Marisa is a public law practitioner specialising in immigration and community care. Marisa has particular expertise working with very vulnerable clients, such as those with complex disabilities; minors; victims of torture, including sexual violence; and victims of trafficking and exploitation. Marisa regularly represents clients in applications for judicial review and in statutory appeals. Marisa’s cases concern Children Act 1989 claims; claims related to modern slavery; asylum support accommodation; unlawful detention; deportation; and age assessment.
Marisa has experience of systemic challenges to policies and/or practice and has worked on cases concerning bail accommodation, and policies and statutory guidance in relation to victims of trafficking/modern slavery.
Marisa is particularly skilled in dealing with cases that concern overlapping immigration and community care issues.
Marisa enjoys working with clients from the early stages of a case through to its conclusion, and is happy to regularly advise on queries relating to evidence, procedure, and tactics.
“A ‘rising star’ in the immigration field, known for her skill in matters involving vulnerable individuals, such as unaccompanied children. She acts in a range of asylum and deportation appeals, and she is experienced in bringing complex challenges through judicial review. She has a very strong tactical focus and is an excellent technical lawyer.”—Chambers and Partners, 2023
"Her advice is clear, her strategic nous is sharp and her approach is generous." -Chambers and Partners, 2024
"She's excellent at drafting, gets great results and is very approachable." -Chambers and Partners, 2024
Marisa’s immigration practice includes complex asylum claims; immigration appeals involving minors; trafficking and exploitation; deportation; and EEA immigration appeals.
Marisa has experience of business immigration applications, appeals and judicial reviews.
Marisa has an extensive judicial review practice. Marisa’s cases include:
A systemic claim on behalf of WP challenging the lawfulness of the bail accommodation Schedule 10 system in R (Humnyntskyi and ors) v SSHD [2021] 1 WLR 320
A systemic claim challenging the lack of support for potential victims of trafficking on remand or serving criminal sentences
Claims for judicial review challenging the imposition of a curfew and electronic monitoring by GPS surveillance
Marisa regularly deals with challenges under the Children Act 1989. Marisa’s cases include claims on behalf of former relevant children challenging local authorities ceasing support on the basis of immigration issues.
Marisa is particularly well-placed to advise on community care entitlement for those who lack regularised immigration status and/or their children.
