Free In-Person Seminar - Complex Asylum: Part 1

This event series, divided into two sessions, is designed to address the legal, evidential and practical issues involved in representing applicants in sensitive and complex asylum cases, in which the applicant is typically: of high profile; has become a perceived political threat to the political establishment in the country of return; in control of significant business or media interests or assets, which are often of strategic importance; the target of serious criminal allegations alleged to operate as the vehicle of persecution; the subject of an extradition request and/or an INTERPOL Red Notice; and may be involved in related complex civil proceedings.

The series is of relevance to immigration practitioners primarily, but Part 2 on Tuesday 1st October, chaired by Duran Seddon KC, will also cover aspects of extradition.

Part 1 on Thursday 26th September will be chaired by Laurie Fransman KC. Topics will include:

• Analysing and presenting Convention reasons in complex cases - David Sellwood, Garden Court Chambers
• ‘Persecution’ in complex cases involving criminal allegations - Sadat Sayeed, Garden Court Chambers
• The application and operation of Article 1F(b) Refugee Convention in complex asylum cases and certification under s55 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 - Emma Fitzsimmons, Garden Court Chambers

• Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), national security and closed material procedures (CMP) - Ed Grieves KC, Garden Court Chambers

Speaker Panel

Laurie Fransman KC, Garden Court Chambers (Chair')
Laurie is a leading immigration silk who undertakes all aspects of immigration, nationality and asylum casework, with an emphasis on high-profile and complex protection cases, often generating multiple clients spanning more than one country. Laurie is ranked as a "Star Individual" for 'Immigration Silks' in the Chambers UK Bar Guide. In the Legal 500, he is ranked in Tier 1 in "Immigration - Leading Silks". Laurie is the lead external lawyer responsible for both the 'Immigration and Asylum' and 'British Nationality' titles in Halsbury's Laws of England, the definitive statement of English law. He is also founder and principal author of the leading work on British nationality law, Fransman's British Nationality Law.

Edward Grieves KC, Garden Court Chambers
Edward is a public and immigration law barrister with particular expertise in closed material procedures, serious criminality, national security and terrorism. Edward represented U3 in SIAC and the Court of Appeal, and is a specialist in SIAC. He has represented individuals in all types of appeals and applications for review, including deprivation of citizenship (while outside the UK); deportation; or refusal of naturalization or asylum on grounds of national security or links to serious crime. Edward is ranked for Immigration in the Chambers UK Bar Guide and Legal 500.

Sadat Sayeed, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Sadat is a leading practitioner specialising in all areas of immigration, asylum, nationality, deportation, detention, national security, EU free movement, and human rights law. Sadat’s practice particularly focuses on politically sensitive cases involving high profile and senior figures from the worlds of politics, business, and sport. He has a specific interest in the interplay between extradition and asylum proceedings, and has vast experience helping clients to find innovative legal solutions to the most complex immigration situations. He is ranked Tier 1 for Immigration in the Chambers UK Bar Guide and Legal 500.

Emma Fitzsimons, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Emma advises and represents on all areas of immigration law, with a focus on international protection and human rights law. She has a high rate of success before the First-tier and Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). She regularly acts for vulnerable clients, including children, victims of trafficking, and persons lacking mental capacity. Emma also advises and represents individuals in appeals and reviews before SIAC, including serious organised crime and national security. She is a contributing author to Macdonald’s Immigration Law and Practice.  Emma is ranked in Legal 500 and in Chambers & Partners for Immigration and is co-convenor of Garden Court’s Immigration Team.

David Sellwood, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
David specialises in immigration, asylum, nationality, and human rights law. He acts in public and private law proceedings in courts and tribunals at all levels, including SIAC and the Supreme Court. David is regularly instructed in complex immigration, asylum, deportation, and citizenship deprivation proceedings; judicial reviews; and claims challenging unlawful immigration detention. He has detailed knowledge and experience of the Immigration Rules, immigration legislation and policy, and the European Convention on Human Rights. David has experience in cases involving national security; including allegations of terrorism, serious organised crime, and corruption. He is co-convenor of Garden Court’s Immigration Team and ranked in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for Immigration.

Reserve your in-person ticket
Please fill in the form below to reserve your in-person ticket. In-person tickets are limited to the capacity of the venue. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm your in-person place at this event.