Manjit is one of the leading immigration and human rights Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom. He has conducted many of the landmark cases in immigration law and appeared regularly in courts at the highest level, often with ground breaking arguments. He is regarded as a leading practitioner by all the main barristers’ directories.
He has assisted corporations, embassies, community organisations and individuals on issues relating to the migration of workers, the large scale movement of labour across different jurisdictions, the free movement rights of labour and services and rights of establishment across Europe, and related issues of the use and abuse of EU law rights (e.g. Low and others v Secretary of State [2009] 2 CMLR 22, [2009] EWHC 35 (Admin) Chinese chefs).
He also regularly conducts judicial reviews in the High Court for restaurants, hotels and the catering and hospitality sector as well other categories of employers, on migration issues relating to workers.
Manjit did the leading case in the Supreme Court on sponsor licences, New London College v Secretary of State [2013] 1 WLR 2358 relating to sponsor licences for educational institutions (the law also applies to employers).
He has conducted several tribunal level cases involving applicants under Tier 1 and Tier 2 and advised many such individuals and employers on strategy including giving advice even before visa applications are made to ensure they are well put together. Names of clients cannot be disclosed for reasons of confidentiality.
Most recently, he has advised members of royal families from the middle-East on various immigration and related business and extradition issues, including one case in which he was one of 3 silks and 5 juniors instructed who worked as a team for a particularly important client. He has also acted in judicial review proceedings for a chain of international hotels in securing the return of its Tier 2 sponsor licence, which had been revoked, and thereby enabled it to retain its non-EEA staff which it was under threat of losing completely. He also recently obtained an injunction for a different chain of Indian restaurants which had had its sponsor licence revoked for alleged breach of its Intra Company Transfer Sponsor Licence and successfully concluded the judicial review in the High Court. He recently represented the family of an Israeli hedge fund manager in their collective immigration issues. He also represented the generic position of EEA nationals, including workers, in the Miller/Brexit case in the Supreme Court. He has also advised and represented employers faced with penalties for hiring migrants who have no permission to work, under s15 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
Recommendations
“His legal acumen is unparalleled.” “He has outstanding communication skills and produces excellent drafting, and excellent oral submissions.” “An encyclopaedia of immigration law. He knows this stuff like the back of his hand, and feels very passionately about it. He is really committed and dedicated to his work.”
Chambers UK 2023
“A passionate silk. His knowledge of the law in this area is second to none, he is creative with his arguments, always thinking outside the box. His attention to detail is amazing, there is not a stone that is left unturned.”
Legal 500 2023
“Manjit is my leader of choice, he has impressive knowledge and is totally on top of everything.” “Has the ability to assimilate complicated and voluminous information quickly, but is able to build a good rapport with clients.”
Chambers UK 2022
“His attention to detail is second to none. He is able to grasp the most minute detail of the matter at hand and expand that before the Court or Tribunal in an accessible way.”
Legal 500 2022
“He is fiercely driven, passionate and never misses a beat when it comes to challenging a complex area of law. His skeleton arguments and advocacy are superb.” “He has an excellent approach due to his vast knowledge and attention to detail. He is also easy to work with as counsel.”
Chambers UK 2021
“He can dismantle an opponent's case with lightning precision.”
Legal 500 2021
“An awesome counsel, whose work and knowledge are exemplary. It’s incredible how intelligent he is, and he’s very driven and passionate, and fights the impossible fight right to the end.” “I haven’t come across any other silk who is as hard-working as Manjit. Few can match his experience of immigration law.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Calm, rational, friendly, approachable, organised, hardworking, extremely intelligent, clear and concise.
Legal 500 2020