Direct Email: AMA@no5.com
Abid Mahmood has been referred to within leading directories as an expert in three separate areas of law:
Immigration, Nationality and Asylum Law, Administrative and Public law, and Court of Protection.
He has over 25 years’ experience as a barrister and has been sitting as a part time Judge since 2006. His other areas of interest include human rights law, commercial law, and contentious probate.
The Legal 500 (2019) refers to him as: “A distinguished advocate”.
Chambers UK (2019) said, “He is responsive and gives clear advice. He is very courteous and has undeniable knowledge.” It also states that he is “Highly Experienced”.
Previous directories for 2018 and before have said:
“A forceful and persuasive advocate”
“He is extremely experienced and knows what to focus on in the higher courts to get you across the line”
“He is a respected immigration practitioner working for Claimants”
“Recognised for his broad experience of immigration cases, including matters concerning questions of asylum or human rights. Mahmood heads the immigration group at No5 Chambers.”
“Abid Mahmood is a genius”
“Personable and user friendly”
“Very responsive and a good team player”
“He represents clients in complex cases at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and has been instructed on many national security cases”
“In immigration: he is able to explain a complex legal framework to clients”
“Extremely precise and meticulous”
“An immigration law specialist – he is super-efficient and knows the law inside out.’ ‘A senior junior with experience before the Supreme Court.”
“A Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge and a Special Advocate, Abid Mahmood covers the full range of immigration matters. He is recognised for his work on judicial reviews and has experience in handling national security proceeding”
Abid Mahmood is an Administrative Law specialist with considerable experience of human rights issues. He has practised in human rights law and cross border issues for over 20 years and has been a part time judge since 2006.
He is regularly instructed in many areas of law in which human rights issues arise. He has appeared in cases affecting family law including The Hague Convention, international adoption and abduction cases, including recent cases at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. His freedom of movement and European Union law cases have included recent appearances at the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
He has appeared in many other important cases in recent years at the Supreme Court, House of Lords and in hundreds of cases at the Court of Appeal and Administrative Court/ High Court with numerous appeals pending at the Senior Courts. He is regularly instructed to draft proceedings and to advise on Judicial Review.
In information rights and data protection he has advised and appeared in cases at the High Court and has acted for National Health Service Trusts and others.
He has advised and appeared on behalf of Charities in respect of legal disputes arising and has a commercial aspect to his advisory functions.
He acts for various local authorities across the country in “age dispute” cases, human trafficking and similar matters.
He lectures regularly and has provided training for both solicitors and barristers, and also for the Home Office. He has been invited to and has lectured in countries such as India and the UAE (Dubai) on human rights at the International Bar Association with thousands of delegates.
He works with leading counsel, leads other juniors and acts alone in cases. He is recognised as a leading expert in his chosen area of work.
Abid is currently instructed in various cases including tests cases at the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Administrative Court and Court of Protection in wide-spanning issues involving human rights, immigration, Articles 2, 3, 5,8, 14 ECHR, EU Directives, EU, international law, returns of minors and family reunion. He is also instructed by various guardians, local authorities, and parties to prepare expert opinions and advices in respect of issues transcending both human rights law, immigration issues and family law. In Court of Protection cases he is instructed by the Office of the Public Guardian.
Recommendations
"He has the ability to think out of the box and develops novel points of law which have not been tested in the High Courts. His advocacy is clear and concise."
Legal 500 2023
"Abid has a brilliant all-around knowledge of law and procedure and has thought of novel points on many occasions. He has been involved in many precedents setting cases up for the Supreme Court. He always has time for professional clients and treats lay clients with compassion and respect."
Legal 500 2023
"He's very experienced and really good with clients; he can adopt the correct approach in cases."
Chambers UK 2023
"Exceptional specialist knowledge and experience. Always supremely well prepared and focused."
Legal 500 2022
"He's got a good reputation in the area, he's a smooth advocate and has a nice approach to cases."
Chambers UK 2022
"Highly experienced in judicial review proceedings."
Legal 500 2021
“Provided clear and decisive input in a judicial review claim.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Very good for difficult and unusual cases.”
Legal 500 2020
“Abid’s advocacy is quite beguiling. He is very impressive and persuasive on his feet and is almost able to ‘lull’ the court and the other parties into agreeing with him. He is also superb with lay clients and is able to pitch his advice in just the right way.”
Chambers UK 2020
Notable Cases
Notable Cases
Abid Mahmood has several cases pending at the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and other courts in diverse areas of law including the Court of Protection, Administrative Court Judicial Reviews in various non immigration cases, education law, procurement, commercial issues and family law with foreign element issues. Some of the forthcoming cases/awaited judgments include the following:
Ali and another v Secretary of State for the Home Department UKSC 2013/0270
This case concerns the Government’s Policy and Rules in respect of the Pre Entry English language requirement for migrants. The case was heard at a substantive hearing at the Supreme Court on 25th and 26th February 2015. Judgement is expected in late 2015. This is an important case in respect human rights, discrimination and the Immigration Rules.
Mandalia v Secretary of State for the Home Department UKSC 2014/0059
This case concerns the Government’s policy in respect of ‘evidential flexibility’. The substantive hearing took place before the Supreme Court on 7th May 2015 and judgment is expected in the Michaelmas Term.
XX v Secretary of State for Defence, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Secretary of State for Home Department (2015)
An ongoing human rights case in which an Afghan interpreter and operative has brought proceedings against the United Kingdom government in respect of breaches of policies and agreements in which he had been left behind in Afghanistan when the UK forces had left that country.
R (on the application of Kardi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWCA 934 Civ July 2014
Court of Appeal. Subject: Human Rights. Issue: The new ‘Restricted Leave to Remain’ Policy and its application. To be the subject of a proposed application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
R (on the application of Apata) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWHC 888 (Admin)
High Court. Judicial Review. Subject: Human Rights and Immigration. Issues: Mental Health, deportation orders, sexual orientation.
MI (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. Court of Appeal. [2014] EWCA Civ 826, [2014] Imm. AR 1043.
The meaning of ‘persecution’ and whether discrimination of an Albino man could lead to him being granted refugee status.
Singh v Secretary of State for the Home Department Court of Appeal (Civil Division), [2014] EWCA Civ 932, [2014] Imm. AR 1141
Deportation concerning a man convicted of ‘historical’ serious offence and whether DP5/96 properly considered in light of section 84(1)(e) NIAA 2002. Historical injustice issues.
Secretary of State for the Home Department v Rodriguez, Mandalia and another. Court of Appeal. [2014] EWCA Civ 2. Evidential Flexibility.
JW (China) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. Court of Appeal. [2013] EWCA Civ 1526
Article 8 family life issues.
SS (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. Court of Appeal [2014] 1 WLR 998
Best interests of children issues arising out the conflict in respect of the public interest arising out of the requirement of deportation of foreign criminals and the duties towards British children of those persons.
R. (on the application of Ali and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department Court of Appeal. [2014] 1 WLR.
Pre Entry English Language requirement. Listed for hearing at the Supreme Court on 25th and 26th February 2015.
SS (Zimbabwe) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. Court of Appeal. [2013] EWCA Civ 237
Whether the regime in Zimbabwe was sufficiently safe to enable there to be a return of the Appellant. Successful appeals at the Court of Appeal with remittals to the Upper Tribunal.
C (A Child) (Practice: Setting Aside Consent Order in Abduction Proceedings), Re. Court of Appeal [2013] 2 FLR 1300
Hague Convention. Abduction of child.
KM (Zimbabwe) v Secretary of State for the Home Department Supreme Court [2012] UKSC 38; [2012] 3 W.L.R. 345; [2012] 4 All E.R. 843; [2012] Imm. A.R. 1067; [2012] I.N.L.R. 562; (2012) 156(30) S.J.L.B. 31; Times
August 15, 2012
Successful appeal to the Supreme Court for Zimbabwean citizen that had contended that it was wrong in law for him to have dissemble to ‘pretend’ to support the President Mugabe regime in order to avoid persecution.
R. (on the application of School of Business and Commerce Ltd) v Secretary of State for the Home Department Queen’s Bench Division (Administrative Court), [2013] EWHC 126 (Admin)
Subject: Immigration, Education, Planning. Keywords: Educational institutions, Immigration policy, Planning permission, Points-based system, Revocation, Sponsor licences.
C (A Child), Re Court of Appeal (Civil Division) [2013]
Subject: Family law. Hague Convention. International Law - Consent, Consent orders, Duress, International child abduction.
R. (on the application of OA (Nigeria)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 3128 (Admin)
Subject: Immigration. Keywords: Best interests, Certification, Children, Children’s welfare, Illegal entrants, Indefinite leave to remain, Investigations, Removal.
R. (on the application of S) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 3370 (Admin)
Subject: Immigration. Keywords: Asylum seekers, Certification, India.
Okafor and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department. [2011] EWCA Civ 499
The Court of Appeal considered an important issue concerning the husband and children of an EU national that had committed suicide and the effect of EU Directive 2004/28 and Articles 12 and 16 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006. This case is currently the subject of an application to the Supreme Court.
RK (Zimbabwe) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWCA Civ 456
The Court of Appeal considered the risk on return to Zimbabwe of an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe that had been in the United Kingdom for a number of years. The Court of Appeal allowed the Appellant’s appeal and remitted the case to the Upper Tribunal for an assessment to be undertaken.
DS (Afghanistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWCA Civ 305
The Court of Appeal allowed the Appellant’s appeal. He was an unaccompanied asylum seeking child. This is an important case dealing with the Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations in respect of the tracing of the child’s parents. There was a duty on the secretary of state to endeavour to trace a child’s family as soon as possible after the child has made his asylum claim. The Secretary of State has sought permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
R (on the application of Daley Murdoch) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. [2011] EWCA Civ 161
A test case at the Court of Appeal in respect of the issue of segregated decisions and rights of appeal. This case is currently the subject of an application to the Supreme Court.
R (on the application of WJ (China) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. [2011] EWCA Civ 183
The Court of Appeal considered the issues of rights of appeal in respect of s82 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and whether there was a conflict with Supreme Court authority in respect of the decision in BA (Nigeria) v SSHD.
QJ (Algeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] EWCA Civ 1478
21 December 2010
Acted as a Special Advocate. Issues concerning deportation of an Appellant convicted in the United Kingdom of terrorism related offences. This case is currently the subject of an application to the Supreme Court by the Special Advocates.
R (on the application of Mansoor) v Secretary of State for the Home Department. [2011] EWHC 832 (March 2011)
The Administrative Court considered issues in respect of family life and referred to the judgement of the European Court in C-3409 Zambrano v Onem 8 March 2011 BAILII: [2011] EUECJ C-34/09.
TM, KM and LZ (Zimbabwe) v SSHD [2010] EWCA Civ 916
Leading case on the risk on return relating to sur place activities on return to Zimbabwe. The high profile nature of the President Mugabe regime which has dominated the media in recent times is currently an issue which continues to be of concern and which Abid has been involved in for some years now in acting for the Appellants.
AN (Pakistan) v SSHD [2010] EWCA Civ 757
The Court of Appeal considered the Appellant’s issues relating to domestic violence and suicide risk in respect of Articles 2 and 3 ECHR.
WJ (China) v SSHD [2010] EWHC 776 (Admin)
This was the first decision of the Administrative Court in respect of the fresh claims jurisdiction as it interplays with s92 NIAA 2002. It also raises issues in respect of Article 8 ECHR. Permission to appeal was granted by the Court itself.
Re: A local authority and F (children), Ministry of Justice intervening (2010)
Acted as a special advocate in respect of issues of a sensitive nature raised by the Ministry of Justice in respect of prisons.
Appointments
Recorder of the Crown Court
Recorder of the Civil Court and Family Court
Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
First Tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
Panel barrister Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates
Awards
Shortlisted for Barrister of the Year Law Society in 2014, 2013 and 2012
One of the runners up for the 2007 LAPG Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award (Barrister Category)
Nominated for 2008 LAPG Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award (Barrister Category)
Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
Administrative Law Bar Association
Midland Chancery Bar Association
Midland Circuit
Criminal Law Bar Association
