Basmah is a solicitor in our Public Law and Human Rights team. She has represented clients in relation to a wide range of legal issues with a particular focus on advocacy in the Mental Health Tribunal, advising families whose relatives have passed away while in hospital and associated public law issues.
Basmah also has experience of representing unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in age disputes in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber). She has assisted on wider policy-related judicial review challenges, including against the imposition of a new contract on junior doctors in 2015 and PPE-related policy challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Education and career
- Basmah completed her undergraduate Law (LLB) degree in 2012, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, where she studied human rights law from a comparative, global and analytical perspective. She completed her Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in March 2015
- Basmah completed her training at Bindmans LLP on 31st August 2017
Experience
Basmah’s cases include:
- Basmah is representing the family of Bethany Tenquist, who committed suicide while detained under s. 3 MHA 1983 at Millview Hospital in Brighton, read more here
- Basmah represented Bethany through her litigation friend Jeremy under the supervision of Saimo Chahal in a judicial review concerning the use of seclusion and long term segregation, read more here
- Basmah represented ‘AY’ who arrived in the UK as a minor and claimed asylum, having survived a harrowing journey. Despite his age, date of birth and account being accepted by the Home Office, his age was disputed by London Borough of Barnet. After a two day hearing in the Upper Tribunal, Judge Kamara concluded that she could attach ‘very little weight’ to Barnet’s age assessment report, instead preferring the evidence of AY and his CAMHS therapist. You can read the full judgement and more about the case here
- Basmah represented Dr Meenal Viz and Dr Nishant Joshi alongside Jamie Potter in their challenge against the government’s guidance on what constituted safe PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were supported by the British Medical Association and the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, resulting in significant changes being made to the guidance. You can read more about the case here
- Basmah is representing Doctors Association UK, the Good Law Project and Hourglass UK alongside Jamie Potter in their demand for an inquiry into the PPE supply shortages that have resulted in the deaths of health and social care workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read more about the ongoing challenge here
Recognition
What clients say
Basmah is a very intelligent woman with a good insight into law matters. I always felt the advice and actions were backed up with the work being done in the correct manner. Overall I was very pleased
– MH
Basmah, It was a pleasure to meet and work with you yesterday… Your opening observations set the scene for the panel to realise that your introduction of yourself as ‘trainee solicitor’ belied the focus, the attention to the past evidence, the brief and the flexibility with which you authoritatively managed the entire morning
– Dr Es – Expert Witness
Saimo Chahal and Basmah Sahib have helped me through a very difficult time I am very grateful for their friendliness, commitment, support and expertise I trust in them totally and am confident they do their best for me at all times. They have made the process a lot easier for me, taken a lot of my stress away. Basmah especially has been amazing. She always takes time to listen to me and support me She is a lovely lady that makes you feel important and her dedication is outstanding. They are both brilliant people and brilliant solicitors. I will never forget how much they have done for me. They care about what they do and they care about people and that is obvious in the way that they put you first all the time
– LE
I can’t thank you enough, I don’t even know where to start. Forget I called you a “bundle of positive energy,” I think every atom in your body is positively charged! I very much look forward to seeing you again this week to try and thank you in person for everything you are doing for my son. I think I shall have a lovely evening, thanks to you
– MS
I am deeply in debt to you, for your professionalism and compassion. I wish I were more like you. You inspire me so much
– Sarah
Your tenacity and compassion are just something else and G is so lucky to have had you as his lawyer
– Chloe Levassor, Refugee Action – Age assessment dispute
Professional memberships
- Trustee of Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)
- Accredited member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Law scheme
- Member of the INQUEST Lawyers Group
