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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.
Housing
Geeta has a busy practice across all aspects of housing law, including possession proceedings, anti-social behaviour injunctions, applications to suspend warrants, disrepair and homelessness appeals.
Geeta also acts in urgent judicial review proceedings under the Housing Act 1996, including in relation to the duty to secure interim accommodation and the suitability of accommodation.
Much of her work concerns human rights issues, discrimination and claims under the Equality Act 2010. Geeta is also able to draw on her knowledge of criminal law, immigration law and community care to assist her clients where housing issues intersect with other areas.
Geeta is commited to promoting and enforcing tenants’ rights and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Junior Housing Lawyers Practitioners Association.
Actions against the police
Geeta is committed to pursuing accountability for abuses committeed by public and private bodies.
She is regularly instructed to represent claimants in civil claims against the police and the prison service including for false imprisonment, assault, misfeasance in public office and claims under the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and data protection legislation.
Geeta has experience representing claimants regarding the police’s failure to investigate. She also has a particular interest in negligence and human rights claims against local authorities arising from their failures to perform their functions under the Children Act 1989 and related legislation.
Geeta also has experience in public law, advising on, for example, challenging decisions to recall a prisoner to custody and decisions to prosecute. Alongside her pupillage, Geeta assisted in R (O’Brien) v Independent Adjudicator [2020] 1 WLR 1393. At Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors, Geeta also worked on LW & Others v Sodexo Ltd & Secretary of State for Justice [2019] 1 WLR 5654.
Geeta also has experience pursuing claims on behalf of victims of crime before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Public law & judicial review
Geeta has experience across public law, specialising in housing, human rights, discrimination and prison law. She is able to draw on her in-depth knowledge of associated areas of law to pursue challenges against public authorities.
In housing, Geeta is able to assist in urgent judicial review proceedings including in relation to the duty to secure interim accommodation and the suitability of accommodation.
Geeta also has experience pursuing judicial review proceedings in the context of prison law, including advising on challenging decisions to prosecute and recalling a prisoner to custody. Alongside her pupillage Geeta assisted in R (O’Brien) v Independent Adjudicator [2020] 1 WLR 1393, in which the Divisional Court held that an Independent Adjudicator did not have an express or implied power to refer charges to the police.
Prior to the Bar, Geeta worked as a paralegal at Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors and assisted in LW & Others v Sodexo Ltd & Secretary of State for Justice [2019] 1 WLR 5654 and R (Woolcock) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Ors [2018] 4 WLR 49.
International human rights
Geeta’s international experience encompasses litigation, consultancy work, training and research with a focus on business and human rights. She has in-depth knowledge of how to use international and regional mechanisms to protect and promote human rights, and can advise clients on legal matters that touch on international and foreign law.
During pupillage Geeta shadowed Iain Edwards who is currently assigned as counsel before the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in The Hague. Prior to pupillage, Geeta worked at ClientEarth where she contributed to work in the area of EU chemicals management and access to information. During her time at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights in Germany, she assisted in transnational strategic litigation to promote corporate accountability. She gained further practical experience through working with the Human Rights Law Network in India. During her Masters, Geeta was also a research assistant to a member of the International Law Commission in Geneva.
Geeta has delivered talks and training on international law, and recently delivered a training on the relationship between international trade and international human rights law and the consequences of Brexit.
Achievements
Education
- City Law School, BPTC
- Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Master in International Law
- University of York, First class degree in Law
Scholarships and Awards
- Shelford Scholarship (2018)
- Rosie Keane Memorial Prize (2016)
- Lord Denning Scholarship (2016)
- Lalive Scholarship (2013)
Publications
- ‘The law of humanity: Covid-19 and Beyond’, Children and Young People Now, June 2020.
- ‘Independent adjudicators, the Prison Rules and implied power‘, Local Government Lawyer, December 2019.
- ‘Interventions in the supply chain’, Human Rights Lawyers’ Association, July 2018.
- ‘Tunisia: the price of economic reconciliation in the transitional justice process’, Justiceinfo, August 2016.
- ‘Corporate accountability in times of transition: the role of restorative justice in the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission’, Restorative Justice: An International Journal, Vol.4(1) (2016).
Memberships
- Police Action Lawyers Group
- Human Rights Lawyers Association
- Administrative Law Bar Association
- Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
- Housing Law Practitioners’ Association
Languages
Italian