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Public Law Solicitors

Public Law Solicitor Sulaiha Ali shortlisted at this year’s British Legal Awards (22 September 2020)

Date: 22/09/2020
Duncan Lewis, Public Law Solicitors, Public Law Solicitor Sulaiha Ali shortlisted at this year’s British Legal Awards

We are pleased to announce that public law solicitor Sulaiha Ali has been shortlisted for the Rising Star – Private Practice award at this year’s British Legal Awards. The British Legal Awards are the leading awards for the UK’s business law community and celebrate excellence, achievement, and innovation in the legal profession.

The Rising Star Award looks to recognise and celebrate the future legal stars that demonstrate significant leadership, strategic vision, and have contributed to both the wider community and to the success of their firm.

With only five years’ post-qualification experience litigating public law cases, Sulaiha has established herself as a leading figure in conducting high-profile challenges to unlawful practices and policies affecting vulnerable and marginalised individuals.

She has been involved in cases that generated significant media exposure, including her challenge to the SSHD’s refusal to return a deported individual to the UK in the wake of their ‘deport now, appeal later’ policy. The case R (on the application of Watson) v SSHD was the first successful one of its kind.

Sulaiha used evidence to illustrate why the appeal could not proceed fairly while the Appellant was outside the UK. The Upper Tribunal’s consideration of the procedural fairness issues was fact specific, and found in the Appellant’s favour as to why his appeal could not be effective while he was outside the UK. Despite this, the SSHD refused to return Watson to the UK. After hearing submissions from both parties, the SSHD was directed to fund and facilitate the Appellant’s return to the UK as soon as practicable, so his appeal could be considered de novo, where any appeal submissions made by the SSHD would be entertained at a rolled up hearing.

Sulaiha’s work on this matter resulted in her being named The Times’ Lawyer of the Week, a remarkable feat and a huge achievement.

Moving forward, Sulaiha is working on numerous challenges that raise issues of wider significant importance. She has recently issued JR proceedings challenging the exclusion of refugee minors from benefitting from family reunion with their parents and siblings. Sulaiha has also been granted permission by the Administrative Court in a JR that challenges the legality of the SSHD’s rules and policy regarding the ability of asylum seekers to work in the UK whilst their asylum claims are pending. If successful, the challenge is likely to impact thousands of asylum seekers in the UK.

Sulaiha’s director Toufique Hossain comments;

“Sulaiha’s impressive success record sets an example to the junior members in her team. As a supervisor, she oversees the progression of individual caseworkers and trainees and shines as a solicitor they can aspire to emulate.

“Her successful record and her commitment to defending the vulnerable makes her one of the outstanding figures in the area of public law and she is thoroughly deserving of being named this year’s Rising Star.”


Sulaiha finds herself in remarkable company as she is nominated alongside a number of partners from other law firms, something that speaks volumes in terms of the level of expertise she has.

This year the British Legal Awards will be taking place as a virtual event on 19th November 2020. We wish Sulaiha the best of luck and will be cheering her on on the night.


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