Fri, 27 Mar 2020
At this time of unprecedented national public health emergency we would like to update you as to how we will maintain our Immigration services during the covid-19 outbreak.
Business continuity
As a chambers and a team, we are still very much open for business. Evidently, our working practices have changed. Chambers building is physically closed and both clerks and barristers are working remotely. This should not, however, impact in any significant way the service we can deliver to you either as individuals or solicitors. Our aim, as a team, is to continue to assist all of our clients throughout the pandemic. We are constantly reviewing our working practices and operations to maximise and adapt the assistance we can provide during these exceptional times.
Please note, however, that we cannot accept deliveries of papers at chambers at the current time. Please send any case documents electronically using the email addresses below. If you do not have access to email and need to have hard copies delivered to us, please get in contact by email or telephone with the clerks to make the necessary arrangements before sending anything by post.
All of our clerking team are now working remotely and can be contacted through 0845 210 5555 or immigration@no5.com. Contact details for individual clerks are as follows:
Abdul Hafeez: AbdulH@no5.com
Gavin John: GavinJ@no5.com (on annual leave until 30 March 2020)
Christy Irvine: ChristyI@no5.com
Lucas Bennett: LucasB@no5.com
Each barrister in the team is now able to work remotely and all of the team are able to attend conferences (and if necessary hearings) by telephone, Lifesize, Facetime, Skype for Business and Zoom. To assist our clients, our clerking team are happy to arrange and provide a Lifesize video conferencing platform for conferences to which professional and lay clients can dial in.
Each of our barristers will do their utmost to meet their current Immigration work commitments. If any barrister with existing commitments is unable to meet existing commitments (for example due to illness or unexpected childcare commitments during the pandemic) we are committed to providing alternative experienced counsel as cover.
Immigration issues arising out of the pandemic
In the last few days, the government has announced measures to protect the immigration status of those in the UK with leave which is due to expire between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020. Further, the Courts and Tribunals have implemented a series of changes to respond to the pandemic, affecting hearings which are currently listed. We anticipate that further changes and measures will be announced as the pandemic continues.
If you have any queries or concerns about how the pandemic may affect an application, current leave or an upcoming hearing, please do get in contact. We continue to be available to advise and represent either through solicitors or on a public access basis.
We wish all of our clients, colleagues and friends our best wishes during this trying time.
Yours sincerely
Danny Bazini
Head of Immigration Group, No5 Chambers
Mark Bradshaw
Deputy Head of Immigration Group, No5 Chambers
Abdul Hafeez
Practice Director, Immigration Group, No5 Chambers
