Head of Chambers: Michael Cogan, Tel: 0207 583 0695, Fax 0207 353 1726
Email: clerks@article6law.com, (Out of hours number: 07813680522)
Background
Sima was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2013. Before joining the Bar, whist studying her law degree, Sima was an Intern at the Texas After Violence Project/ Innocence Project in Texas, USA. She travelled to Houston and Austin Texas and met with Prosecuting Lawyers, Defence Counsel and Judges who ran the Innocence Project – a project that focussed exclusively on exonerating inmates through DNA testing.
Since being called to the Bar, Sima worked in a solicitor’s firm as a Chartered Legal Executive until December 2016 before becoming a Partner. She was the youngest Partner in the firm specialising in all aspects as immigration, family and civil disputes as well managing one of the firm’s branches in Leeds, West Yorkshire. She then secured Pupillage with Article 6 Law in October 2017 and successfully completed this in July 2018.
Family Law - Children Act 1989 and Family Law Act 1996
Sima has a strong family practice in representing clients in Children Act matters and frequently acts in private children cases involving safeguarding issues, including allegations of physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse. She regularly appears in Finding of Fact and Final hearings in matters involving complex legal and factual issues. Sima has also been instructed internationally on child abduction cases and in the safe return of children.
Sima also regularly acts in Family Law Act applications such as non molestations orders and occupation order, including directions hearings and contested final hearings, on behalf of both applicants and respondents.
She prides herself on ensuring the case is prepared to the best standard to ensure successful results. Sima is direct in her approach and prefers to spend valuable time with her clients studying their case together and devising a case strategy which is clear and concise. She is very experienced as an advocate and fearlessly presents her cases in Court without hesitation.
Family Law - Divorce and Finances
Sima specialises in engaging in all areas of divorce and financial remedy applications and represents both applicants and respondents in FDA (Fist Hearings) hearings, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings and Final Hearings. She has dealt with a range of cases including high net worth divorces. She deals frequently and confidently with financial-remedies cases involving high-value assets, complex business structures, family trusts, and assets outside of the jurisdiction and frequently deals with cases involving multiple parties and interveners and cases involving complex issues of conduct. In addition to financial remedies cases, Sima regularly undertakes cases relating to non-matrimonial finances such as TOLATA applications, cohabitation cases, civil-partnership issues, and Schedule-1 claims.
She is a strong advocate and her submissions are often referred to as forceful and persuasive. She gives realistic and practical advice from the outset but it not afraid to face a challenge. She has extensive experience of proceedings at all levels up to the Court of Appeal with leading Counsel.
Immigration, Nationality & Asylum
Sima also has a strong Immigration law practice involving asylum, immigration and nationality work ranging from first instance adjudication level right up to the Court of Appeal. Her expertise covers both visa applications and immigration appeals involving the Points Based System applications and Article 2,3 and 8 cases. Her field of expertise also covers human rights, EU free movement legislation, immigration detention, deportation, illegal working and British citizenship. She has experience of judicial review work and has drafted grounds for reconsideration to the Tribunal. She also has experience of applying for emergency injunctions to duty High Court Judges over the telephone and has drafted grounds.
Sima is able to speak a variety of languages fluently such as Urdu and Punjabi. She is able to conduct client conferences and phone calls in these languages and regularly does so.
General Civil
Sima is also frequently instructed to advise and appear in a broad range of civil disputes in county courts and High Court. She has experience in all stages of litigation, from drafting initial statements of case to appearing at interlocutory hearings, trials and appeal. She has also continued to develop a practice in fast track and multi track trials. With vast advocacy experience, Sima is able to deal with more complex litigation where her thorough preparation is always an asset.
Public Access
Sima may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.
Qualifications
LLB (Hons)
Chartered Legal Executive (2016-2017)
Professional Memberships
Honourable Society of Inner Temple
Human Rights Lawyers AssociationMidlands Asian Lawyers Association