Sophie Chadd
Solicitor
Contact Information
- Solicitor
- Immigration
- City of London
- 02072752625
- 02031190356
- @Send Email
Profile / Experience
I am a Solicitor within the public law and immigration team at Duncan Lewis, working under the supervision of Director Rohena Wallace. I work on a variety of judicial review claims with regards to victims of trafficking and other human rights issues.
I am accredited as a Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme, this allows me to advise and assist both privately and publicly funded clients and is a reflection of the level of expertise and knowledge I have in this area of law. I have extensive experience working with vulnerable clients, victims of torture, rape, clients that are detained, asylum seeking adults and unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors.
HHH & ors v SSHD (JR-2024-LON-001182),these group judicial review proceedings were brought on behalf of 12 clients, all of whom had been refused “VTS leave” (leave to remain in the UK for the purposes of assisting their recovery from their experience of trafficking). I managed this strategic challenge alongside my colleague Angelo Monni.
Proceedings ended in late July 2024, after the Home Office agreed to review their policy in light of the concerns we had raised. The Home Office also agreed to reconsider the claimants’ negative VTS decisions, in addition to giving assurances regarding a large number of other Duncan Lewis clients who had not yet issued proceedings. The Guardian reported on the successful outcome of this case here, in an article which featured a quote from me and my colleague Angelo Monni.
I have previously undertaken voluntary work placements, at The European Union Delegation to China (Beijing) and as a volunteer translator for China Development Brief.
I am accredited as a Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme, this allows me to advise and assist both privately and publicly funded clients and is a reflection of the level of expertise and knowledge I have in this area of law. I have extensive experience working with vulnerable clients, victims of torture, rape, clients that are detained, asylum seeking adults and unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors.
HHH & ors v SSHD (JR-2024-LON-001182),these group judicial review proceedings were brought on behalf of 12 clients, all of whom had been refused “VTS leave” (leave to remain in the UK for the purposes of assisting their recovery from their experience of trafficking). I managed this strategic challenge alongside my colleague Angelo Monni.
Proceedings ended in late July 2024, after the Home Office agreed to review their policy in light of the concerns we had raised. The Home Office also agreed to reconsider the claimants’ negative VTS decisions, in addition to giving assurances regarding a large number of other Duncan Lewis clients who had not yet issued proceedings. The Guardian reported on the successful outcome of this case here, in an article which featured a quote from me and my colleague Angelo Monni.
I have previously undertaken voluntary work placements, at The European Union Delegation to China (Beijing) and as a volunteer translator for China Development Brief.
Education
- Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) - UWE Bristol
- MA Chinese - University of Leeds
- BA Hons Theology and Religious Studies - University of Leeds
Career
- Started with Duncan Lewis as a Caseworker (2016)
- Admitted as a Solicitor (14 February 2022)
Membership & Accreditations
- Level 2 Accreditation - Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme
Articles
- Government to Reconsider Unlawful Trafficking Policy Following Duncan Lewis Challenge (30 July 2024)
- Duncan Lewis Challenges Unlawful Trafficking Policy on Behalf of Multiple Clients (3 June 2024)
- Duncan Lewis has been instructed to represent the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially in Women and Children, in the Court of Appeal (4 November 2021)