic and compassionate, but she is also safe and reliable."

  • "Bahar Ata is a true advocate for human rights and cares passionately about vulnerable members of society. Her commitment is second to none and she is a true leader in the field."

  • "Bahar Ata has great experience in asylum cases including the most complex and in human rights."

  • "Bahar Ata’s immigration team in the Luton office are an exceptional team in a crowded field. The team has been involved in numerous notable cases in the higher courts, and stands out because of its extraordinary commitment to their clients, particularly when they represent vulnerable individuals."

  • "They are very well-known for their work in providing high-quality representation to vulnerable asylum seekers who arrived by “small boat” and who resist return to European countries that they have passed through before coming to the UK. Bahar Ata’s team have persistently and expertly challenged removal."

  • "They stand out because of their extraordinary commitment to their clients. They give vulnerable individuals a voice they may otherwise lack, and, they succeeds in winning the cases of clients where others may not. Their dedication to their clients is unflinching."

  • "Bahar Ata, whose team really takes a lot of last-minute work – without their support there are a lot of people would have been removed or deported unable to access legal advice."

Awards

  • Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500 UK since 2017
  • Finalist Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards (2020)
  • Awarded Legal Expert Award at the CILEX Awards (2019)
  • Finalist as a Lawyer of the Year at the Modern Law Awards (2019)
  • Finalist and Highly Commended as a Legal Expert at CILEX Awards (2018)

Notable Cases

Supreme Court
  • R (on the application of Hemmati and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] UKSC 56
  • Ahmed Mahad & Others -v- ECO [2009] UKSC 16

Court of Appeal
  • AEB v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWCA Civ 1512
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department v Starkey [2021] EWCA Civ 421
  • GB v R. [2020] EWCA Crim 2
  • Hemmati & Ors, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWCA Civ 2122
  • N (Afghanistan) & Anor v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Court of Appeal [2018] EWCA Civ 1059
  • HK (Iraq) & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 1871
  • AM (Jamaica) -v- SSHD [2008] EWCA Civ 1408

High Court
  • H v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWHC 2758
  • QH v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWHC 2691
  • Osadebay, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWHC 2086
  • EK, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWHC 2111 (Admin)
  • Baraka, R (on the application of) v SSHD [2018] EWHC 1549
  • Waheed v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 3080
  • Thompson v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2017] EWHC 230
  • Ibrahimi & Anor v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWHC 2049
  • Khaled v SSHD No 1 [2016] EWHC 857
  • Khaled, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (No 2) [2016] EWHC 1394
  • Muse and others (by their litigation friend Ali) v Entry Clearance Officer [2012] EWCA Civ 10
  • Odawey -v- ECO [2011] EWCA Civ 840
  • R (on the application of QB) -v- SSHD [2010] EWHC 483

Civil Court
  • D5, D6 & D7 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] UKSIAC 2
  • PS (cessation principles) Zimbabwe [2021] UKUT 283
  • TM (A Minor), R (on the application) v SSHD (Minor - asylum - delay) [2018] UKUT 299 (IAC)
  • ZMM (Article 15(c)) Libya CG [2017] UKUT 263 (IAC)

Membership & Accreditations

  • Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
  • Level 3 (Advanced) Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme
  • Supervisor Immigration and Asylum Accreditation
  • ILPA - Co-convener - Removals, Detention & Offences Working Group

Articles

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