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Claire Ryan , Duncan Lewis , Immigration Solicitor , City of London

Claire Ryan

Director & Solicitor

Contact Information

Profile / Experience

Awards and Recommendations for Claire Ryan
Legal 500

"Claire Ryan is noted for her expertise in Immigration: Human Rights, Appeals and Overstay."

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

Claire is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 for Public Law and Civil Liberties in London with "substantial ability and competence".

Legal 500 2023 Edition.
Administrative and Public Law / Civil Liberties and Human Rights / London
I am a Director in the Immigration department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I have a diverse caseload of immigration and public law cases. I supervise a team of caseworkers and trainee solicitors who are dedicated to providing quality representation to the most vulnerable in society.

I have significant experience representing unaccompanied asylum seeking children, victims of torture, domestic violence and trafficking. I frequently conduct advocacy and represent clients in the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration Asylum Chamber. I have successfully represented clients in a variety of asylum applications and appeals, with particular experience in asylum claims based on sexuality and gender based violence.

Alongside my work at Duncan Lewis I completed a Masters in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration, focusing my dissertation on the United Kingdom's application of Article 1F of the Refugee Convention.

I am accredited as a Supervisor and Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme which means that I have demonstrated the required level of competency and knowledge in this area of law as defined by the Law Society. I also hold an enhanced DBS check.

Public Law
I regularly challenge decisions of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, including unlawful detention, certification of asylum claims and negative trafficking decisions. I represent individuals in detention and have been successful in securing release for many clients. I also challenge detention through judicial review and civil claims. I have secured significant awards of damages in a number of detention claims.

I represent unaccompanied asylum seeking children in both their asylum and public law matters.

I frequently challenge local authority's age assessment decisions and sensitively support children throughout the process.



Education

  • University of London: MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration - Distinction
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) - Distinction
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) - Commendation
  • University of Sussex: English Literature BA Hons: 2:1

Career

  • Duncan Lewis Solicitors - Director: January 2022 - present
  • Duncan Lewis Solicitors - Supervisor: 2016 - present
  • Admitted as a Solicitor in 2015
  • Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 2012 - present

Testimonials

  • "Claire has substantial ability and competence" - Legal 500 UK 2023

  • ”Thank you, thank you so very much. I'm so very happy - I haven't been this happy in such a long time. Words can't quite express how grateful I am to you and your support all the way. I've been so lucky indeed to have a wonderful and brilliant solicitor like you” - Client, 2022

  • "My experience with Duncan Lewis Solicitors has been great, I would like to thank Claire Ryan especially for all the good work she done and achieves on my behalf, I would recommend Duncan Lewis Solicitors to any person." - Client, 2019

  • ”You have been an amazing person who supported [client] throughout all this battle. It has been difficult for all of us but you remained calm and professional, always very positive though his case.” - Friend of client, 2019

Awards

  • Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500 UK, (2024 - 2023)

Notable Cases

High Court
  • LC, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWHC 1925 (Admin) - Solicitor with conduct - The case concerned the detention and deportation of an EEA national. The High Court held the Claimant had been unlawfully detained since April 2018.

Civil Court
  • FS v London Borough of Croydon [2019] - Challenge to a Local Authority age assessment of an unaccompanied asylum seeking child. The Upper Tribunal found the Applicant was his claimed age.

Membership & Accreditations

  • Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme: Level 2 (Senior) Caseworker
  • Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme: Supervisor

Interests

  • Rock climbing
  • Running
  • Cycling
  • Gymnastics
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