Maaha specialises in housing and immigration law. She is regularly instructed by solicitors in complex and urgent cases, appearing in the County Court and the First-tier and Upper Tribunal across the full range of housing and immigration matters.
She is particularly valued for identifying creative legal arguments and delivering clear, pragmatic advice in complex cases.
Maaha was featured on the Aziz Foundation and Emerald Network’s “100 Inspiring Muslims” list in September 2024, in recognition of her work in human rights law.
Immigration Law
Overview
Maaha is regularly instructed across the full spectrum of immigration law including protection claims, family reunion, deportation, bail, entry clearance, leave to remain and business immigration. She has a busy practice representing migrants in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal.
She works closely with instructing solicitors from the outset to identify key legal and factual issues. She swiftly distils Home Office decisions, focusing on the burden of proof on the appellant and challenging legally irrelevant findings relied upon by the Secretary of State. Maaha goes beyond the papers to locate relevant objective country and medical evidence where necessary. This approach has produced a strong track record of Home Office withdrawals following service of her skeleton argument.
To ensure the Tribunal has the most complete evidential picture, Maaha remains actively engaged throughout the lifecycle of a case, responding to developments by advising on further evidence and preparing additional submissions. She readily identifies and addresses potential legal obstacles that may affect the viability of an appeal, including previous grants of refugee status by third countries and certification decisions. Maaha is also confident addressing procedural unfairness or erroneous oral submissions, ensuring the Tribunal is taken to the relevant authorities where necessary.
Well-known amongst solicitors for her work representing Kurdish and Afghan clients, she is regularly instructed to prepare strategically focussed appeals, drawing on her familiarity with country evidence.
Maaha is also developing a business immigration practice and is able to assist with sponsor licences and civil penalty matters.
Her cross-disciplinary practice enables her to identify possible public and civil claims at an early stage. Building upon her postgraduate studies in the field, she assists in judicial review and civil damages claims, challenging the prosecution of migrants arriving via small boat. Under the supervision of Sonali Naik KC, Maaha assisted in the challenge to the Rwanda deportation plan.
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Housing Law
Overview
Maaha has a busy County Court practice representing tenants in possession, disrepair, unlawful eviction, anti-social behaviour and succession proceedings.
She is experienced in deploying Equality Act, public law and human rights defences in housing disputes and develops innovative arguments tailored to the circumstances of each client through careful analysis of statute and case law.
Maaha advises and represents tenants throughout the lifecycle of possession proceedings, from the first hearing to trial. She identifies viable defences and counterclaims at an early stage, adopts a proactive approach to litigation strategy and recognises when interim applications should be made or early settlement pursued. Her practice includes complex possession claims raising fundamental issues, such as whether a tenancy existed at all where occupation arose under an oral family arrangement. She has secured substantial damages for tenants through both settlement and at trial.
Drawing on her experience as a Parliamentary Caseworker advising constituents on housing matters, Maaha combines an understanding of the practical realities of disrepair with the ability to distil extensive housing records, complaint histories and expert evidence into clear, strategically focused disrepair claims and counterclaims.
Maaha’s immigration practice enables her to advise on the wider consequences of housing litigation where immigration status affects a client’s rights and entitlements. She has acted in possession proceedings involving tenants with no immigration status and potential statelessness, advising on the housing claim and the clients’ immigration position, including potential Home Office accommodation and a statelessness application, to minimise the risk of homelessness.
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Administrative and Public Law
Overview
Maaha’s multi-disciplinary practice enables her to provide a holistic and strategic approach to public law challenges. She acts in urgent and complex claims for judicial review as sole counsel and led junior.
Maaha assists in immigration-related public law matters, including fresh claim refusals, certification decisions and delay challenges. Owing to Maaha’s expertise in immigration and housing, she is well-placed to assist in judicial reviews concerning the provision of Home Office accommodation.
