Nicholas Hughes

Solicitor - Solicitor

SRA ID: 645733

I am a Solicitor in the Public Law and Immigration department at Duncan Lewis, having joined in September 2015, and qualifying as a solicitor in 2023. I have extensive experience in Judicial Review matters and asylum claims and appeals at all levels. I also have key experience in Public Inquiries, having worked on the Brook House Public Inquiry. This Inquiry is the first of its kind in the UK, following from a lengthy Judicial Review to investigate abuses exposed as part of a BBC Panorama documentary. I represented several individuals who are Core Participants and Witnesses to the Brook House Inquiry. Having jointly built the case which led to this Inquiry, I worked closely with Counsel, Solicitors to the Inquiry and our clients to ensure that justice is brought following the extensive abuse which took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. I have particular expertise in bringing judicial reviews in challenges to both the lawfulness and conditions of immigration detention. I am experienced in a wide variety of Judicial Review claimant and asylum matters and I have several years of experience in challenging removals from the UK to European countries under the Dublin III Regulation, challenges to decisions of the Secretary of State for the Home Department to unlawfully detain and remove clients, cases involving victims of political persecution and torture, challenging the unlawful detention of LGBTI persons, abuse within detention centres and statelessness cases. I have represented clients from all backgrounds, from privately funded clients to vulnerable victims of trafficking, and often have had to handle cases at the last minute to tight deadlines such as is the case with deportation/removal matters. I have conducted a varied caseload with cases being heard before the Upper Tribunal, Special Immigration Appeals Commission, the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.