INFORMATION ABOUT TRP STAFF

Margaret Finch - Solicitor & Partner
Margaret qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and has worked full-time in the immigration & asylum field ever since. She has a wide-ranging caseload, but her main focus has always been asylum and in particular attempting to right wrongs perpetrated by the UK asylum system. Margaret is an English graduate who undertook legal training following several years' working abroad, in the Israeli-occupied territories and Switzerland. She qualified as a solicitor specifically in order to undertake immigration and asylum work.

Sean Mcloughlin - Solicitor & Partner
Sean has been working in the immigration and asylum law field since 1997 and qualified as a solicitor in 1999. Sean's caseload includes a broad range of asylum, national security and human rights cases. Sean has recently been involved in leading human rights cases in the House of Lords, concerning family life rights. Other cases Sean undertakes include entry clearance applications and appeals, nationality applications and applications for further leave to remain in the UK. In 2008, Sean was shortlisted as a finalist for the Legal Aid Immigration Lawyer of the Year Award.

Bushra Ali - Solicitor
Bushra was called to the Bar in October 2003 and qualified as a solicitor in October 2008. She is an experienced asylum and immigration practitioner and joined TRP in 2004. Bushra handles a caseload covering all types of immigration and asylum work, including cases in the higher courts. Bushra specialises in Iranian asylum appeals and cases from various countries involving women who are victims of torture and domestic violence. Bushra undertakes a significant proportion of her own advocacy and speaks Urdu and Punjabi fluently.

Mandeep Duhra - Solicitor
Mandeep qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and has worked in immigration law since 1999. Mandeep has led the immigration departments of two local law firms and joined TRP in April 2008 in order to develop our private client department. Mandeep has a varied caseload, including entry clearance applications and appeals, EEA cases, business applications and work permits. Mandeep has lived and worked in Malawi and is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi.

Tim Shotton - Solicitor
Tim joined TRP in 2004, having practised as a solicitor since 1996 and having worked in the legal advice sector since 1983. He is a recognised specialist in asylum support issues and immigration-related welfare benefits matters, having had many years' experience advising in the areas of housing, welfare benefits and community care. Tim's work includes substantive immigration and asylum cases. Tim's presence here greatly enhances TRP's ability to offer specialist and comprehensive advice to clients on the problems that arise in connection with support and benefits issues in immigration and asylum cases.

Belal Ballali - Caseworker
Belal undertakes mostly asylum work and his fluency in Arabic is a valuable asset. Belal has been at TRP since we set up in May 2003. Belal has recently been heavily involved in the SIAC and Control Order cases in which TRP are instructed.

Elizabeth Corrie - Caseworker
Elizabeth also joined TRP in 2004 and undertakes a range of asylum and immigration work. She has been involved in refugee advice work since 1999, initially in the voluntary sector. Elizabeth has lived and worked in the Two Thirds world, including Latin America and French West Africa, and was awarded a doctorate in Social Policy and Social Administration in 1987. She speaks French and Spanish.

Rashpal Seehra - Personal Assistant to Margaret Finch
Rashpal has been a legal secretary/PA for 16 years, working mostly in the field of immigration/asylum law. Rashpal and Yvonne Harvey (below) have co-ordinated TRP's administrative support since the firm opened. Rashpal is fluent in Punjabi.

Yvonne Harvey - Personal Assistant to Sean Mcloughlin
Yvonne has been a legal secretary/PA for 24 years and is well-versed in the often complex and difficult circumstances that arise in immigration and asylum work.

Claudette Hall - Senior Legal Secretary
Claudette Hall has been a secretary for 28 years, having worked in both legal and non-legal sectors and has worked as a Probation Assistant with the West Midlands Probation Service.

Simon Williams - Receptionist & Administrator
Simon joined TRP in 2005. Simon has over 12 years administrative and customer service experience, mainly in the retail and leisure industries. He recently took a year out to pursue his interests in film-making and writing.

Gary Jordan - Book-keeper
Gary has been with TRP since it was set up in 2003.