Priya Solanki

Priya is a busy and experienced specialist in immigration and asylum law. She is frequently instructed in appeals against decisions of the First-Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, and in judicial reviews and administrative review challenges against decisions of the Secretary of State. She is recommended by Legal 500.

Within her areas of practice her work includes refugee and human rights claims, trafficking and modern slavery claims, family and private life claims, deportations, bails, European applications, entry clearance matters, business immigration, interim relief applications, unlawful detention claims (judicial review and civil claims), civil penalties for illegal workers, asylum support and unaccompanied and age-disputed migrant children.

She has been involved in several notable cases including QH v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWHC 2691 (Admin), Secretary of State for the Home Department v Said & Ors [2018] EWCA Civ 627, AM (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWCA Civ 2706.

She has a particular interest in and experience of cases involving domestic violence, mental health issues and vulnerable clients.

She provides regular training for ILPA on these topics. She is also the Chair of Trustees at Maa Shanti which is an organisation that supports South Asian single mothers/victims of domestic violence.

Priya regularly provides training on the intersection between family and immigration law. She is regularly instructed to provide expert advice on immigration issues in family proceedings. Her extensive experience of claims involving children and complex legal issues makes her a popular choice for expert opinions.

Priya is very committed to pro-bono work and this is detailed further below.

Career History

Before coming to the Bar Priya was employed at solicitors firms and legal charities.

She was an Asylum and Immigration Supervisor and In-house Advocate at Broudie Jackson & Canter. She also worked as a Senior Caseworker at Refugee & Migrant Justice (formerly the Refugee Legal Centre). In both of these roles she specialised in female asylum and immigration cases and advocated in Tribunals frequently.

She has also worked as an Accredited Mediator.

Priya previously taught law as a Criminal Law Tutor at the University of Liverpool.

What the directories say
Legal 500

Cited as a leading junior in Immigration (including business immigration):

2017 “She has a sharp mind and demonstrates excellent client care”

2018 “She is tactically astute, good under pressure and very persuasive in court”

2019 “She is very knowledgeable in presenting appeals”

2020 "She has a passion for this area of work particularly in working for vulnerable survivors of domestic violence and trafficking"

Education

• Manchester Metropolitan University (Bar Vocational Course) 2008 – Richard Isaacson Memorial Scholarship Award for achieving the highest mark on the Northern Circuit
• University of Liverpool (LLB (Hons)) 2007
• Memberships
• Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)
• Women’s Migration & Asylum Network
• Human Rights Lawyers Association