Unkha Banda

Solicitor

"I am very satisfied with [Unkha] and her team. They are very understanding, explain everything in a simple way and answered questions calmly when I didn’t understand. Thank you very much for everything. You are the best."

Client

Background

Unkha Banda is a solicitor within Ahmed Aydeed’s team, specialising in judicial reviews and strategic litigation. She acts in complex cases challenging immigration policy, and government decision-making.

She has a particular interest in the intersection of immigration law and technology, including digital immigration status, automated decision-making and the use of artificial intelligence in public administration.

Unkha sits on ILPA's Strategic Legal Advice Committee, which connects NGOs and legal practitioners to identify potential strategic challenges and develop test case litigation. She is also Co-Convener of ILPA's Racial Justice and Equity Working Group.

In 2024, she was selected to participate in the US Government's International Visitor Leadership Program (‘IVLP’) on Strategic Litigation for Social Change, a flagship programme for emerging leaders.

Unkha is accredited as a Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society's Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme and has an LLM in Human Rights, Conflict and Justice from SOAS University of London.

Before joining DPG, Unkha worked at Bindmans LLP and a leading migrants' rights legal charity. She trained in a legal aid firm, giving her extensive experience of representing vulnerable individuals in asylum and immigration matters.

Expertise

Unkha acts for individuals and groups in challenges against UK government departments and other public bodies, particularly where immigration policies or systemic administrative failures have far-reaching consequences for vulnerable people and communities. She has a growing specialism in cases concerning the use of technology in public administration, including digital immigration systems, automated decision-making and artificial intelligence.

In addition to her practice, Unkha regularly speaks and provides training on immigration and public law issues for practitioners, NGOs and community organisations.

Sample Cases

R(Sadat and Others) v SSHD – An ongoing judicial review challenge to the UK Government’s 2026 "visa brake" policy which prevents nationals of Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon from obtaining UK student visas. The case tests the legality of the policy and raises significant issues of discrimination, rationality and ministerial discretion. Covered by Free Movement and the Guardian.

R(BUY) v SSHD – An ongoing judicial review challenge to Her Majesty’s Passport Office’ increasing practice of requesting additional proof of paternity before recognising the British nationality and issuing passports to children of third country national mothers.

R(BSC and JS) v SSHD – A judicial review challenge to the UK Government’s digital only eVisa policy. The case examined whether individuals should have access to alternative proof of immigration status where failures in digital systems expose them to the consequences of the UK's "hostile environment" including risks to employment, housing and welfare support. Covered by Free Movement and the IMA.

R(TG and others) v SSHD: A judicial review challenge to the use of RAF Wethersfield as asylum accommodation and the regime there for vulnerable asylum seekers. Covered by Free Movement and BBC News.

R(AH and others) v FCDO: A challenge to the Foreign Office’ refusal to resettle 12 former British Embassy guards under Pathway 3 of the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme. The challenge led to all claimants being offered resettlement and a change in Government policy to remove the cap on numbers to be resettled under ACRS Pathway 3.