People in the UK regularly experience destitution due to failures of government to obey the law. People are left on the streets, sofa surfing, or placed in inadequate accommodation – hostels or barracks without proper support.
Since 1997 we have brought hundreds of successful challenges against these failures by local and central government. Generally, these cases are taken on behalf of migrants, and those not entitled to mainstream benefits.
We have acted in many of the leading cases on destitution, some requiring immediate injunctions to secure support, to ensure that vulnerable people are not left on the streets or unable to meet their basic living needs.
We run the PAP Project, an innovative scheme to enable front line organisations to address the legal failures of government without recourse to lawyers.
We advise on, and act in, strategic litigation aimed at resolving systemic failures to correctly implement the law, and work alongside other solicitors firms, charities and NGOs to achieve this.
We have nationally recognised expertise in this area and have delivered training to several organisations.
The two independent directories Legal 500 & Chambers both rank us highly for our work. Chambers described us as a: “Highly respected team with a broad spread of public law and social housing expertise. Regularly undertakes cases on behalf of homeless applicants, as well as migrants and asylum seekers. Extensive expertise in possession claims and complicated judicial reviews. Adept at working with disabled clients and those who lack capacity.”
The Legal 500 Directory said: ‘The team has built up a strong reputation for undertaking housing litigation on behalf of migrants, as well as the travelling community, with several legal challenges resulting in policy changes at the Home Office.’
Testimonials
‘The firm’s unique selling point is its first-class reputation in relation to claims for judicial review and in particular its expertise in relation to migrants’ rights. This means that it is one of a small number of go-to firms for the purposes of strategic litigation in relation to social housing and social welfare cases.’
‘Sasha Rozansky is an exceptional solicitor, with extensive experience in housing, public law and migrant support. She is equally at home achieving important results for individuals and bringing important strategic challenges.’
‘A renowned and cutting-edge team of leading practitioners in the social welfare and housing field, with particular commitment to supporting some of the most marginalised individuals in complex and difficult cases to achieve social justice.’
Work highlights
- Instructed in a challenge of the defendant’s decision to accommodate the claimants, who are vulnerable asylum seekers, at Napier Barracks in Kent where there has been a widespread outbreak of COVID-19. The claimants are challenging the legality of conditions at Napier Barracks and the defendant’s system for allocating asylum seekers to barracks accommodation, including that the conditions of the Napier accommodation breach, or create a real risk of a breach of, Articles 2, 3 and/or 8 ECHR, particularly with regard to the lack of privacy, hygiene and toileting facilities, and the heightened risk of COVID-19 infections. Following an oral permission hearing on 16 February 2021, at which the SSHD conceded permission, Mr Justice Chamberlain granted the clients permission to proceed on all grounds.