Barrister Category: Tenants

Michael was called to the Bar in 1992 and is a member of the Inner Temple.

Michael’s first and enduring love has always been immigration, appearing for clients from the First and Upper Tier Tribunal stages right through to the High Court and the Court of Appeal.  Throughout his career at the Bar, however, he has also taken time out to be involved in high profile cases in other areas, most recently as one of the nine barristers for Team 2 in the Grenfell Inquiry, representing a specific group of the bereaved, survivors and residents.  Michael has also represented defendants at major criminal trials including in murder, kidnap and fraud cases.

He has been instructed in hundreds of judicial review claims – some reported – appearing many times in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Michael has acted for clients in planning appeals at inspector level and dealt with injunctions and statutory appeals in the High Court.  He has appeared in the Tax Tribunal, both First and Upper Tiers, on an important and reported case determining whether colleges should be exempt from VAT.

In 2013, he represented the family at a coroner’s inquest into the death of an elderly lady in a care home, a case which attracted widespread media interest, and which was featured on the BBC’s Panorama programme.

For a period of two years, Michael was also involved in one of the lengthiest cases to have taken place relating to a councillor alleged to have breached his local authority’s Code of Conduct.

Soraya combines a busy Crown Court practice with an established career in international human rights. She is known for her robust advocacy, methodical analysis, and exceptional client care.

Soraya is an engaging trial advocate, frequently instructed in cases involving serious violence, large scale drugs trafficking and firearms offences, and is well regarded for her sensitive witness handling skills and strategic case preparation. She has prosecuted and defended in cases with an international and human rights element, including the trafficking of persons for sexual exploitation, historic child cruelty and sex offences, and large, multi-handed drugs and money laundering conspiracies. Soraya has been led and appeared alone in regulatory and criminal matters, and is often instructed by governments, large consultancies and small boutique dispute advisory firms to advise on on money laundering and terrorist financing legislation.

Soraya is an established expert in capital defence and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa, with her work towards abolishing the death penalty being described as ‘groundbreaking’. Before coming to the Bar, Soraya spearheaded Reprieve’s strategic casework in the MENA region, and has frequently appeared before the United Nations as an advocate and expert on state compliance with international law.

She has guest lectured at Leiden University on terrorism and human rights, and recently at Goldsmiths University in London on the Universal Periodic Review mechanism to hold states to account for their human rights record.

In her international criminal practice, Soraya has been instructed in peoples’ genocide tribunals, as well as in cases involving victims of state-sponsored sexual violence and gender-based atrocity crimes, and has advised on complicity for war crimes of national banks and whether domestic legislation complies with the duty to prosecute genocide and war crimes.  She is trained and experienced in the conduct of Istanbul-protocol compliant investigations into torture and ill-treatment.

Soraya is an appointed member of the Accountability Unit, an NGO focusing on  providing urgent legal support to obtain redress for survivors of gender based rights violations in conflict settings and hold to account perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence. Soraya is also an appointed member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales.

Soraya is committed to enhancing access to international remedies. She frequently advises on strategic litigation before the United Nations and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as on sanctions regimes, particularly under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 and other global Magnitsky laws aimed at holding perpetrators and entities alleged to have been involved in gross human rights abuses to account.

A passionate and approachable barrister with a diverse background, Amritpal practises housing, and employment and discrimination.

• “Amritpal is dedicated, reliable and highly professional, and has gone above and beyond exploring all avenues to secure the best results” (Legal 500 2022)
• “Amritpal truly cares and gives clear, helpful advice, taking time provide solid written submissions, which play a vital role in providing our applicants with the high quality service they deserve” (Nominee for the ‘John Collins Pro Bono Excellence Award’ in Advocate Pro Bono Awards 2021)
• ‘Highly Commended’ in the category of Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year (Advocate Bar Pro Bono Awards 2020)
• “Very diligent approach a keen eye for detail” (Instructing solicitor in successful homelessness appeal, 2020)
• “Professional and courteous and had a personal touch regarding the plight of the client that is not always seen” (Instructing solicitor in a disrepair claim, 2020)
• “Amrit really did pull out all of the stops for me, working late nights, all weekend and an extension to time on the day. He really did focus in on key areas in a rapid amount of time and put across my case concisely and persuasively” (Pro bono client in discrimination case, 2020)

Prior to coming to the Bar, Amritpal began his professional life as an optometrist, during which he also volunteered for the charity, Vision Aid Overseas, in India, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia.  Amritpal is a keen cyclist and recently cycled from London to Paris.

Prior to joining 1MCB Chambers, Amritpal was a researcher at the House of Lords Library where he authored briefings for peers—including for members of the government, the opposition, and crossbenchers (including former members of the judiciary)—to support their participation in debates and questions in Parliament.  He researched across the House of Lords’ main policy areas, particularly on constitutional affairs, and social policy issues such as homelessness and poverty.

Amritpal also volunteered extensively at the Free Representation Unit representing claimants in employment and social security cases, including successfully in the Upper Tribunal. As an intern at Medical Justice, he supported a large research project examining the unlawful detention of victims of torture. At Liberty, he undertook research in areas pertaining to human rights. Amritpal has also volunteered for the homelessness charity, Crisis, during Christmas periods.

Phillippa joined 1MCB as a pupil in November 2019. She intends to build a broad practice in public law with particular focus on domestic and international human rights, immigration and asylum, and the intersection between public law and criminal law. She is particularly interested in cases that affect vulnerable people or involve equality or discrimination issues.

Prior to coming to the Bar Phillippa gained broad experience in public law and criminal law. She worked on the Infected Blood Inquiry for a year, where she led an investigation into a pharmaceutical company, drafted witness statements and served as point of contact for a designated legal representative. Between 2017 and 2018 Phillippa was the Judicial Assistant to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon. She drafted bench memoranda to assist the Lord Chief Justice in civil and criminal matters before the Divisional Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Before this she was Legal Research & Projects Officer at King’s College London, providing assistance to Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers and Lord Judge of Draycote. In 2013 Phillippa worked with the defence team for General Ratko Mladic on his trial for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity at the ICTY, where she assisted counsel by drafting motions that were filed before the Tribunal concerning admissibility of evidence, trial procedure, and the right to a fair trial. She maintains an active interest in international criminal law. Phillippa has also worked as a freelance research consultant, predominantly in international criminal law, international humanitarian and human rights law, and public law, for individuals and organisations.

Phillippa is committed to pro bono work, particularly where individuals’ civil liberties are at stake. During her BPTC studies she volunteered as an Education Advocate, advising and representing parents in school exclusion appeals at Governors’ Disciplinary Committee and Independent Review Panel hearings and is experienced in cases involving special educational needs. During her undergraduate studies she volunteered with the university legal clinic, advising in housing law, and undertook death penalty research for Amicus.

Phillippa graduated from King’s College London with a first class honours degree in Law. She was awarded a merit-based full tuition scholarship from Queen Mary, University of London to study the Human Rights Law LLM and graduated with Distinction in 2015, top in her specialism. She was awarded an Outstanding on the BPTC, where her studies were supported by both a Prince of Wales Scholarship and Hebe Plunkett award from Gray’s Inn.  Phillippa is also a member of the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee.

Geeta practises in all areas of housing, actions against the police, public and equality law. She is an innovative and determined advocate, who works tirelessly for her clients.

By combining her experience of civil litigation with her broad legal knowledge, Geeta provides robust and practical advice and representation. Her cases often involve complex legal issues that cut across human rights, discrimination and international law.

Geeta is regularly instructed on behalf of clients with multiple vulnerabilities, and prides herself on her clear and sensitive approach to such cases and adapting to the different needs of her clients.

Prior to the Bar, Geeta worked as a paralegal at Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors, assisting in group litigation and judicial review proceedings. She has a Masters in International Law, and gained experience in strategic litigation in the field of business and human rights and environmental law through her work with ClientEarth, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and the Human Rights Law Network.

Michael is a dual qualified solicitor and barrister. He was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2013 and was called to the Bar in 2014 by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn.

Michael has a multi-disciplinary practice and he specialises in the following areas:

• serious crime and road traffic;
• fraud, regulatory and business crime;
• civil actions/inquests.

Michael trained and qualified with a top-tier firm listed in the Legal 500 and ranked in UK Chambers and Partners.

Philip has practised at the Bar since 1991.

In crime, he prosecuted and defended for a number of years but now has an exclusively defence practice. He has extensive experience of cases involving murder and serious violence, firearms, rape, drug importation and production, major fraud and asset forfeiture.

He has established practices in the areas of family and employment law.

Before the Bar, Philip worked in the City for a US bank, drafted and monitored loan agreements for a small London merchant bank and analysed the profitability/viability of UK corporations.

He also spent a period investigating asbestosis compensation claims in Cleveland, Chicago and New York City.

Philip was the criminal advisor at Tottenham Law Centre at the time of the Broadwater Farm unrest in 1985.

Alex completed his pupillage at 1MCB. His interests range across crime, social welfare law and human rights, in particular where those areas impact on vulnerable parties, or minorities.

He maintains a broad criminal practice and has acted in trials involving fraud, drugs, weapons and violence. He is further familiar with POCA proceedings, and has acted at parole hearings for extended sentence prisoners convicted of serious crimes. He accepts instructions in actions against the police, challenging assaults, unlawful imprisonment, or unlawful searches and seizures during criminal investigations.

Alex also specialises in immigration and housing law, with a wide experience of acting in immigration appeals, possession proceedings, and homelessness challenges both in the County Court, and on judicial review. He can advise on the intersection of these areas with community care law, and on comparable issues of public law.

He regularly volunteers with charities assisting those that particularly need  legal help. For example, the charity Evolve and their work on sentencing in Uganda; the Matrix-City School Exclusions project; the Free Representation Unit; the Centre for Criminal Appeals; and Reprieve.