News

Who says hard work and determination don’t pay off? Naim and colleagues attended the Society of Asian Lawyers 15th Annual Ball at the Mariott Grosvenor Square. The night was well attended and an enjoyable night was had by all. Naim Rahman who joined the firm in 2003 qualified as a solicitor in June 2006 was presented with the award for Young Lawyer of the Year 2010 by the Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Linda Lee, and the Chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers, Sundeep Bhatia. He is currently a Partner and Joint Head of the Public Law department, based at the Hackney office.

Naim specialises in applications for Judicial Review in the Administrative Court; High Court Injunctions; appeals to the Court of Appeal and civil actions for damages in the High and County Courts. He advises on and conducts challenges to decisions of various public bodies including UKBA, Local Authorities, NASS, the Metropolitan Police, Universities, the CCRC, CAFCASS, NHS Trusts and HMPS. Naim has prevented hundreds of unlawful removals from the UK, obtained the return to the UK of several people who have been wrongfully removed, and has secured the release of numerous individuals who have been unlawfully detained, also winning damages on their behalf.

Naim has been instrumental in changing several Home Office policies and is currently heavily involved in test litigation covering various novel issues and large classes of Claimant. He regularly assists and advises both individuals and organisations on a pro bono basis, often being contacted for specific or general advice in situations where public funding is unavailable yet private funding is unfeasible. Naim has contributed to the success of the pro bono committee within Duncan Lewis with his enthusiasm and passion to assist the underprivileged, who would otherwise have no access to justice. This year Naim has had the opportunity to challenge Italian and Greece decisions, and is currently leading a case through the Court of appeal on a Greece related unlawful detention (which will impact upon many people on the same situation).

Several of Naim’s cases have been reported in the wider press. Some of his cases reported in the legal press are:

• R (Arkan MAHMOOD) v SSHD [2007] EWHC 867 QB (unlawful detention)

• R (Bashar MAMKI) v SSHD [2008] EWCA Civ 307 (unlawful detention)

• R (YH) v SSHD [2010] EWCA Civ 116 (Admin)(applicability of Rule 353, rights of appeal)

• R (on the application of OMAR) v SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT [2008] EWHC 206 (Admin), later reported as ZO (Somalia) and Ors v SSHD [2009] EWCA Civ 442 . This decision will allow several hundred thousand individuals access, where previously denied, to the UK labour market. It represents a fundamental change in the Law of England and Wales; the Secretary of State has petitioned the House of Lords; a full hearing is listed in the Supreme Court on Monday 17th May 2010, with the parties entertaining the possibility of a reference to the ECJ on the European Directive point.

• R (EW) v SSHD [2009]EWHC 2957 [Admin], Italy test cases, we were named as interveners on behalf of YM and BM.

• R (Sheikb Ahmad) v SSHD, [2009] EWHC (Admin) 2982, third country unlawful detention, significant public interest

Shany Gupta, CEO of Duncan Lewis comments: “We are extremely proud of Naim’s achievement. He is highly valuable, not only to Duncan Lewis, but to the legal sector.”

Naim Rahman is one of over 400 members of staff working for Duncan Lewis within 17 legal sectors.

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s leading Legal Aid practice and also one of the country's fastest growing firms of solicitors; servicing both corporate entities and private individuals.