Liz is a partner at Bindmans and Head of our Immigration, Asylum and Nationality team. She has a broad practice covering all aspects of immigration and is well known for her work with unaccompanied children and vulnerable clients and EEA law. Liz also has a Public Law practice.
She has acted in cases before the First Tier and Upper Tribunal; the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and Court of Justice of the European Union.
Education and career
- Liz has a degree in history from Cambridge University
- After some years working for Women’s Aid and a local authority Liz started her legal education studying her Common Professional Examination by distance learning with the College of Law and then her LPC which she gained with distinction
- Liz trained at Bindmans LLP from 1998 – 2000
- Liz worked for Mary Ward Legal Centre after qualification and rejoined Bindmans in 2001
- In 2012 Liz was awarded the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award in the immigration category
- In 2015 Liz was appointed Partner and Joint Head of the Immigration Team at Bindmans LLP
Experience
Liz’s cases include:
- R (on the application of SA) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWHC 1611 (Admin). in relation to the application of good character requirements for registration of children as British citizens;
- MA and BT v SSHD C-648/11 relating to the application of the Dublin Regulation to unaccompanied children which clarified the law in this area
- Liz has also acted for the AIRE Centre in cases referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union
Recognition
What clients say
Throughout this process, the worry and frustration he experienced from not being able to work, combined with the financial strains placed upon him, were tempered by Ms Barratt’s commitment to his case and this gave us great comfort. Liz Barratt is truly an amazing immigration lawyer!
– Alan Wong
Legal Directories
Chambers and Partners UK 2024
- Liz is ranked Band 1 in Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation.
- Feedback says, ”She works ferociously hard and is incredibly successful in getting excellent results for all her clients.”
- Liz is also ranked Band 1 in Immigration: Personal.
- Clients acknowledge that, ”She really understands the issues we are dealing with and handles them with professionalism and compassion.”
Legal 500 2024
- Liz is featured in the ‘Hall of Fame’ section of Immigration: human rights, appeals & overstay.
- Clients say, ”She has a fantastic personality and confidence that can put clients at ease, knowing they are in safe hands.”
Chambers and Partners 2023
- Liz is ranked Band 1 in Immigration: Human Rights, Asylum and Deportation. Feedback says she “is extremely experienced and very attentive to detail in complex nationality cases”
- “Liz Barratt is co-head of the department and a go-to for complex matters involving nationality law and citizenship, particularly those involving SIAC. She has considerable experience handling asylum claims and third-country removals under the Dublin III regulation”
- “Liz is absolutely fantastic. She is a great asset to the UK’s legal industry, especially in the immigration sector. She is a really strong and important voice and believes in the highest standard of client care and fairness”
- She is described as being a “fantastic strategic litigator”
- Liz is also ranked Band 1 in Immigration: Personal. She is described as “an exceptionally intelligent solicitor with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of immigration law. She is a top-notch legal brain”
- “Joint head of department Liz Barratt maintains a strong personal immigration practice. She stands out for her command of Brexit-related issues and for her advice to EEA nationals”
- “Liz is excellent with everything. She is very professional, kind-hearted, and has great communication skills”
- Liz is described as “wonderful”
Legal 500 2023
- Liz is recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in Immigration: Human Rights, Appeals and Overstays
- “I have worked with Liz Barratt on multiple occasions. I personally rate Liz among the 5 best senior immigration lawyers in the whole of the UK. Her in-depth knowledge of immigration and human rights law, professionalism, transparency, empathy, and attention to detail stands her out among her peers”
- “Liz Barratt permanently shines and is a superstar practitioner. Powerful intellect matched only by her personability and charm. She conducts the most difficult cases, including national security and closed material procedure cases. There really is no one like her”
Professional memberships
- Member of Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)
- Law Society IAAS Accredited Supervisor and Advanced Caseworker
