Patrick Lewis

Practice

Patrick has been practicing in Immigration Law since 1992. Whilst he 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. He is regularly instructed in appeals in the Court of Appeal and Administrative Court. He has, however, maintained his practice at the Tribunal Level thus continuing to have the advantage of experience gained from having appeared in this Jurisdiction for over 16 years.

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. This has included appeals by spouses and other family members. This is in addition to being instructed in cases involving Human Rights and Refugee Law at every level including proceedings occurring in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission where national security grounds have been invoked by the Secretary of State. He has been instructed in a number of high profile cases.

His practice involves appeals by individuals and companies who wish to establish or maintain a business in the UK under the Immigration Rules or EC Association Agreements. He has also successfully advised and represented individuals applying to enter or remain as investors in the UK. His practice also incorporates European Law as it has increased its impact upon the free movement of UK and overseas Companies and individual's within the EU.

Recently, he has become 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 was awarded the Queen Mother Major Scholarship by the Middle Temple - awarded to outstanding entrants to the Bar - and the Blackstone Exhibition Entrance Award. He has been identified as one of the "Leaders at the Bar" in Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession for the last five years. Comments recorded in Chambers guide as having been made by fellow professionals include:

"his analytical and extremely committed approach to appeals including SIAC cases found favour with the market"

Sources highlighted him for his "ability to put across in layman's terms what the complex issues are"

His practice is exclusively in immigration and asylum law. He has acted in a number of high profile cases including that concerning Afghan nationals claiming asylum following the Stansted hijacking"

"Good with clients, thorough, knowledgeable and approachable," solicitors are "comfortable instructing him with vulnerable clients" and believe that his approach "can get the empathy of the tribunal."

Patrick has been a contributor to recent editions of MacDonald's Immigration Law and Practice, recognised as the leading text on Immigration Law. He has been accepted as an expert on UK Immigration Law in civil proceedings conducted both in the UK and abroad.

Other activities

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.

Societies

Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, Administrative Law Bar Association and Liberty.

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