Taimour Lay

Year of Call: 2011

"An experienced immigration specialist, Taimour is particularly favoured by lay and professional clients for approachability and an ability to communicate complex legal issues."

Legal 500, 2025 (Immigration, Tier 4)

"The service was excellent, the barrister and his team were very supportive and kind. They were always there to reassure me that everything will be alright in my situation, as it was very complicated so I do recommend them very much."

Public Access Client, 2025

"Taimour's personable style quickly gains the confidence of clients, while his thorough preparation impresses judges."

Clair Hilder, Deighton Pierce Glynn

"Shows a tremendous commitment to clients who are often the most excluded and marginalised, ensuring they get access to justice."

Jackie Peirce, Solicitor

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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Taimour is ranked as a leading junior for Immigration in The Legal 500 (2025) and also practises in public law, inquests and human rights.

He is public access accredited and welcomes direct enquiries from members of the public seeking advice or representation.

IMMIGRATION: ASYLUM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Overview

Taimour’s immigration practice covers the full range of statutory appeals, specialising in asylum and deportation. He is also regularly instructed in judicial reviews in both the High Court and the Upper Tribunal, including urgent challenges to removal, unlawful detention, certifications, NRM trafficking decisions and failures to provide asylum support accommodation.

Taimour is public access accredited and welcomes direct enquiries from members of the public seeking advice or representation. He successfully assists clients with exclusions, PBS challenges and visit visa refusals.

He was a volunteer on the duty scheme at the Asylum Support Appeals Project and also provides regular pro bono advice to individuals at Haringey Migrant Support Centre, with an emphasis on regularisation of status.

He is a contributing author to Macdonald’s Immigration Law and Practice, 11th Edition (2024). Taimour sits part-time as a Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).

Notable Cases

Upper Tribunal quashed Home Office’s refusal to consider an Article 8 human rights claim
R (Pasha) v Secretary of State for the Home Department JR-2024-LON-0000744
Judicial review claim clarifies correct interpretation of Abbas and the circumstances in which an entry clearance application can exceptionally engage Article 8.

AM Zimbabwe applies to destitution claims
Ainte (material deprivation, Art 3, AM Zimbabwe) [2021] UKUT 203 (IAC)
Upper Tribunal guidance on the new Article 3 ECHR breach threshold for socio-economic deprivation.

High Court orders release from immigration detention
R (on the application of Osadebay) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] 8 WLUK 80
Mr Justice Linden granted interim relief and costs to the Claimant.

Challenge to Dublin III transfer to Bulgaria
R (HSF) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] UKAITUR JR112832014

Complex Dublin III challenge succeeded on basis of unlawful certification. Led by Mark Symes.

Afghan fresh claim judicial review succeeds
FS (Afghanistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department JR/10273/2015
Settled following permission by Court of Appeal against UT judgment.

Successful quashing of age assessment
R(Q) v Leicestershire County Council & Anor [2016] EWHC 2087
Successful judicial review establishing that an Eritrean asylum-seeker was a child upon arrival in the UK. Claim for unlawful detention also later settled.

Challenge to Iraqi migrant’s conviction
R v YY [2016] EWCA Crim 18
Recipient of Humanitarian Protection from Iraq prosecuted for document offence. Appeal against conviction heard by Sir Brian Leveson.

War Crimes exclusion
AA (Rwanda) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] UKAITUR
Upper Tribunal appeal involving attempted refugee exclusion of Rwandan national accused of war crimes. Three-day hearing before panel. Junior Counsel to Duran Seddon.

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IMMIGRATION DETENTION CIVIL CLAIMS

Overview

Taimour specialises in false imprisonment claims, including the unlawful detention of minors, trafficking victims and vulnerable individuals with mental health issues. He provides comprehensive advice on merits and quantum at all stages.

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Inquests and Inquiries

Overview

Taimour is a member of the INQUEST Lawyers Group and Garden Court Inquests Team. He represents bereaved families at Coroner’s inquests involving state authorities, including prison and immigration detention as well as patients who have died while detained or under the care of mental health services in the community.

He also brings civil claims arising from breach of duties by the state, including Article 2 ECHR and negligence.

Notable Cases

The scope of local authority duties in the context of a death in the community
Parkin, R (On the Application Of) v His Majesty’s Assistant Coroner for Inner London (East) [2024] EWHC 744 (Admin) 
High Court finds “real and immediate risk to life” but concludes Article 2 ECHR was not engaged.

Jury find neglect in Daryl Hargrave Inquest
Jury found that “neglect” had contributed to the death of a 22-year-old prisoner suffering from psychosis at HMP Winchester. Coverage by the BBC and The Guardian.

Inquest exposes Carillion contract failure
The Ministry of Justice policy gap identified during the inquest into death of Sean Plumstead was taken up by the shadow secretary of state for justice.

Met Police subject to criticism in Faisa Ahmed Inquest
The jury returned a narrative conclusion critical of the police and London Ambulance Service. The Coroner issued three Reports to Prevent Future Deaths. Taimour successfully obtained interim relief from the High Court in 2015 to ensure the inquest was Article 2 ECHR compliant. A civil claim against the Metropolitan Police subsequently succeeded. Extended coverage by The Guardian and Sky News.

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Trafficking

Overview

Taimour represents victims of trafficking in claims for judicial review of NRM decisions, in appeals within the immigration tribunal and through applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and Court of Appeal. He has particular expertise in China, Vietnam and West Africa cases.

Notable Cases

High Court quashed negative Reasonable Grounds decision
SM, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 1683 (Admin) 
The Defendant failed to rationally acknowledge there was a credible suspicion that the Claimant had been manipulated into a debt for the purpose of future exploitation – in circumstances in which the child had escaped his home country before suffering any further planned harm.

Upper Tribunal allows appeal on basis of disputed trafficking definition
JFK v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] UKAITUR PA068542016
Successfully argued that the Convention had been misconstrued.

Court of Appeal considers VoT’s historic conviction
R v Okedare & Ors [2014] EWCA Crim 228
Application for appeal against conviction of a victim of trafficking. Heard by special panel of the Court of Appeal.

Crown Court overturns conviction of cannabis farm victim
R (TT) at Lincoln Crown Court [2014]
A successful application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission led to referral to the Crown Court which quashed the conviction at a hearing in 2014

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International Human Rights

Overview

Taimour’s current international work includes trial observation for human rights groups in the Middle East and participation in legal advice projects for refugees in Greece since 2016. He has also recently published investigations of human rights abuses in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Since 2020 he has been on the Board of ‘Declassified UK’, an investigative journalism organisation.

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Pro Bono Work

Overview

Taimour was a volunteer on the duty scheme at the Asylum Support Appeals Project and also provides regular pro bono advice to individuals at Haringey Migrant Support Centre, with an emphasis on regularisation of status and EU residence rights. He previously volunteered with the Unity Centre in Glasgow and Bail for Immigration Detainees.

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Taimour Lay

Notable Cases & News

Negative trafficking decision quashed by High Court

Taimour Lay of Garden Court Chambers represented a child victim of trafficking who challenged a negative Reasonable Grounds evaluation.

Monday 1 Jul 2024

Kane Boyce: Coroner raises serious concerns about risk of future deaths at HMP Lowdham Grange

Kane's fiancée, Kate, is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Taimour Lay of Garden Court Chambers and Amalia King of Deighton Pierce Glynn.

Monday 5 Feb 2024

Jury finds neglect in mental health discharge death

Taimour Lay of the Garden Court Chambers Inquest & Inquiries Team represented the family of Nicholas Dymond.

Thursday 29 Jun 2023

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

Reported case: High Court orders release of vulnerable immigration detainee

Claimant represented by Taimour Lay of Garden Court Chambers instructed by Bahar Ata of Duncan Lewis Solicitors. David Jones of Garden Court Chambers is instructed in the ongoing unlawful detention claim.

Friday 21 Aug 2020

Inquest concludes death of Leon Evans contributed to by failings of community mental health services

The family of Leon Evans were represented at the inquest by Taimour Lay of the Garden Court Chambers Inquests & Inquiries Team.

Friday 20 Jul 2018

Background

Before coming to the Bar, Taimour spent a decade as a journalist and political analyst. He has worked in the US (2005), Hong Kong (2006), Sri Lanka/Maldives (2006-7), Uganda (2009-10), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (2010-12) and Somalia (2012). He was a correspondent for Africa Confidential and The Africa Report and has written for BBC Focus on Africa, The Guardian, Private Eye and Corporate Watch, among others. He currently sits on the board of Declassified UK.

He also worked for environmental justice group Platform for two years, investigating corruption in the oil and gas industries. He is a member of the Labour Party and the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers.

Publications

Macdonald’s Immigration Law and Practice, contributing author, Chapter 15 ‘Enforcement and the hostile environment’, 10th Edition (September 2021)

“AM Zimbabwe test now applies to destitution”, Free Movement, 16 August 2021

“UK Border rules are harsher for Africans”, The Africa Report, 22 July 2021

“The EU-Turkey refugee deal: a Greek myth”, Free Movement, June 2019

“Bread and Circasses: What Spartak Nalchik says about one of Russia’s minorities”, The Blizzard, July 2018

“Ahead of the game: Uncovering a massacre in Gabon”, Delayed Gratification, Issue 26, February 2017

“Gabon, politics and Afcon 2017”, Royal African Society, February 2017

“Lost in transit – Football and trafficking”, When Saturday Comes, February 2016

Fresh claims for asylum – a DIY guide, Free Movement, 8 January 2016

Are £1-an-hour jobs legal?” Corporate Watch, 22 April 2015

“Human rights and the Africa Cup of Nations”, Royal African Society, 9 February 2015

“Why Scotland’s independence would be good for migrants” Garden Court Blog, 27 August 2014

“Somalia: safe for returns?” Free Movement blog (with Ronan Toal) 15 October 2013

“Challenging immigration decisions and enforcement: Analysis: The Crime and Courts Act 2013” (with Michelle Brewer), July 2013, Lexis Nexis

“Syria’s legal fight amid the gunfire” February 2013, Socialist Lawyer, No. 63

“Limits of the law: Review of Borderline Justice by Frances Webber”, Feb 2013, Socialist Lawyer, No 63

“Egypt: Defending the Revolution” July 2012, Socialist Lawyer 61

“Employment Law Isn’t Working: A discussion with David Renton”, June 2012, New Left Project

“The Optimism Industry: how private equity rips off Africa”, May 2012, BBC Focus on Africa

“Death on the lake: British oil company’s role in Congo killings exposed”, May 2012, Corporate Watch

“Shabaab’s Waiting Game”, 30 March 2012, Africa Confidential, Vol 53 No 7

“On the African Union offensive: the frontline against Shabaab”, April 2012, The Africa Report, No 39

“Simon Mann: A gun for hire, with conditions”, April 2012, The Africa Report No 39

“Revealed: How the World Bank fails on racial discrimination”, October 2011, The Africa Report, No 41

“Get out of town: Ledbury residents resist Tesco development”, 6 September 2011, Corporate Watch

“Lake of Oil: Congo’s contracts escalate conflict, pollution and poverty”, May 2010, Platform London. Also translated into French. Published and distributed in Democratic Republic of Congo by CENCO and the UN as “Pétrole au Lac Albert: révélation des contrats congolais contestés

“Cursed Contracts: Uganda’s oil agreements put profit before people”, Feb 2010, Platform London.

“Uganda’s contracts give little cause for optimism”, 17 Feb 2010; The Guardian

Education

  • BA Modern history and politics (Oxford)
  • GDL and BPTC (City University) Major Scholarship (Inner Temple)

Professional Memberships

  • Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)
  • Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
  • Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL)
  • National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
  • Anti-Trafficking Legal Project (ATLeP)

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