Nusrat Uddin shortlisted as Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in the Law Society Excellence Awards 2019

We are delighted to announce that Nusrat Uddin, solicitor in our Public Law Team, has been shortlisted as a finalist for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in this year’s Law Society Excellence Awards.The shortlisting is recognition of Nusrat’s focus on improving state systems of support and redress for victims of trafficking and modern slavery. Last year she was instructed in the lead case, K and AM v SSHD [2018] EWHC 2951 (Admin), challenging cuts by the Home Office to subsistence monies paid to victims, resulting in support being fully reinstated and rebates being paid of around £1 million. Nusrat was also awarded a Research Fellowship by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, travelling to the US and Europe, to compare support for victims involved with criminal prosecutions against their traffickers. She presented her report findings at the end of last year and made recommendations for longer term support for victims in the UK. This year Nusrat gave oral evidence in Parliament to the Home Affairs Select Committee for their Inquiry into Modern Slavery, outlining issues for victims in relation to support services, immigration and the criminal justice system. Nusrat was also instructed in a ground-breaking case earlier this year at the Employment Tribunal where it was held for the first time that diplomatic immunity does not protect a current diplomat from claims of human trafficking and modern slavery. Law Society president Simon Davis said: “There are more than 140,000 solicitors in England and Wales – to be shortlisted for an Excellence Award is to be recognised as among the very best of the profession. “The firms and solicitors shortlisted should be commended for going above and beyond to support their clients, often navigating tricky and sometimes contentious areas of the law. “With the justice system so under strain, we should take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible work solicitors do day-in and day-out – and to recognise the immense contribution they make to our society.” Winners are announced at the Law Society’s Excellence Awards ceremony in London on 23 October 2019.  See the full list of finalists here.