Asylum & Immigration

Emma regularly appears in the First-tier Tribunal representing clients in asylum, human rights and deportation appeals, as well as representing applicants for immigration bail.

Emma’s recent cases have included deportation appeals for EEA nationals in which the Home Office has failed to recognise their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, a successful appeal against a Home Office refusal of further leave to remain on the basis of persistent offending, and successful grants of bail to clients detained by the Home Office under immigration powers.

She has particular experience in political opinion asylum and human rights claims.

Emma has had recent success at error of law hearings in the Upper Tribunal in EEA deportation cases:

https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/ui-2023-003691

https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/ui-2023-002568

https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/da-00036-2022

Emma’s recent error of law hearing in the Upper Tribunal successfully confirmed that the integrative links test for ‘imperative grounds of public security’ must not take into account post-decision behaviour (UI-2024-001069).

She has also assisted her former supervisor, Emma Daykin, on Afghan resettlement scheme applications and judicial review claims, advising a young adult client on their eligibility for settlement under the new Appendix Private Life, and challenging the detention of a client who had an outstanding appeal.

Emma provides pro-bono representation for vulnerable clients through Bail for Immigration Detainees (BiD) and RAMFEL.

She is also a contributor to the Free Movement website.

Housing

Emma regularly represents tenants in possession proceedings and unlawful eviction claims, including injunctions for re-entry and committal proceedings.

Emma’s recent cases have included a grant of permission to appeal a possession order where her clients had been prevented from advancing their defence; drafting a defence and counterclaim for disability discrimination against a private landlord which led to a negotiated settlement; successful defence of a Ground 8 possession claim at trial with a damages award for unfitness for human habitation; and a successful oral application to discharge a possession order where ongoing unlawful eviction proceedings at another county court had not been brought to the court’s attention.

She has also assisted her former supervisor, Martin Hodgson, on anti-social behaviour possession and committal proceedings, and discretionary succession cases.

Background

Emma completed pupillage in Chambers under the supervision of Martin Hodgson (Housing) and Emma Daykin (Immigration).

Prior to pupillage, Emma completed a DPhil in History at the University of Oxford, before becoming a MP’s immigration caseworker and local councillor in Oxford.