Flora Robertson

Advising a defendant company in relation to a contractual dispute concerning the sale of billboard advertising space.

Junior Counsel in a substantial Commercial Court trial relating to Loan Market Association (LMA) trading in a Ukrainian steel manufacturer (led by Andrew George).

Acting for the husband in the trusts-related aspects of a “big money” divorce case in which the wife sought a financial remedies order, including whether discretionary trusts settled by the husband's father of which the husband was one of a number of beneficiaries were a "resource" available to him within the meaning of S.25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (with Barbara Dohmann QC).

Flora was instructed by the intervening party Kalayaan, a charity that works to protect victims of modern slavery. The case concerned the application of the "commercial exception" to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, holding it applicable to persons subjected by diplomatic agents to conditions of servitude and modern slavery. Flora was led by Tom Hickman KC.

Instructed by Islington Law Centre on behalf of three child applicants for judicial review of the UK Government's failure to transfer them from Greece to the UK under the terms of the Dublin III Regulation.

Advising the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in relation to complaints connected with the women's state pension age increases.

Successfully representing a Polish national in her deportation appeal. 

Flora successfully represented a Turkish Kurdish appellant in the First-Tier Tribunal whose asylum claim was based on imputed political opinion. 

Flora successfully acted for an Iranian poet in his appeal against the Secretary of State's refusal of his application for asylum. 

Acting for HJ Banks Ltd in a successful challenge to a refusal of planning permission (with Nathalie Lieven QC). 

Acted for Ofcom (with Pushpinder Saini QC and Jessica Boyd) in a judicial review brought by the Avaaz Foundation of Ofcom's decision that Sky would not cease to be fit and proper to retain its broadcast licences in the event of a merger with 21st Century Fox. 

Flora was instructed by Human Rights Watch as Intervener (in support of the Claimant) in a claim challenging the legality of the UK Government’s policy refusing to issue non-gender-specific “X” passports to UK nationals. 

Acting for a partially sighted Afghan national in his appeal against  the Secretary of State's refusal of his application for asylum and humanitarian protection. A's appeal was dismissed by the First Tier Tribunal and, following the finding of an error of law, was remitted to be heard de novo. Flora represented A at the remitted hearing, which was again dismissed; successfully established that a second error of law had been made, and represented A at his second remitted hearing. Following a third error of law Flora will shortly represent A at his third remitted hearing. The case centres on the Refugee Convention ground of imputed political opinion and Article 15(c) of the Qualification Directive.

Acting for an Indian national in his successful appeal on Article 8 ECHR grounds against the Secretary of State's decision to refuse to grant him a further period of discretionary leave and to remove him from the UK. B entered the UK in 2007 and had been in a relationship with his British Citizen partner since then. The couple had three children and B was the primary carer for his partner and the children. His application for an extension of leave had been rejected on the basis that he had not provided sufficient evidence of his continued family life in the UK. 

Acting for a Kurdish Iranian national, also a member of the Ahl-e-Haqq (Yaaresan) faith, in his successful appeal against the decision of the Secretary of State to refuse his application for asylum. E had entered the UK on a student visa and was found by the Judge to be a refugee sur place due to his anti-regime activities, particularly as a blogger. 

Acting as junior counsel for the Financial Reporting Council in proceedings under its Accountancy and Actuarial schemes (with Andrew Green QC, Andrew George QC, Andrew Scott, Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC and Tim Jenns). 

Acting for an interested party pub in resisting an application for judicial review of a council’s decision to grant access rights to its premises over a Site of Special Scientific Interest (with Michael Fordham QC).

Acting for the Iraqi claimants in this case concerning the jurisdictional reach of Art 1 ECHR and the scope of the investigative duties under Art 3 and Art 5 ECHR, and the investigative obligations under UNCAT and customary international law (with Michael Fordham QC, Dan Squires QC and Jason Pobjoy).

Advising Reprieve / Justice Project Pakistan in relation to a draft Communication to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, concerning the detention of Pakistani nationals at the Bagram Detention Facility between 2001 and 2014.

Flora was instructed by the intervening party Kalayaan, a charity that works to protect victims of modern slavery. The case concerned the application of the "commercial exception" to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, holding it applicable to persons subjected by diplomatic agents to conditions of servitude and modern slavery. Flora was led by Tom Hickman KC.

Instructed by Islington Law Centre on behalf of three child applicants for judicial review of the UK Government's failure to transfer them from Greece to the UK under the terms of the Dublin III Regulation.

Flora acted for the applicants in a case regarding the compatibility of the UK’s bulk surveillance regime with the European Convention on Human Rights. The linked complaints were brought by organisations and individuals that campaign on issues relating to civil liberties and journalists’ rights.

Successfully representing a Polish national in her deportation appeal. 

Flora successfully represented a Turkish Kurdish appellant in the First-Tier Tribunal whose asylum claim was based on imputed political opinion. 

Flora successfully acted for an Iranian poet in his appeal against the Secretary of State's refusal of his application for asylum. 

Flora was instructed by Human Rights Watch as Intervener (in support of the Claimant) in a claim challenging the legality of the UK Government’s policy refusing to issue non-gender-specific “X” passports to UK nationals. 

Instructed by the applicants in relation to a claim before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the freedom of expression of a broadcasting company and alleging violations by Georgia of Articles 6, 10 and 18 of the ECHR and Article 1 of Protocol No.1 (led by Shaheed Fatima QC).

Acting for a partially sighted Afghan national in his appeal against  the Secretary of State's refusal of his application for asylum and humanitarian protection. A's appeal was dismissed by the First Tier Tribunal and, following the finding of an error of law, was remitted to be heard de novo. Flora represented A at the remitted hearing, which was again dismissed; successfully established that a second error of law had been made, and represented A at his second remitted hearing. Following a third error of law Flora will shortly represent A at his third remitted hearing. The case centres on the Refugee Convention ground of imputed political opinion and Article 15(c) of the Qualification Directive.

Acting for the Interveners (supporting the Appellant) in this appeal to the Supreme Court concerning the application of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 / the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 to claims brought by domestic overseas workers against their employers (with Richard Hermer QC, Tom Hickman and Philippa Webb).

Acting for the Iraqi claimants in this case concerning the jurisdictional reach of Art 1 ECHR and the scope of the investigative duties under Art 3 and Art 5 ECHR, and the investigative obligations under UNCAT and customary international law (with Michael Fordham QC, Dan Squires QC and Jason Pobjoy).

Acting for an Indian national in his successful appeal on Article 8 ECHR grounds against the Secretary of State's decision to refuse to grant him a further period of discretionary leave and to remove him from the UK. B entered the UK in 2007 and had been in a relationship with his British Citizen partner since then. The couple had three children and B was the primary carer for his partner and the children. His application for an extension of leave had been rejected on the basis that he had not provided sufficient evidence of his continued family life in the UK. 

Acting for a Kurdish Iranian national, also a member of the Ahl-e-Haqq (Yaaresan) faith, in his successful appeal against the decision of the Secretary of State to refuse his application for asylum. E had entered the UK on a student visa and was found by the Judge to be a refugee sur place due to his anti-regime activities, particularly as a blogger. 

Advising Reprieve / Justice Project Pakistan in relation to a draft Communication to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, concerning the detention of Pakistani nationals at the Bagram Detention Facility between 2001 and 2014.

Acting on behalf of the proposed class representatives in a matter which is currently at certification stage.

Junior counsel (with Kieron Beal QC) acting for the claimants in a claim for damages arising out of the LCD Cartel.