Iain Palmer

Iain Palmer is the firm’s barrister and in-house counsel, holding the following professional qualifications, awards and memberships:

• LLB(Hons)
• BVC (Very Competent) Inns of Court School of Law, London.
• Two awards granted by Middle Temple during pupillage.
• Called to the Bar of England & Wales in November 1999.
• Authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation.
• Authorised by the Bar Standards Board as a Pupil (a trainee barrister) Supervisor.
• Senior Supervising Accredited Caseworker.
• Training Principal at Barnes Harrild and Dyer.
• Administrative Law Bar Association.
• Immigration Law Practitioners Association.
• Human Rights Lawyers Association.

Iain is a recognised and respected barrister in the field of asylum and immigration law and Barnes, Harrild and Dyer’s first and only in-house counsel. He manages a wide-ranging practice with its focus on immigration (private and commercial), nationality and human rights law as a caseworker, advocate and advisor and supervisor to the firm’s lawyers. He works closely with the partners on strategic litigation.

Prior to starting as in-house counsel for Barnes, Harrild and Dyer, Iain practised at the Independent Bar for 18 years as a specialist immigration and asylum practitioner and has considerable experience and knowledge in presenting cases before the Immigration Tribunals, the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal involving issues of refugee rights, rights to private and family life, nationality law, European law, challenges to procedural decisions of the Tribunals, legality of immigration detention and civil claims for damages.

He has appeared in four Upper Tribunal Country Guidance cases as leading, junior and instructing counsel.

Iain presents seminars on current issues on immigration law and has previously lectured in Immigration and Nationality Law on the Legal Practice Course at the University of Westminster.

Some of Iain’s notable reported cases are:

Secretary of State for the Home Department v. Robinson (Jamaica) [2018] EWCA Civ 85
The Court of Appeal judgment which set out the test to be applied when considering Zambrano rights of non-EU citizens subject to deportation orders. Iain was junior counsel led by Hugh Southey QC of Matrix Chambers.

NO(Afghanistan) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWCA Civ 876
The Court of Appeal held that even if a Judge does not expressly say so, if the substance of their determination means the appellant was found to be a refugee, the Home Office cannot grant them a lesser form of leave.

R (on the application of Chen) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appendix FM – Chikwamba – temporary separation – proportionality) (IJR) [2015] UKUT 00189 (IAC).
Judicial review concerning Article 8 ECHR family rights and temporary separation of family members.

HB (Kurds) Iran CG [2018] UKUT 00430 (IAC)
Country guidance decision on risks to Iranian Kurds. Iain was the instructing lawyer.

LH and IP (gay men: risk) Sri Lanka CG [2015] UKUT 00073 (IAC).
Country guidance case on risk of persecution for gay men from Sri Lanka. Iain was leading counsel.

GJ and others (post-civil war: returnees) Sri Lanka CG [2013] UKUT 319 (IAC).
The most recent country guidance case on the risk to Sri Lankan nationals following the end of the civil war. Iain was junior counsel.

MO (illegal exit – risk on return) Eritrea CG [2011] UKUT 00190 (IAC).
Previous country guidance on risk on return to Eritrea. Iain was leading counsel.

T (s.55 BCIA 2009 – entry clearance) Jamaica [2011] UKUT 00483(IAC).
This decision confirmed that entry clearance officers must take into account a child’s best interests although there is no statutory duty to do so.