Ubah Dirie is recognised as a tenacious and client focused advocate who specialises in advice, representation and advocacy in all areas of immigration, asylum, nationality, EU free movement, deportation and detention. She regularly appears in the First tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal.
Ubah is ranked for Immigration in the Legal 500 2024, described as:
“a fantastic advocate, utilising a combination of forceful and persuasive advocacy to best put her client’s case forward. She is a fighter, but also graceful and prepared to negotiate when appropriate. Her real strength is in her appeal advocacy.”
She is ranked ‘Up and Coming’ in the Chambers UK Bar Guide 2024 for Immigration.
Immigration: Asylum and Human Rights
Overview
Ubah has developed a reputation as a practitioner who has the ability to explain complex points of law in a simple and straightforward way. Her empathy and manner towards clients mark her out as a clear choice in difficult cases. As such, she is frequently instructed to represent vulnerable individuals including victims of trafficking, unaccompanied asylum seeking children and those with complex mental health issues or without capacity.
Ubah is fluent in Somali and has a particular interest in providing advice and representation in Somali cases. She is regularly instructed in complex asylum appeals, notably soon after the completion of her pupillage she was instructed as junior counsel in the Country Guidance case OO Algeria (CG) [2016] UT UKUT 65.
Ubah also has a particular interest in immigration matters involving EEA nationals and their family members. She has gained extensive experience in representing third country nationals in retained rights appeals and sham marriage cases.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be found below. More recent news can be found here.
MAM (Sierra Leone) v SSHD [2019] – EEA deport of a former child solider. Pro bono. Appeal allowed.
AN (Rwanda) v SSHD [2019] – Article 3 health case – litigation friend required, appellant lost capacity soon after proceedings began. Appeal allowed.
MAM (Somalia) v SSHD [2019] – Asylum appeal of a high-ranking soldier in the Somali National Army. At risk on return for desertion. Appeal allowed.
