We are thrilled to announce that four Duncan Lewis lawyers have been shortlisted for awards at this year’s Society of Asian Lawyers Legal Awards. Criminal defence director, Rubin Italia has been shortlisted for the prestigious Criminal Lawyer 2018 award; childcare director Ravi Kaur Mahey has been shortlisted for the Commercial/Civil Lawyer 2018 award; and public law solicitor Sheroy Zaq has is up for the Rising Star 2018 award. Housing director Manjinder Kaur Atwal has been shortlisted for two awards, the Commercial/Civil Lawyer Award and the Rising Star Award. And last but not least, CEO Shany Gupta has been shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award 2018.
The 24th Annual Asian Legal Awards will take place on 27th October at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London and will celebrate the individuals who have excelled in their fields.
Rubin Italia specialises in all criminal defence and civil liberties work including road traffic offences, murder, rape, extradition and all serious crime, such as large-scale drug conspiracies and immigration-related crimes. His shortlisting reflects the excellent work he carries out as director of the criminal defence department, which includes his involvement representing and assisting a number of core participants in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Housing director, Manjinder Kaur Atwal, specialises in a wide range of housing matters including; possession claims and eviction matters; landlord and tenant disputes; homelessness; housing disrepair and bringing Judicial Review matters. Her shortlisting is a testament to her most notable undertaking this last year, her pro bono work and her work with the Grenfell Tower victims. As well as assisting victims with their immediate housing needs, she is heavily involved in negotiations and raising awareness for those who have been impacted.
Ravi Kaur Mahey is a family and childcare director. She is recognised as an expert in her field and specialises in all areas of children law. Ravi is a leading figure in acting for victims of forced marriages, honour based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM). She was instrumental in a highly reported case where a child was a risk of FGM. Ravi’s shortlisting reflects her success and persistence in this case as well as devotion to her clients and her ability to achieve successful outcomes in highly sensitive cases.
Public Law solicitor Sheroy Zaq has been integral to challenging detention conditions in Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, which led the High Court to declare that the Secretary of State for the Home Department had indirectly discriminated against the rights of Muslims to properly observe their faith through prayer owing to the conditions of the detention centre. His shortlisting for Rising Star is testament to representing some of the most marginalised people in society.
Duncan Lewis’ CEO Shany Gupta’s shortlisting for the impressive Lifetime Achievement Award reflects the commitment he has dedicated to overseeing the rise of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, transforming it from a one-office establishment in Hackney into the largest provider of legal aid in the UK.
Huge congratulations to all the nominees who have been recognised for their hard work and commitment to their respective fields. Good luck everyone!
Last year, Immigration and Public Law solicitor, Krisha Prathepan won the Society of Asian Lawyers’ prestigious Civil Lawyer of the Year Award for her pro bono work including her work involving the blocking of the forced return of asylum-seekers to EU countries.
In 2016, Family & Child Care Consultant Solicitor Jaswinder Kalsi received the Society of Asian Lawyers’ prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for her Legal Aid work assisting the most vulnerable of our society.
With The Law Society reporting that only 17% of BAME lawyers are at partner level, it is essential to promote diversity within the legal profession. Duncan Lewis Solicitors are dedicated to recruiting the most talented employees, regardless of gender, ethnicity or background. With 63% of our workforce female and nearly 60% coming from an ethnic minority background, we are proud of our commitment to equal opportunities and having a workforce that best serves its communities.
We have long been devoted to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and provide services to clients across London and throughout England and Wales in a manner that embraces diversity and encourages equal opportunities. This is achieved by recruiting and retaining diverse talent, understanding and delivering the needs of clients and supporting the diverse communities served by the firm.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Duncan Lewis Solicitors, established in 1998, is a national law firm serving both corporate entities and private individuals from 52 offices across London and throughout the UK. In 2009 Duncan Lewis was the first law firm in the UK to achieve the Investors in People Gold Quality Standard Mark and is recognised by Legal 500 as a Top Tier firm for its immigration and human rights work.
Established areas of law are: action against public authorities, business immigration, child care, civil liberties, clinical negligence, community care, crime and fraud, dispute resolution, debt and insolvency, employment, family and divorce, housing, Islamic law, asylum and immigration, litigation, mental health, mental capacity, personal injury, prison law, professional negligence, public law and administrative law, regulatory matters, wills and probate and welfare benefits.