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Ahmed Aydeed Shortlisted for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year at Law Society Excellence Awards (3 August 2018)

Date: 03/08/2018
Duncan Lewis, Main Solicitors, Ahmed Aydeed Shortlisted for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year at Law Society Excellence Awards

We are thrilled to announce that Duncan Lewis’ Ahmed Aydeed has been shortlisted for the coveted Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award at the 2018 Law Society Excellence Awards.

The youngest appointed partner at Duncan Lewis, Director of Public Law, Ahmed has been at the forefront in the battle against the unlawful detention of migrants in the UK, the unlawful processions of asylum claims in the UK through the Detained Fast Track system and, in particular, the criminalisation & detention of trafficking victims, torture victims & unaccompanied minor refugees.

Ahmed joined Duncan Lewis in 2012 and became a Director in Public Law last year in the firm’s Birmingham office, where he has established himself in a broad range of Public Law matters. Ahmed specialises in cases relating to public law and human rights matters, including asylum, international protection, EU law, nationality law, administrative detention, discrimination and equality, as well as family and child care proceedings.

Ahmed is established in bringing judicial reviews against the Lord Chancellor, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Crown Court & Local Authorities. He has brought successful challenges against the Secretary of State for the Home Department for numerous matters. These include; the procession of asylum claims and the administrative detention of asylum seekers under the fast track process (DFT) and Detained Asylum Casework process (DAC); the criminalisation and administrative detention of victims of trafficking and the policy and application of Detention Centre Rules 24 and 35.

Most notably, Ahmed was the lead solicitor in the challenge against the Detained Fast Track process challenging the vires of the 2005 rules. Ahmed obtained injunctive relief for the lead claimant – a victim of trafficking (VOT) – who was due to be removed the day Ahmed took on the case. Ahmed successfully pursued the case to the Court of Appeal where interim relief and permission were granted preventing the return of a VOT. This led to the Admin Court declaring the DFT rules ultra vires.

Notably, Ahmed also acted pro bono to represent a young British teenager, MT, who was raped by an adult male, and denied compensation on the basis that she consented to the sexual acts. MT was successful in her appeal and the Tribunal found that there was a very high threshold required to find a 13-year-old had consented to have sex with an adult. Ahmed is working closely with the charity Women against Rape to challenge the issue of consent and many other aspects of the CICA scheme by way of judicial review.

His dedication to the preservation and promotion of human rights has been demonstrated by the key public law challenges he has led, resulting in decisions that have benefited thousands of vulnerable asylum seekers.

In recognition of his legally aided work, Ahmed was awarded Junior Lawyer of the Year at the 2017 Law Society Excellence Awards. He was also a finalist in the Birmingham Law Society Awards 2018 for Partner of the Year, recognising his commitment to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of society and his superior leadership and management demonstrated as a senior law practitioner.

Ahmed ‘s experience fighting unlawful immigration, asylum and human rights matters should place him in good stead for the ultimate showdown against fellow Duncan Lewis colleague, Naim Hasani, who is also shortlisted for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year.

Read more about Naim’s shortlisting here.

Duncan Lewis Public Law Solicitors

The Duncan Lewis Public Law department continues to be recommended by Legal 500 for its depth of experience in immigration and civil liberties challenges and is acknowledged as having a "stellar reputation in handling test cases". The Legal 500 2017 edition applauds Duncan Lewis for its specialism in judicial review and Court of Appeal cases.

Our solicitors carry out both publicly and privately funded work with extensive experience in all aspects of judicial review claimant matters, including obtaining emergency orders and other interim relief to prevent breaches of human rights, following up judicial reviews with actions for damages in both the County and High Court and successfully pursuing judicial review matters to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

To speak to an expert in your public law matter, call 0333 772 0409.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
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