Rebecca Chapman

Year of Call: 1990

"She is a very strong advocate, an excellent communicator and brings gravitas to proceedings."

Chambers UK, 2025 (Immigration, Band 1)

"Hugely empathic, brilliant on Article 8 family life claims."

Legal 500, 2025 (Immigration)

"We could not be happier with the outcome... Her help has meant the world to us! We feel so lucky that she was able to take our case and we would recommend Rebecca and the rest of her team to anyone in need of legal advice."

Public Access Client. 2024

"She is able to draw on her experience as a Tribunal judge and her written advocacy is very effective."

Chambers UK, 2024 (Immigration, Band 1)

"She is a true star of the immigration Bar. She is extremely experienced and knowledgeable."

Legal 500, 2024 (Immigration)

"One of most experienced leading barristers in immigration. She brings authority and knowledge to everything."

Chambers UK, 2023 (Immigration)

"Rebecca is a true leader in the field."

Legal 500, 2022 (Immigration)

"A go-to barrister you can put any case in front of and she will do a good job on it. She is a leader in the field who is sympathetic but practical, and is very effective."

Chambers UK, 2021 (Immigration, Band 1)

Contact

To get in touch:​ Or you can contact the relevant​ Practice Team Clerks directly and they will be happy to assist with your enquiry.

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Rebecca practises in all aspects of immigration and asylum law. She has particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable women and children, LGBTI+ individuals, family reunion and article 8 cases and deportation. She represents clients at all levels from the First-tier Tribunal to the Grand Chamber of the ECtHR.

IMMIGRATION: ASYLUM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Overview

Rebecca has three decades of experience representing clients with asylum claims, with a particular focus on unaccompanied minors and those facing persecution on account of their gender or sexual orientation. She also has substantial experience in article 8 claims based on family life, and article 3 claims based on health and medical conditions. She co-authored “A Practical Guide to Health & Medical cases in Immigration Law”, published in 2021. Rebecca was appointed a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal (IAC) in 2015.

Notable Cases

R (ota) AM v SSHD [2022] EWHC 2591 Admin [14.10.22]
Lieven J held that the absence of any provision within the Immigration rules for victims of transnational marriage abandonment unlawfully discriminated against them.

R (ota) Fowler and Coleman SC/CIV/05/20; SC/CIV/06/20 [26.5.21]
The Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands quashed the decision of the Principal Immigration Officer, upheld by the Governor in council, to revoke the work permits of the Applicants and deport them on the grounds of procedural unfairness.

R (ota) Gayle v SSHD [2017] EWHC 3385 (Admin)
Wall J held that the SSHD had failed to take account of material considerations when refusing the Claimant ILR and granting DL, in particular the medical evidence as to the impact on her mental health.

GS India & others [2015] EWCA Civ 40, acting for BA (Ghana)
The Court of Appeal maintained the article 3 threshold established in N(HL) and ECtHR. Following judgment of the ECtHR in Paposhvili v Belgium the SSHD reconsidered the cases.

SS Malaysia (2013) EWCA Civ 888
Whether the circumcision of a male child engaged Articles 3 and 8 of ECHR.

OO (Algeria) (2013) UKUT 63 (AIC) and [2016] CG UKUT 00065 (IAC)
Country guidance decision regarding the risk of persecution to gay Algerians.

MM (Zimbabwe) v Sec State Home Dept (2012) EWCA Civ 279
Whether Article 8 engaged and, if so, the test was to be applied in respect of a deportation appeal where the appellant suffered from severe mental health issues.

IA (Turkey) (2010) EWCA Civ 625 (distinguishing TB (Jamaica)
Unlawfulness earlier in the decision meaning that history may, in principle, sometimes taint a subsequent immigration decision but an earlier immigration decision by the Secretary of State of the Home Department (SSHD), which might have been appealed to the Tribunal, but which has not been appealed, or not been appealed in time, must subsequently be treated by all parties as lawful.

R (ota) Ahmed (2009) EWHC 2676 Admin
Judge Ouseley ordered the SSHD to return the claimant to the UK from Iraq following a finding that his Article 8 rights had been breached.

R (ota) Abdullah (2009) EWHC Admin 1771
Whether the unmarried third country national partner of an European Economic Area (EEA) national has an in-country right of appeal.

R (ota) Malik (2008) EWHC Admin 888
Judicial review of the decision to remove a third country national to Greece under the provisions of the Dublin Convention.

AC (Turkey) (2004) UKIAT 00122
Whether the Article 8 rights of the mother, who was facing deportation, were shared by her daughter.

AA (Somalia) (2002) UKIAT 05720
Geledi are a sub-clan of the Benadiri minority clan and are thus at risk of persecution.

R (on the application of) B v an Adjudicator (2002) EWHC 1469
Medical evidence has to be considered by an adjudicator when assessing the credibility of an asylum applicant.

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Administrative and Public Law

Overview

Rebecca practises in all aspects of administrative and public law.

Contact Rebecca

Rebecca Chapman

Notable Cases & News

Garden Court Chambers celebrates 50th Anniversary

This year marks 50 years of Garden Court Chambers winning ground-breaking cases of constitutional importance.

Friday 31 May 2024

Landmark High Court ruling finds Home Office unlawfully discriminates against victims of domestic abuse abandoned outside the UK

In R on the application of AM v SSHD [2022] EWHC 2591 (Admin) Lieven J held that victims of transnational marriage abandonment are in an analogous position to victims of domestic abuse in the United Kingdom. However, while victims of domestic abuse in the United Kingdom can, provided they meet other requirements, apply for indefinite […]

Tuesday 18 Oct 2022

Garden Court Immigration Team dedicate 10th Edition of Macdonald’s Immigration Law & Practice to the life and legacy of Ian Macdonald QC

The General Editors, Stephanie Harrison QC, Ronan Toal & Sadat Sayeed, are leaders in the field & practice in the number one ranked Garden Court Immigration Team. David Neale is a legal researcher & former barrister

Friday 25 Jun 2021

Garden Court and Stephanie Harrison QC shortlisted for Human Rights and Public Law awards

Garden Court has been shortlisted at the Chambers Bar Awards, whilst Stephanie and our Public Law Team are shortlisted at the Legal 500 Awards.

Friday 21 Oct 2016

Chambers UK Bar Guide ranks Garden Court in Band 1

Garden Court Chambers recognised as a leading set for immigration, social housing, civil liberties, police law, Court of Protection, crime and inquests and public inquiries.

Friday 30 Oct 2015

Garden Court Chambers ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK 2014

We are once again delighted to have been ranked as a leading set by Chambers and Partners in the Chambers UK 2014 directory.

Thursday 31 Oct 2013

Background

Before joining Garden Court Chambers in 2013, Rebecca practised at Tooks Chambers for 17 years. Prior to this, Rebecca worked for the Refugee Legal Centre (latterly Refugee and Migrant Justice) for four years.

Rebecca has acted as an external examiner for the Human Rights LLM at the University of York.

Rebecca is a trustee of Refugee Legal Support.

She lives in London with her partner and son.

Training and seminars

Rebecca regularly provides training for for the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) and has also conducted training sessions for Maternity Action, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrations (JCWI), Amnesty International and FORWARD UK.

Rebecca regularly trains and speaks at conferences and seminars concerned with the rights of refugee and migrant women, particularly on domestic violence and trafficking, both to lawyers and community groups and organisations.

Education

  • BA (Hons) Sociology (York), Diploma in Law (London)

Professional Memberships

  • Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)
  • The Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

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