Patrick Lewis

Year of Call: 1997

"He is incredibly thorough, knowledgeable and very good at dealing with vulnerable clients."

Chambers UK, 2023

"A brilliant advocate who is very experienced." "He is very solid and committed to his clients; a really lovely barrister to deal with."

Chambers UK, 2022 (Immigration, Band 1)

"Patrick is a truly stand-out individual with an authoritative manner whose skills and legal knowledge are second to none."

Legal 500, 2022 (Immigration)

"He is outstanding; his skeleton arguments are utterly terrifying, and the judges love him. An absolute force to be reckoned with."

Chambers UK, 2021 (Immigration, Band 1)

"He has an excellent rapport with clients who feel confident in his abilities and can see the extra mile that he goes for them – this is especially so for vulnerable clients for whom the court process can be overwhelming."

Legal 500, 2021 (Immigration)

"He's incredibly thorough and knowledgeable, always adds something to the case, and is excellent with nervous clients. He's also a very persuasive advocate." "He has a lovely manner and is very calm."

Chambers UK, 2020

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Chambers Top Ranked UK 2023
Top Ranked in Chambers UK 2023

Patrick is a practitioner specialising in advice, representation and advocacy in all areas of immigration, asylum, nationality, deportation, detention, EU free movement and human rights law. While he is regularly instructed in appeals in the Court of Appeal and the High Court he has maintained his practice at the Tribunal Level.

Immigration Law

Patrick is a practitioner specialising in advice, representation and advocacy in all areas of immigration, asylum, nationality, deportation, detention, EU free movement and human rights law. While he is regularly instructed in appeals in the Court of Appeal and the High Court he has maintained his practice at the Tribunal Level. This gives his clients the advantage of an experience gained from having appeared in this Jurisdiction for over 21 years, making him one of the most experienced barristers practising in this field.

Patrick has been practising in the field of immigration law since 1992, and while he also undertook pupillage in family and criminal law, his decision to practice exclusively in immigration and human rights law has meant that he can specialise in every aspect of this increasingly complex area. The range of appeals in which he has successfully represented includes challenges to every type of immigration decision made by either Entry Clearance Officers abroad or the Secretary of State in the UK. He fully appreciates the fundamental importance of such appeals to those affected by adverse decisions.

Patrick acts for individuals and commercial undertakings in relation to matters arising for economic migrants under the points-based system (Tiers 1, 2 and 5) and other routes. Among other things, he provides advice to individuals and to banks and financial entities in relation to the Tier 1 (Investor) route, and to individual and sponsors under the other routes. He has advised in a number of applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK as a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur). His practice also involves advising in applications or representing in appeals by individuals and companies who wish to establish or maintain a business in the UK under the EC Association Agreements.

He frequently acts for clients whose appeal involves close family members such as a spouse, parent or a child. In many of these cases his expertise in the Immigration Rules, the European Convention on Human Rights and European Community law has proved to be decisive in the outcome of the appeal.

He has successfully acted for a number of individuals who have been granted leave to remain in the UK and subsequently applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain but whose application has been refused.

He is increasingly instructed in advising on the preparation and drafting of initial applications made both overseas and within the UK with the objective of avoiding the delays and expense of the appeal process.

Patrick has also been instructed to act for a significant number of individuals who face deportation having been convicted of serious criminal offences, including hijacking, terrorism and major drug importation. This is in addition to being instructed in proceedings occurring in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), where national security grounds have been invoked by the Secretary of State. He has been instructed in a number of high profile cases.

His level of experience is such that he has been recognised as an expert on UK Immigration Law in proceedings in the High Court Principal Registry of the Family Division and foreign jurisdictions.

Patrick has been identified as one of the "Leaders at the Bar" in Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession for the last eight years.

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Publications

Patrick has been a contributor to various chapters of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th editions of Macdonald's Immigration Law and Practice, recognised as the leading text on Immigration Law.

Training and Seminars

Patrick has regularly led training in immigration law. He has lectured, and on occasions devised training courses, for the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, The College of Law and Central Law Training.

In addition he has provided in-house training for different firms and voluntary sector organisations. He has also been involved in lobbying and advising on asylum and immigration legislation.

Awards

Patrick was awarded the Major Award of the Queen Mother Scholarship, awarded to outstanding entrants to the Bar, and the Blackstone Exhibition Entrance Award by the Middle Temple.

Appearances

Other Activities

Patrick acted as legal adviser to the Management Consultants GVA who undertook a review and evaluation of a pilot procedure for assessing asylum claims whereby legal funding was front-loaded in an attempt to avoid delay and unnecessary appeals.

He has regularly led training in immigration law and has also been involved in lobbying and advising on asylum and immigration legislation.

Education

  • BSc Economics
  • LLM (European Law)
  • CPE

Professional Membership

  • Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
  • Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA)

 

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