Ella specialises in public law and human rights with a focus on asylum and immigration, unlawful detention, community care, and climate change.
Ella regularly acts as sole counsel in appeals before the First-tier and Upper Tribunals and is experienced in conducting judicial reviews before the Administrative Court. Most recently, she has been instructed as junior counsel in several urgent and high profile cases. She is public access accredited and is qualified as a solicitor in Australia.
Immigration: Asylum and Human Rights
Overview
Ella is regularly instructed to appear in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals in relation to a range of immigration matters including complex asylum, deportation, entry clearance, family reunion, deprivation of citizenship, status under the European Union Settlement Scheme, and immigration bail. She has experience representing the most vulnerable of individuals including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, victims of torture, and victims of trafficking.
Notable Cases
Court of Appeal grants emergency injunction for asylum seeker bound for Rwanda
Instructed as junior counsel led by Adrian Berry and Sonali Naik KC in a challenge to an asylum seeker’s removal from the UK to Rwanda. Late in the evening on Tuesday 14 June 2022, less than an hour before the flight was due to leave, an injunction was secured at an emergency hearing before the Court of Appeal.
High Court orders release from immigration detention
R (on the application of CN) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] 10 WLUK 85
The High Court ordered that the Claimant be released from detention within seven days. Multiple grants of conditional bail by the First-tier Tribunal had not led to the Claimant’s release due to delays in the Defendant sourcing appropriate bail accommodation.
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Immigration: Personal and Business
Ella accepts instructions related to British Citizenship and Naturalisation applications, Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and other visas including visit visas, family-based applications, and those relating to the Points Based System. She also has experience in sponsor licence cases including assisting with representations against the proposed revocation of such licences.
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Administrative and Public Law
Overview
Ella welcomes instructions in judicial review claims involving challenges to immigration detention, fresh claims, certification, removal, decisions under the National Referral Mechanism, asylum support and age assessments.
Notable Cases
Court of Appeal grants emergency injunction for asylum seeker bound for Rwanda
Instructed as junior counsel led by Adrian Berry and Sonali Naik KC in a challenge to an asylum seeker’s removal from the UK to Rwanda. Late in the evening on Tuesday 14 June 2022, less than an hour before the flight was due to leave, an injunction was secured at an emergency hearing before the Court of Appeal.
High Court orders release from immigration detention
R (on the application of CN) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] 10 WLUK 85
The High Court ordered that the Claimant be released from detention within seven days. Multiple grants of conditional bail by the First-tier Tribunal had not led to the Claimant’s release due to delays in the Defendant sourcing appropriate bail accommodation.
Court of Appeal provides guidance as to the approach that should be taken by the Competent Authority when determining whether an individual is a victim of trafficking
MN and IXU v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWCA Civ 1746
Stephanie Harrison QC, Gemma Loughran, and Ella Gunn were instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to represent the AIRE Centre who intervened alongside Anti-Slavery International in these appeals.
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Environmental Law and Climate Justice
Overview
Ella has a particular interest in climate change and is developing a public law and human rights practice which covers this area.
Notable Cases
Ella is instructed in Agostinho and others v Portugal and 32 other Contracting States, a case before the European Court of Human Rights brought by six Portuguese youths, alleging breaches of human rights arising from climate change.