Sonali Naik QC wins Highly Commended Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion at Chambers Bar Awards 2019

Sonali was called to the Bar in 1991 and took silk in 2018. She is a leader in her specialist fields of public law, immigration, asylum and nationality. Within these areas she has built a diverse practice covering human rights, lawfulness of detention, family reunion and deprivation of citizenship.  

Sonali’s work has helped to shape and develop the law, often through strategic litigation challenging Home Office immigration policy. Most of her clients are from BAME communities. Many of Sonali’s cases concern very vulnerable clients including asylum-seeking children (such as children in the Calais ‘Jungle’) and victims of rape and torture.

Sonali is Chair of Liberty and the first BAME woman to occupy this post. She is an adviser to Women Against Rape, trustee of Freedom from Torture, an Advisory Council member of JUSTICE, a trustee of the Immigrants’ Aid Trust (linked to the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (“JCWI”) which she formerly chaired ) and a Patron of Clean Break a women’s theatre company working with ex-offenders.

In addition to this award last night, Garden Court Chambers won Outstanding Contribution to Diversity & Inclusion (Set/Chambers) and Judy Khan QC, Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers won Crime Silk of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2019.