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We are pleased to announce that public law solicitor Sangeetha Vairavamoorthy has been awarded the Society of Asian Lawyers’ Rising Star Award at the Asian Legal Awards 2021.

The Society of Asian Lawyers aim to promote and develop the legal profession in the Asian community within the UK.

Sangeetha litigates across numerous areas and conducts high-profile challenges to unlawful policies and practices affecting vulnerable people, resulting in test case litigation. She has extensive knowledge of prison law, policy and procedures, and has developed a strong practice in legal challenges to the mistreatment of prisoners.

Sangeetha, through her own initiative and passion to represent those who are frequently overlooked, developed a specialism in prison public law. Her expertise is renowned, and she often receives referrals through recommendations from prisoners, charities and Counsel.

In the reported case MA, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Justice & Ors [2021] EWHC 1266 (Admin) (14 May 2021), Sangeetha (lead solicitor) represented a transgender married couple in JR challenging the prison’s unlawful ban upon their communication. They are both serving prisoners who were separated without notice shortly after their marriage. The Defendant thereafter prevented the couple from communicating with one another.

It was concluded that the restrictions were “unnecessary and disproportionate”, with a lack of “firm evidence” to justify them. Despite setbacks due to Covid-19 and difficulties with access to justice within prisons, this case is a prime example of Sangeetha’s ability to give clients a voice.

She is running a test case at the Upper Tribunal (UT) to determine the obligations on the Home Office to return someone to the UK after the First-tier Tribunal (FtT) direct that they cannot have a fair and effective appeal from overseas. Whilst the Appellant in the claim has since been returned to the UK, Sangeetha pursued the case on the basis that it had greater importance. The UT agreed and has now retained the application for test case litigation given the wider public interest.

Sangeetha’s dedication to her clients is longstanding. Last year, after a Home Office error meant a man was forced back to prison for 11 more days after his release, Sangeetha cancelled her leave over Christmas to work with her team on his urgent case. Due to the time of year, Barristers were unavailable to assist, there were delays from the authorities and it was difficult to secure paperwork. The case also involved novel issues, where even the public authorities involved were unclear on their obligations. Through her and her team’s perseverance the client was released to his family on Christmas Eve following a letter before action.