Leading global law firm, Baker McKenzie, is acting for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency with responsibility for supervising the application of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in its intervention in the current litigation concerning the UK’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.
UNHCR made oral and written submissions to the courts, raising its concerns about the legality of the partnership and Rwanda’s capacity to make fair and efficient refugee status determinations, among other points.
The first flight due to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda was cancelled late Tuesday night after a series of interventions by domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights.
The legality of the UK-Rwanda Migration Partnership will be determined in judicial review proceedings which are to be heard by the High Court in July. UNHCR has also been granted permission to intervene in the substantive proceedings.
The Baker McKenzie team, which works on this case pro bono, is led by Disputes Partner and London head of the firm's Regulatory, Public & Media law team, Jo Ludlam, Disputes Associate Lucy Player-Bishop, and Trainee Olivia Strafford.
Jo Ludlam commented, "UNHCR plays such an important role and we are incredibly privileged to be able to use our skills and resources to support it pro bono on this case. We will continue to support UNHCR in the lead up to the substantive hearing, in light of the High Court's decision that this case gives rise to serious triable issues."
Laura Dubinsky QC and Agata Patyna of Doughty Street Chambers, David Chirico and Ben Bundock of One Pump Court Chambers along with Shane Sibbel of Blackstone Chambers, acted as Counsel to UNHCR. They are instructed by Baker McKenzie.