Gita Patel

Immigration, Asylum & Nationality

Gita has specialised exclusively in immigration and asylum law, coincident with the advent of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the dispersal of asylum seeker to the northwest by NASS.

She practises in all aspects of this work and appears before Immigration Judges, Designated Immigration Judges and Senior Immigration Judges in single and panel hearings, both in First Tier and Upper Tribunal.

Gita has also appeared before the Court of Appeal and Administrative Court in asylum and immigration matters.

In asylum cases she has dealt with appellants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Cameroon, DRC, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Palestinian Occupied Territories and Togo.

A significant part of Gita's practice has involved the application of human rights principles to the dispersal of asylum seekers to the northwest by NASS.

She has particular experience in representing vulnerable appellants, particularly minors, the elderly, females and those with mental health issues, and Human Rights arguments are almost always at issue in such cases.
Gita undertakes advisory work on immigration and judicial review matters in line with Chambers' quick turnaround policy and will consider pro bono work on its merits.

Client Testimonial:

"Gita was great in court and fought hard for Mr M. I am so grateful as is Mr M" - Asylum Client, Instructed by Howells LLP

Reported Cases

Notable Cases - Judicial Review Cases in the Administrative Court:

• [RLG] Mushtaq (R on the application of) v Entry Clearance Officer of Islamabad, Pakistan (ECO - procedural fairness) [2015]
• Jabang (R on the Application of) v SSHD [2011] EWHC 2478
• Ping on 3 Limited v SSHD [2011] EWHC 2196
• EP & Another (R on the Application of) v SSHD [2010] EWHC 2189
• Ahmed (R on the Application of) v SSHD [2010] EWHC 2779
• Umar (R on the Application of) v SSHD [2009] EWHC 2779
• Essomba (R on the Application of) v SSHD [2009] EWHC 2300

Notable Cases - Court of Appeal Asylum and Human Rights Cases:

• TH Burma v SSHD [2011] EWCA Civ 1521
• MF Sri Lanka v SSHD [2011] EWCA Civ 915
• AK Bangladesh v SSHD [2009] Civ 1586
• XZ China v SSHD [2008] EWCA Civ 342

Notable Cases - Court of Appeal Immigration Cases:

• Ishtiaq v SSHD [2007] EWCA Civ 386
• Il (Pakistan) [2006] EWCA Civ 1413

Publications

• Member of ILPA