Asma Chaudhry
Call: 2003
Asma Chaudhry
Gray’s Inn
Legal Aid Supplier Number 02FBL
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Since being called to the Bar Asma’s practice has predominately been in Asylum, Immigration and Human Rights. She has extensive experience in Nationality and EEA Law. Asma has first-hand experience of initial application stage, appeal preparation and representing clients before the Tribunal.
Asma also undertakes a private children law practice.
She is a fluent speaker of Urdu, Punjabi, Pothwari and Mirpuri languages
Reputation
‘Asma's strengths include her command of the law, strategic thinking, oral advocacy, and attention to detail. She is incredibly client-focused’
(Legal 500, 2023)
‘Asma is a fierce advocate who articulates her arguments in a persuasive and eloquent manner. She has a strong eye for details and is very compassionate’
(Legal 500, 2022)
Expertise
Immigration
Asma has long standing experience of presenting complex Asylum, Immigration, EU Law and Human Rights appeals, including Deportation and Bail. She has experience across the spectrum dealing with very varied and unique cases. She is accessible for early instructions from solicitors and keen to work with them advising on how best to prepare cases to achieve the best outcome for clients. She is a true believer that preparation is key to success.
She has practical experience of appearing before the First Tier and Upper Tier Tribunal. Asma takes instructions in drafting grounds for permission to appeal and undertakes judicial review work. Asma is regularly instructed to present cases on behalf of the Secretary of the State for the Home Department.
Asma has invaluable experience and skill in representing vulnerable clients and victims of modern slavery, torture and children. She has a particular interest in representing females, and a focus on representing their Human Rights issues.
Private Children
Asma undertakes all areas of private children work.
Notable Cases
VK v SSHD
Appealed the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse the Appellant protection on the basis that he could return to Kazakhstan with an outstanding extradition request from Turkey. He was alleged to have been a FETO member - an organisation considered to be terrorist organisation in Turkey.
HHA v SSHD
Appealed the decision of the Secretary of the State to refuse protection to a Somali female who was found to have been persecuted by majority clan members. Substantial evidencefrom experts was provided in relation her being a victim of torture.
RP V SSHD
Successfully appealed the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse protection to a woman facing deportation to Pakistan after serving an 18 month custodial sentence for perverting the course of justice having fled a marriage due to domestic violence and was at risk of honor killing on Pakistan
AN V SSHD
Successfully appealed a decision to deport a Nigerian national after having served a 3.5 year custodial sentence for the use of firearms, on the basis of his family life with his British children in the United Kingdom.
TJ v SSHD
Deportation appeal decision challenged of a Norwegian national who was convicted of child related offences.
DP V SSHD
Albanian woman found to be a victim of modern slavery would be at risk of being re-trafficked upon return to Albania was granted protection.
SA v SSHD
Coptic Christian appeal dismissed by the First Tier successfully challenged and allowed by Upper Tier.
JG
Nigerian national brother wanting to join his sister in the UK who was a refugee and accepted to be a victim of human trafficking. Appeal allowed on the basis of exceptional circumstances.
LS V SSHD
Successful appeal for Appellant seeking protection from international criminal gangs in South America.
Clerks
Susan Sanders
Call: 2015
Susan Sanders
MA (Hons), University of Edinburgh, Persian and Social Anthropology (1999)
Graduate Diploma in Law (2014, Distinction)
Bar Professional Training Course (2015, Outstanding)
Middle Temple
Queen Mother Scholar (2014)
Family Law Mediator
Legal Aid Supplier Number 02ENW
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Susan joined Broadway House in September 2016 after successfully completing a mixed pupillage.
She practises family and immigration law and has a particular interest and expertise in the overlap between these two areas. She is qualified to undertake work on a direct access basis.
Susan has an insightful approach and is regularly instructed to represent those who require sensitive and considerate client-care.
Before coming to the Bar Susan worked for human rights organisations and campaigned and carried out research in Afghanistan for Amnesty International. Susan speaks French and Farsi.
Susan is a family mediator and is available to mediate in cases involving child arrangements disputes and financial issues after separation.
Reputation
Articles
Unreasonable law – contested divorce and the case of Owens v Owens
Seminars
- Public Law Children: Deprivation of Liberty (2018)
- Disclosure of Material: Family & Criminal Proceedings (2018)
- Gatekeeping the IAC- Restrictions on appeal rights: Third Country, Clearly Unfounded and Remove First Certificates (2018)
- Trafficking and Age assessments (2019)
- ‘Immigration Applications for Children in Care & Immigration Issues for Kinship Carers/Parents Abroad’ (2021)
- How to prepare for a Deportation Appeal – Family and Private Life (2022)
Legal Directories
Tier 1. Rising Star – Legal 500 2023, “Susan is a very diligent barrister, with extensive knowledge of asylum and immigration law. She is an excellent communicator, and her ability to listen to clients puts them at ease during stressful situations for them. She is pragmatic and clear when giving advice”
Rising Star – Legal 500 2022, “Susan is very dedicated and has in-depth knowledge of immigration law. Her advocacy is thoughtful and measured. She is particularly attentive to the needs of vulnerable clients and quickly builds a rapport with them.”
Expertise
Family
Susan has a busy practice in all areas of family law and represents privately and publicly funded clients from directions hearings through to contested final hearings. She is regularly instructed in private law finding of fact hearings involving serious allegations, including rape, and in public law proceedings for the local authority. She is also involved in cases of domestic abuse, forced marriage, and those with an immigration element. She regularly advises local authorities in relation to immigration issues within public law proceedings.
She is a sensitive and effective communicator. One lay client said she is “absolutely wonderful and very professional with her work, [a] fantastic lady with big experience and commitment”.
Immigration
Susan regularly appears in the First Tier and Upper Tribunals and is committed to providing first class representation to those seeking asylum. She is often asked to advise and drafts judicial review claims as well as applications for permission to appeal.
Before coming to the Bar Susan worked for many years as a legal representative for asylum seekers at Refugee and Migrant Justice and in private practice. She is passionate about representing vulnerable individuals and carries out pro bono advocacy for the Manuel Bravo Project and Bail for Immigration Detainees. Her experience working in Central Africa, Iran and Afghanistan provides invaluable background for this work.
“The clients were very happy with the way the appeal was prepared and presented, [and] asked that I extend the family’s thank you to you. I am attaching a copy of the Tribunal’s decision … the appeal was allowed. This is an excellent result in a potentially tricky case with a long and difficult history" (Instructing Solicitor)
Notable Cases
Family
Re D – Junior counsel in High Court hearing considering allegations of child sexual exploitation
A v A – Finding of fact dealing with allegations of shooting and attempted kidnap
H v H – Finding of fact successfully represented a father facing allegations of sexual and physical abuse. No findings were made.
N v H –Successfully argued for set-aside of a declaration of trust on the basis of fraud at a preliminary issue hearing in financial remedy proceedings
Immigration
JG v SSHD – Successfully appealed decision to deport Jamaican national convicted of burglary, appeal then upheld by UT
EB v SSHD – Permission to appeal granted by the UT on basis of application of European case law to article 3 medical case, pending Supreme Court hearing of AM (Zimbabwe)
GK v SSHD – Upper Tribunal allowed human rights appeal of elderly Indian relative, finding paragraph 276ADE(1)(vi) was met. Appeal had been dismissed by First Tier Tribunal.
Advised EEA extended family member who, as a result, obtained residence permit on the basis of the EU Court of Justice case of Lounes
Clerks
Lucy Coen
Call: 2019
Lucy Coen
BPTC, BPP Leeds, 2017–2019 (Very Competent)
GDL, University of Law, 2015–2017 (Distinction)
MA Peace Studies, University of Bradford, 2011 (Distinction)
BA Modern History and Politics, University of Liverpool, 2007–2010 (2:1)
Young Legal Aid Lawyers
Family Law Bar Association
Contact
T: 0113 246 2600 / 01274 722560
Lucy accepted tenancy at Broadway House Chambers after successfully completing her pupillage in December 2020 under the supervision of Giles Bridge and Paul Smith.
During her pupillage, Lucy assisted in a range of criminal cases both for the Prosecution and Defence and has experience in Immigration and Family proceedings. Since becoming a tenant Lucy has developed a busy practice spanning criminal, immigration and family work.
Lucy was called to the Bar in 2019 after completing the BPTC part-time at BPP Leeds. Prior to the Bar, Lucy worked for a number of years in a variety of roles in the not-for-profit sector, including working as an immigration caseworker, an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor [ISVA] and a support worker at a national children’s charity. As such she has wealth of experience working with a range of people and is particularly adept at communicating with lay clients.
Reputation
Articles
Immigration Status of a Parent in an Application for a Child Arrangements Order by Lucy CoenImmigration Matters: Visitors who Attempt to Stay in the UK Permanently by Lucy Coen
Recent Webinars Include
Immigration applications for children in care
Adoption Plan and Placement Orders
Expertise
Immigration
Prior to the Bar, Lucy worked at a local charity as an immigration caseworker, where she drafted further submissions for clients who could not obtain legal aid as a result of their cases not meeting the merits test. She also regularly appeared in the First-Tier Tribunal once further submissions had been granted a right of appeal. Whilst in this role she gave legal advice at weekly clinic in Leeds providing much needed pro-bono assistance to migrants.
From 2015 to 2017 Lucy worked as an Independent Child Trafficking Advocate [ICTA] at Barnardo’s across the North of England. Lucy was the first ICTA in the North of England to undertake this role and worked closely with a variety of agencies including the police, social care and immigration practitioners to ensure that young people identified as having been trafficked were properly supported. Lucy’s prior experience working with young people and care-leavers makes her particularly well-suited to representing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Lucy continues her commitment to vulnerable clients by undertaking pro-bono advocacy for the Manuel Bravo Project and Bail for Immigration Detainees.
Lucy is available to advise and represent clients with all immigration and asylum matters and works collaboratively with solicitors to ensure a firm understanding of the issues in a case prior to entering court.
Family
Lucy has busy public and private children law practice. She regularly appears on behalf of parents in directions hearings, finding of fact hearings and final hearings. She also been instructed to represent the children through their rule 16.4 children’s guardian in interim and final hearings.Lucy has a developing public children law practice and has appeared on behalf of the Local Authority at interim hearings on issues such as interim care order applications, designation, applications for expert evidence, and at final hearings including applications for placement orders. She also regularly represents parents in public law proceedings including those with additional vulnerabilities.
Before coming to the Bar, Lucy worked at Barnardos, as a Children’s Rights Advocate. This involved working with and supporting young people who were subject to Child Protection Plans, those that were in the care of the Local Authority and care leavers. This experience gives her invaluable knowledge in care proceedings and she is keen to accept instructions in all areas of public children law matters.
As a result of her previous experience as an immigration case worker, Lucy has also provided written advice on immigration issues that arise in care proceedings and continues to build her practice in this area.
Crime
Notable Cases
R v Alex Ralls (2023)
Lucy was instructed as disclosure junior by the CPS Complex Case Unit in which the defendant was charged on a 48-count indictment of sexual offences against 20 separate women. Lucy was led by Peter Hampton and Christopher Styles. The prosecution secured convictions on 44 counts after a 6 week trial at Bradford Crown Court.
R v T and others (2023)
Lucy was instructed as disclosure junior by the CPS Complex Case Unit, led by Richard Horwell KC (3 Raymond Buildings) and Rupert Kent (5KBW) in a 'cold case' three handed murder heard over eight weeks at Leeds Crown Court. The prosecution secured comprehensive convictions. The case arose from the 2011 disappearance of the deceased, whose shallow grave was unearthed nine years later by forensic archaeologists after a witness who was present at the murder and subsequent unlawful burial (and who was later granted immunity from prosecution by the D.P.P.) came forward to the police.
Immigration
Immigration case 2022
Represented client from Iraq. Earlier negative credibility findings. Appeal granted on Article 8 grounds
Asylum case 2022
Represented client from Ethiopia. Appeal granted
Asylum case 2021
Represented client from Eritrea where nationality was disputed. Earlier negative credibility findings. Appeal granted
Asylum case 2020
Represented client from Nigeria. Client vulnerable due to mental and physical health difficulties. Appeal granted.
Asylum case 2020
Represented client from Nigeria. Appeal granted on Article 8 grounds
Clerks
Jon Flaherty
Call: 2019
Jon Flaherty
Newcastle University – LLB – 2:1 (2017)
University of Law, Leeds – BPTC – Very Competent (2019)
University of Law, Leeds – LLM – Distinction (2019)
Contact
T: 0113 246 2600 / 01274 722560
Jon commenced pupillage in September 2021 under the supervision of Rachel Mellor and has since gained experience in all aspects of Employment and Family proceedings. Jon started tenancy on 1st September 2022.
Jon studied law at Newcastle University from which he graduated in 2017. Throughout his studies he was heavily engaged in advocacy based competitions, winning both the Senior Mooting Competition and Senior Client Interviewing Competition, as well as representing the University externally. He was also elected as the Master of Moots, a role requiring the training of students and judging of moots. In his final year, Jon was asked by the University to take on a paid role as a seminar leader in the Peer Assisted Student Session scheme, which involved preparing and leading seminars based around the equity module.
Before starting the BPTC, Jon worked as a paralegal in the Commercial Dispute Resolution department of a Leeds based law firm. His work included advising clients, drafting and filing of claims, assisting with litigation and the enforcement of judgments. While on the BPTC Jon volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau, advising and assisting clients in the Employment Tribunal and Social Security Tribunal.
Prior to the commencement of pupillage, Jon operated as a freelance advocate on the North and North-Eastern Circuit for two years. This involved representing clients in a wide variety of civil matters including mortgage possessions, landlord & tenant, personal injury, RTAs, consumer credit, insolvency, small claims disputes and procedural applications. Jon also represented clients in the Employment Tribunal during this period in unfair dismissal matters.
Expertise
Family:Jon is instructed in a wide variety of family matters, representing and advising clients in all areas of Family Law.
Matrimonial Finance – Jon has represented clients in a number of matrimonial finance cases since beginning Second Six. Jon takes a robust and practical approach to negotiations and has been successful in applications against uncooperative parties for costs as well as securing penal notices where a party has been uncooperative.
Public Law– Jon represents parties in the public family sphere, regularly being instructed to represent Local Authorities, Children’s Guardians and respondents. His work has covered everything from last-minute urgent removal hearings through to final hearings. Jon has been involved in matters from neglect through to allegations of sexual and physical abuse.
Private Children – in addition, Jon is often instructed in private family matters and is acutely aware of the concerns of parents in such proceedings. Jon has also successfully represented a child in their own application for contact with siblings.
Immigration:
Jon has represented clients in the First Tier Tribunal in their Asylum, Immigration Human Rights, and EEA regulation appeals. Jon takes an all-encompassing approach to such appeals to ensure his clients are in the best position to succeed.
Civil/Business, Property and Probate:
Jon has experience in dealing with civil matters ranging from civil applications to small and fast track claims. This experience has been accumulated prior to joining chambers and has since been developed with instructions to advise and represent clients in a wide-variety of civil matters.
Employment:
Jon has gained invaluable experience during his pupillage under Rachel Mellor and has represented clients in the Employment Tribunal in unfair dismissal claims as well as assisting in preparing advice in respect of appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal.
Clerks
Camilla Bonifai
Call: 2019 - Second Six Pupil
Camilla Bonifai
LLB (Hons) English Law, University of Dundee (2017)
LLM Human Rights Law, University of Edinburgh (2018)
LLM Bar Practice, The University of Law (2019)
Bar Practice Training Course, The University of Law, Very Competent (2019)
Employment Lawyers Association
Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
Lincoln’s Inn
Contact
E: clerks@broadwayhouse.co.uk
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600 (Option 2)
Camilla commenced pupillage in September 2023 under the supervision of Paul Smith.
Camilla accepts instructions in all areas of Civil, Employment and Immigration Law.
Reputation
Publication: ‘The Irish Children’s Right Referendum’ (2019), published by Together (Scottish alliance for Children’s Rights)
Expertise
Camilla has observed a variety of employment matters during the first six month of her pupillage by attending Employment Tribunals across the country and in the EAT. She has worked on complex matters involving TUPE, equal pay and discrimination of all forms, as well as unfair dismissal and wages cases.
Camilla has spent time in the Immigration Tribunals, observing both regular applications and appeals to the Upper Tribunal. She has been involved in factually complex cases regarding the situations in Iraq, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Somalia as well as those involving FGM issues, EU settled status, and children.
Prior to pupillage, Camilla had a civil litigation background, having worked in the civil courts as a County Court advocate (employed by an international firm) and having handled Claimant insurer-funded cases as a paralegal at a national solicitors’ firm. During her first six months of pupillage, she shadowed senior members of Chambers in high-value personal injury work, trusts/TOLATA, disputes and contractual claims.
Clerks