Tom is an experienced first instance and appellate advocate, who is used to taking novel or niche points of law on appeal. His practice across Public Law includes immigration, education and public law; he also practices in employment, and has experience in related regulatory matters. He is often instructed to take cases on further on onward appeals when he did not represent below. Tom is ranked as a leading junior in Immigration law (tier 4) by the Legal 500.

Tom sits as both a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber and as a fee-paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal in the same Chamber.

Key cases & testimonials

Court of Appeal

Immigration
Mustaj v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 663

High Court

L (A Child), Re (Wrongful Removal: Alleged Sexual Abuse) [2021] EWHC 2687 (Fam)
Eve v Bar Standards Board [2021] EWHC 2030 (Admin)

Employment Appeals Tribunal

Donkor-Baah v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust & Ors (Agency Workers) [2024] EAT 23

Carryl v Governing Body of Manford Primary School (PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE) [2023] EAT 167

Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber)

SENDIST – EHCP
OO & Anor v London Borough of Bexley [2023] UKUT 223 (AAC)

Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)

Deprivation of nationality
Mujaj (Deprivation: children’s best interests) Albania [2025] UKUT 349 (IAC)

Procedure
Bhavsar (late application for PTA: procedure) [2019] UKUT 196 (IAC)
Thapa & Ors (costs: general principles; s9 review) [2018] UKUT 54 (IAC)
Saimon (Cart Review: “pending” : Bangladesh) [2017] UKUT 371 (IAC)
VA (Solicitor’s non-compliance: counsel’s duties : Sri Lanka) [2017] UKUT 12 (IAC)
AM (fair hearing) [2015] UKUT 656 (IAC)
Cancino (costs – First-tier Tribunal – new powers) [2015] UKFTT 59 (IAC)

Refugee Law
MS (Art 1C(5)- Mogadishu) [2018] UKUT 196 (IAC)
KB & AH (credibility-structured approach : Pakistan) [2017] UKUT 491 (IAC)
Ruhumuliza (Article 1F and “undesirable” : Rwanda) [2016] UKUT 284 (IAC)
TG (Interaction of Directives and Rules) [2016] UKUT 374 (IAC)

Country Guidance
VB & Anor (draft evaders and prison conditions : Ukraine) (CG) [2017] UKUT 79
MS (Coptic Christians : Egypt) CG [2013] UKUT 611 (IAC)

Human Rights – Article 8 – deportation
Yussuf (meaning of “liable to deportation”) Somalia [2018] UKUT 117 (IAC)
Williams (scope of “liable to deportation”) Nigeria [2018] UKUT 116 (IAC)
KMO (section 117 – unduly harsh) [2015] UKUT 543 (IAC)
McLarty (Deportation – proportionality balance) [2014] UKUT 315 (IAC)
Omenma (Conditional discharge – not a conviction of an offence) [2014] UKUT 314 (IAC)
Vasconcelos (risk – rehabilitation) Portugal [2013] UKUT 378

Human Rights – Article 8
Charles (human rights appeal: scope) [2018] UKUT 89 (IAC)
SF and others (Guidance, post-2014 Act) [2017] UKUT 120 (IAC)
Miah (section 117B NIAA 2002 – children) [2016] UKUT 131 (IAC)

Trafficking – Article 4
MS (Trafficking – Tribunal’s Powers – Art. 4 ECHR : Pakistan) [2016] UKUT 226

Tom is a fearless advocate, with an impressive knowledge of immigration law. Always willing to explore novel points and take a proactive approach. He thinks outside the box and often takes points others may not have considered before.Legal 500 2026

Areas of expertise

Tom is developing a Court of Protection practice with the team in Chambers bringing an experienced Public Law approach to cases under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Tom is regularly instructed by Appellant’s/Claimants, Local Authorities and Responsible Bodies in claims and appeals before the First Tier Tribunal. He has broad experience in EHCP appeals, and discrimination claims before the Tribunal, bringing in his experience from other areas of practice on Equality Act matters.

He has delivered training to local authorities on education law matters of procedure and discrimination as well as advised and represented on SEN appeals on EHCP plans.

Tom has experience on statutory appeals from regulators.

Tom has experience in the ET and EAT on the range of claims brought. He represents both claimants and respondents, including Local Authorities in unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and discrimination claims.

He drafts ET1’s and ET3’s as well as further amendments, and skeleton arguments as necessary. He advises respondent’s on HR policies, and misconduct matters, both in the abstract and on ongoing matters of sensitive and complex issues.

He has experience in undertaking investigations on allegations made.

He has delivered training to employers on a range of employment law matters.

Tom has experience on statutory appeals from regulators.

Tom is an experienced immigration practitioner having worked at the Home Office for 13 years as an advocate appearing in both the First Tier and Upper Tribunal before coming to the independent bar.

Tom has experience across the jurisdiction in all types of appeals including protection, exclusion, deportation, deprivation of citizenship, human rights, skilled migrant and EEA/EUSS matters.

He has numerous reported decisions to his name from the UT(IAC), including 2 country guidance decisions, and several on UT procedure and costs.

Tom has particular experience in the UT on error of law applications, and is frequently brought on board for further appeals beyond the FTT, even where he did not appear below.

Tom has delivered training both online and in person on a range of immigration matters.

Tom is licensed to take instructions on a direct access basis in his core areas of practice if the case is suitable.

Tom has experience advising, drafting and arguing claims in the Upper Tribunal and High Court in immigration, education and other Public Law matters. He has been instructed to advise and represent Local Authorities, Claimants and The Metropolitan Police in public law matters.

Further information

  • EUSS and the Withdrawal Agreement – Considering EUSS and Exploring the impact of the Withdrawal Agreement on the scheme.
  • Revocation and Cessation of Refugee Status
  • Caselaw update on SENDIST appeals
  • Human Rights LLM Birkbeck College, University of London
  • Bar Vocational Course College of Law
  • Law LLB University of Leicester

Appointments & Memberships

  • Administrative Law Bar Association
  • Education Law Association
  • Employment Lawyers Association
  • Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
  • Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
  • First Tier Tribunal Judge (Fee-paid) (Immigration and Asylum Chamber

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