Fahad Ansari

I am a Consultant in the Immigration and Public law departments at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I have extensive experience in all aspects of asylum, immigration and nationality law. I specialise in complex cases involving EU law, human rights claims, criminal deportation matters, deprivation of citizenship, terrorism and national security.

I am regularly instructed by individuals who have been deprived of their citizenship, excluded from the UK or who have had their passports confiscated on grounds that they pose a threat to national security. I also have significant experience in judicially reviewing the decisions of the Home Office in the High Court, the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration Asylum Chamber and the Court of Appeal. I have successfully challenged decisions in matters relating to unlawful detention, removal, delays, naturalisation, failure to apply policies, fresh claims, fee waver applications and entry clearance refusals.

I have secured significant damages for clients who were unlawfully detained. I work around the clock to protect my clients' interests and have obtained injunctions preventing the removal of many vulnerable individuals.

I regularly write about current affairs and have had articles published in the Guardian and New Statesman. I have also been invited to comment on legal developments by numerous media outlets including the BBC, Sky News, CNN and Al-Jazeera. I have spoken at international conferences around the world including at the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva.

I am accredited as a Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme, this means I have demonstrated the knowledge and expertise in this area of law as required by the Law Society.

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC): Distinction
• LLM (International Human Rights Law) - National University of Ireland, Galway (2.1 Hons)
• BCL (Int) - University College Dublin (2.1 Hons)

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 2013 - present
• TRP Solicitors Ltd: 2010 - 2013
• Fisher Meredith LLP (including secondment to Birnberg Peirce & Partners): 2007 - 2009
• Admitted as a Solicitor: 2009

• "Fahad Ansari has a burgeoning practice in national security cases in the High Court and Special Immigration Appeals Commission and has achieved remarkable results." - Legal 500 UK 2023


• "Fahad is a committed fighter for his clients. His passion and determination is evident in the way prepares for cases. Fahad is experienced in all areas of immigration and asylum law. Clients would do well to have him in their corner." - Adam Pipe, Barrister - No. 8 Chambers


• "Mr. Ansari has maintained an extremely professional attitude towards me as a client and kept me informed at all stages. He meticulously reviewed the details of our applications and provided me with excellent guidance on the best possible immigration strategy. I believe the complex process of granting visas in UK went easy and was approved smoothly because of his experience and comprehensive knowledge with immigration rules and legislation... I have known Mr. Ansari as an efficient, reliable person, but he also fascinates you with his sense of humility and calm style. Myself and my family would not wish a better person to deal with our case, and without hesitation I recommend him to anyone who needs the help of expertise." - Client


• "He provided adequate briefing before my hearings and consulted with me and my family in order to help us understand the process. Mr Ansari showed a lot of dedication in his work and had the capability to think out of the box. He persisted with all our queries given neither me nor my family have a law background. Mr Ansari was very responsive to communications made even on non-working hours. We received an excellent service which exceeded our expectations from all perspective." - Client


• "Fahad's reputation was clearly evident in his knowledge about immigration. He was very informative and supportive throughout the whole experience. He was always available for any questions and provided brilliant advice about the whole process." - Client


• "He was well informed and told us well in advance implications and outcomes of the case at each stage. His advice of alternatives to legal tussles as well as how to go about it was constructive. Mr Ansari's legal support, work and advice is excellent and trustworthy." - Client


• "Honest, precise and clear advise. Explored and explained all legal options. No false expectation all positive and negative outcome about my case was clearly explained.-interested, motivated and worked at completing the case quickly." - Client


• "I found him to be honest and upfront and no matter how complex the case you will be sure to get a realistic and genuine advice (no sugar coating as it's been my experience with other solicitors). I have learnt that choosing the right solicitor to represent your case should be given paramount importance. I honestly believe that Fahad Ansari has both the excellent quality with the excellent value for money." - Client


• "Fahad is an excellent solicitor who knows his job. He is a good listener with excellent communication skills. Fahad recognises that the best remedy to a case is not always obvious. He therefore go the extra mile in helping his clients using his expertise in the legal industry. Fahad is very proactive when analysing the cases and identifying relevant resources to ensure that the client's needs are met. I would recommend Fahad to everyone who needs help with immigration matters." - Client

• Recommended Lawyer - Legal 500 UK 2023 edition
• Association of Muslim Lawyers Awards (2012) – Shortlisted for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year

Court of Appeal

• SSHD v E3 & N3 [2019] EWC Civ 2020 - The Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) was successful in her appeal in these deprivation of citizenship cases, on the basis that the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) had erred in placing the burden of proof on the SSHD. The Court remitted the appeal to SIAC to reconsider the statelessness point.


• E3 and N3 - applied for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court subsequent to which the SSHD withdrew the deprivation decisions.

High Court

• D9 v SSHD, [2021] EWHC 2784 (Admin) - Challenge to the operation of the Authority to Carry Scheme under which the SSHD refused to permit an airline to carry the Claimant to the UK on national security grounds. Permission to judicial review granted by High Court.

Civil Court

• RT v SSHD, SN/72/2019 - Successful review of the decision to refuse to naturalise an Algerian national as a British citizen on grounds that he may be supportive of acts of terrorism.


• C3, C4 & C7 v SSHD, SC/167/2020, SC/168/2020 & SC/171/2020 - Successful appeals against decisions to deprive three British nationals of their UK citizenship on grounds of national security. Represented C7 in this appeal.


• R3 v SSHD, SC/150/2018 - Unsuccessful appeal against a decision to deprive a British national of his UK citizenship on grounds of Syria-related terrorism. An application for permission to appeal is currently before the Court of Appeal.


• E3 and N3 v SSHD, SC/138/2017 and SC/146/2017 - Successful challenge before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to the SSHD’s decisions to deprive two UK citizens of their British citizenship on the grounds that the deprivation orders had rendered them stateless. The Commission made important findings on the circumstances in which UK nationals with Bangladeshi family ties can be deprived of their citizenship.

• Senior Caseworker (Level 2) under the Law Society's Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme

• Travel
• Reading
• Hillwalking

• E3 & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 1133 (Admin) (13 May 2022) (26 May 2022)
• Victim of brutal domestic abuse loses appeal against deprivation of British citizenship (Free Movement) (10 March 2022)
• SIAC quashes decision to refuse British citizenship based on secret evidence (10 September 2021)
• Client wins appeal against removal of UK citizenship (19 March 2021)
• Successful judicial review of revocation of right to work (6 November 2019)
• Fahad Ansari takes part in Unreliable Evidence - 'Citizenship' (BBC Radio 4) (9 August 2019)
• Cart Judicial Review success and removal of child with Autism Spectrum Disorder halted by Court of Appeal in RS (Pakistan) and Ors v HMCTS and SSHD (26 March 2019)
• A secret court reverses the British government’s decision to make two men stateless (the Canary) (22 November 2018)
• UK blocked from making alleged extremists stateless by secret court in ruling that will set precedent (Independent) (22 November 2018)
• Secret Court Overturns Home Office Decisions To Deprive Two Men of their British Citizenship (20 November 2018)
• Home Office official tells man facing deportation: 'My job is to piss you off' (Guardian) (9 May 2018)
• Police threaten to deport Polish man seeking help after attack (The Guardian) (7 December 2017)