Sara is an experienced human rights and public law practitioner specialising in all areas of immigration, asylum and nationality law. Sara also has a keen interest in public law challenges to police decisions, civil actions challenging police misconduct, and inquests and inquiries.
Sara is a compassionate and approachable advocate. She has extensive experience representing vulnerable individuals, including victims of torture, sexual violence and trafficking.
Sara is committed to ensuring access to justice for those most in need. She undertakes work on a pro bono basis for Advocate and Bail for Immigration Detainees.
In suitable cases Sara will undertake direct access work for members of the public.
Interested in instructing Ms Anzani?
Please call 020 7353 6802 or complete the form below:
Immigration Barrister
Sara is an experienced immigration, asylum and nationality law practitioner. She has a busy appellate practice, appearing before the Immigration and Asylum Chambers of the First-tier and Upper Tribunals, Administrative Court and Court of Appeal.
Sara has extensive experience handling complex caseloads, including Country Guidance cases, complex deportation appeals and challenges to the scope and interpretation of the Immigration Rules. She has experience in all matters of European law (including the EU Settlement Scheme), business immigration, the Points-Based System, deprivation of citizenship and challenges under Article 8 ECHR.
Sara regularly represents vulnerable individuals in claims for international protection, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, victims of torture, sexual violence and trafficking.
Sara advises on a breadth of public law issues across her practice, including unlawful detention, age-assessments and decisions under the National Referral Mechanism. She has considerable experience challenging fresh claim decisions and those certified under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
Notable Cases
AS (Sri Lanka) v SSHD (C5/2019/1844) – Listed in the Court of Appeal on 02-03 December 2020. Challenging the tension between paragraph 276A and 276ADE(i)(iii) of the Immigration Rules and the scope of paragraph S-LTR.3.1. of Appendix FM.
Chaparadza, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 1209 (Admin) – Led by Hugh Southey QC. Unlawful detention following SSHD’s failure to serve notice of a decision. Damages of £10,500 awarded.
MP (Sri Lanka) & Anor v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWCA Civ 829 – Led by Raza Husain QC alongside Rudolph Spurling. An appeal against GJ and Others (post-civil war: returnees) Sri Lanka CG [2013] UKUT 319.
Ganesabalan, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 2712 (Admin) – Judicial review granted. Held: Where a person seeks to rely on private or family life under Article 8 ECHR, and the claim falls at the first stage under the Immigration rules, there is always a second stage where the Secretary of State must consider the exercise of discretion outside of the rules.
GJ and others v SSHD (post-civil war: returnees) Sri Lanka CG [2013] UKUT 319 (IAC) – Appeared for the second appellant, NT, alongside Rudolph Spurling.
Inquests and Inquiries Barrister
Sara accepts instructions in all types of inquests and inquiries. She has a particular interest in inquests arising out of deaths in State custody or where the State may be responsible for the death, such as cases where Article 2 ECHR is engaged.
Sara is also able to advise on potential civil claims for damages and judicial review challenges to inquest and inquiry rulings or conclusions.
Actions Against The Police Barrister
Sara has a keen interest in Actions Against the Police. Her background in human rights law and experience challenging unlawful detention in the field of immigration law provides her with a strong foundation in this area of law.
Sara is available to advise and prepare pleadings in relation to:
- False or wrongful imprisonment
- Arrests without reasonable grounds
- Excessive use of force
- Detention for longer than is legal
- Wrongful arrest
- Malicious prosecution or harassment
- Misfeasance in public office
- Human rights abuses
Public Law Barrister
Sara is regularly instructed on high profile and complex challenges, including judicial reviews and public law considerations in a variety of cases. She draws upon expertise in several different areas, including immigration, EU law, and other areas of social welfare law.
