Halima Safa

I am a Solicitor and Supervisor in the Immigration Department based at the City of London office.

I have extensive experience representing highly vulnerable clients, including asylum seekers, survivors of torture and trafficking, and individuals with complex mental health needs.

Earlier in my career, I advised on a broad range of private and public immigration matters, before developing a particular specialism in representing detained clients. My work has included advocacy in bail applications, nationality appeals, challenges to the revocation of refugee status, and cases involving deportation and removal.

My current practice predominantly focuses on unlawful detention and false imprisonment claims, including group litigation. I regularly act in urgent interim relief applications to secure the immediate release of clients from unlawful immigration detention. These cases often involve acute vulnerability, deteriorating mental health, or imminent risk of harm, requiring swift, strategic action.

I was the lead solicitor in R (Nakrasevicius) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 1856 (Admin), a landmark judgment providing authoritative guidance on the limits of immigration detention powers where criminal proceedings are ongoing.

I am particularly committed to cases which expose systemic failures within immigration detention and its intersection with the criminal justice system and other public authorities. I regularly act in complex, strategic claims that highlight structural failings at the interface of immigration enforcement, criminal justice and state bodies. Through this work, I have held public authorities to account and secured meaningful remedies for vulnerable individuals in high-stakes, multi-party detention litigation.

Alongside urgent public law work, I have successfully secured substantial damages for clients through robust pre-action engagement and strategic negotiation, in some cases achieving redress without the need to issue court proceedings. My approach combines early, forensic analysis of liability with decisive tactical decision-making, enabling clients to obtain meaningful remedies efficiently and without unnecessary litigation.

• City, University of London (2017 - 2018): Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC)
• City, University of London (2014 - 2017): LLB (Hons)

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors (October 2022 - Present)
• J D Spicer Zeb Solicitors (2021 - 2022)
• Admitted as a Solicitor (2021)
• Orchid Solicitors (2016 – 2021)

• "I found my self in a difficult situation and I have come across Duncan Lewis my solicitor was Halima she was great always had the best advice for me and fast at sorting things best solicitor I have come across strongly recommend" - Client (2023)


• "Dear Halima and Portia, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible news you shared with me today – that the Home Office has granted me refugee status. This is truly life-changing, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I want to acknowledge and appreciate the tireless efforts, dedication, and expertise you both put into my case. Your unwavering support, legal acumen, and genuine care made all the difference in securing this positive outcome. It has been a long and challenging journey, and I am profoundly grateful to have had you by my side every step of the way. Your professionalism and attention to detail were exemplary, and your guidance throughout the asylum application process was invaluable. I couldn't have asked for better advocates, and I will forever be thankful for your hard work and commitment to my case. Please extend my gratitude to your entire team, as I understand that it takes a collective effort to achieve such results. I will forever remember your kindness, support, and the positive impact you've had on my life. Thank you once again for everything you've done for me. Your commitment to justice has not only changed my life but has also restored my faith in the legal system." - Client (2023)


• "Miss Halima Begum took time to listen to me. She also got a lot of her colleagues to call me and listen to me (they are all very cheerful and make you feel at ease talking to them). Her colleagues are very warm and pleasant and the whole of Duncan lewis team do a good follow up with matters and advices. Even their male receptionists are so professional in dealing with calls. Halima is very good at details and connections. Miss Halima Begum is a hard worker as she can help you filling forms you are clueless about. More importantly they pick up phone calls or you can leave a message and they definitely get back to you. I miss listening to her sometimes as she can make you feel safe about options on the table and comfortable too. To close, I will say Miss Begum always gives you the grace to have the your last word before she terminates the call." - Yannick

High Court

R (Nakrasevicius) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 1856 (Admin)

• The High Court has ruled that the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) acted unlawfully in detaining an EU national for six months in a bid to facilitate confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). The landmark judgement in R (Nakrasevicius) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 1856 (Admin) provides important guidance on the limits of immigration detention powers when criminal proceedings are ongoing. The High Court found that the Home Office had misused its immigration detention powers by detaining the claimant not for the purposes of removal, but to indirectly support criminal proceedings – an improper and unlawful purpose. The judgement is a rare and significant example of a breach of Hardial Singh principle 1, which states that a person may only be detained for the purposes of deportation or removal.

Civil Court

IPC v SSHD [2024] County Court

• During a prolonged period of immigration detention, our client — who suffered from significant and complex health conditions — was denied adequate dental care. Despite the established principle that individuals in detention are entitled to healthcare equivalent to that available in the community, little was done to ensure he received the urgent treatment he required. The failure to provide appropriate care contributed directly to a marked deterioration in his mental health. We initiated judicial review proceedings and sought urgent interim relief. Only on the eve of the interim hearing did the Home Office agree to release him. At no stage during his detention was removal reasonably imminent, rendering the entirety of the detention unlawful under established principles. In a rare and notable development, the Home Office admitted the full claim at the outset of proceedings. The matter was issued in the High Court (King’s Bench Division) and subsequently transferred to the County Court for assessment of damages. Before trial, we secured a settlement of £34,000 for our client. Beyond the individual outcome, the case exposed a wider systemic concern: although detainees are theoretically entitled to equivalent healthcare, Immigration Removal Centres frequently lack the specialist equipment and infrastructure necessary to deliver adequate dental treatment. Our work in this matter highlighted serious gaps in the provision of healthcare in detention settings and underscored the need for the Home Office to take greater responsibility in ensuring proper coordination with healthcare providers and the implementation of robust procedures for emergency treatment. This case demonstrates our ability not only to secure meaningful compensation for unlawful detention, but also to identify and challenge structural failings within the detention estate — combining strategic litigation with a broader commitment to systemic accountability.

MSK v SSHD [2025]

• Our client, a national from Sierra Leone, was unlawfully detained by the SSHD for seven months. Despite having been granted bail by the First-tier Tribunal and being recognised as a victim of torture, he remained in detention for a further four and a half months. Before issuing proceedings for false imprisonment, we successfully negotiated a settlement with the Home Office, securing £26,000 in damages. This outcome demonstrates our ability to achieve high-impact results for vulnerable clients without resorting to full-scale litigation. By combining legal expertise with strategic advocacy, we were able to protect our client’s rights, avoid unnecessary costs, and prevent the stress and emotional burden of protracted court proceedings. The case highlights our skill in navigating complex detention claims, holding public authorities to account, and delivering client-focused solutions in situations where speed, discretion, and expertise are critical.

• Animal lover
• Travelling
• Swimming

• Duncan Lewis secures release for highly vulnerable client following urgent interim relief application (26 February 2026)
• Duncan Lewis secures £60,000 damages for unlawfully detained torture and trafficking survivor (20 February 2026)
• High Court Rules Home Secretary Misused Powers in Unlawful Detention of EU National (14 May 2025)
• Duncan Lewis Secures Significant Damages for Unlawfully Detained Client (9 July 2024)