Parosha Chandran

Call: 1997 pch@onepumpcourt.co.uk

Specialist in

Experience

Parosha Chandran is the UK’s leading anti-slavery lawyer and she has been practicing at the Bar of England and Wales for 25 years. She is an award-winning human rights barrister and a leader at the Bar in the fields of human rights, human trafficking, forced labour and labour exploitation, immigration, trafficking-related criminal appeals and public law.

What the directories say

2017 Legal 500
Cited as a leading junior in Immigration (including business immigration):
“She has exemplary expertise in modern slavery cases”

Parosha is ranked in the Chambers and Partners Directory and in the Legal 500. She has received extremely favourable commentaries from the Directories every year since she was first ranked in 2005. For example:

“She has leading expertise in Human Trafficking matters.”

“At the forefront of developing the law in Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.”

Human Rights:

“Parosha Chandran of 1 Pump Court is… renowned for her intellectual expertise and client sensitive approach.”

“Parosha Chandran …is widely regarded as an expert on human trafficking cases. Her representation of vulnerable individuals in this context prompts one source to observe that “she is just fearless and has the ability to get right to the heart of the matter.”

“[Her] work has important implications…she is praised for her creative thinking and work ethic…”

And:

“Parosha Chandran is renowned for her specialist practice involving victims of human trafficking, “an area she knows inside-out.”… Sources give weight to her client-handling skills, saying: “She can adapt her style to put children and vulnerable claimants at ease without losing the meaning of the message she is trying to get across.” “Incredibly passionate about her work, she always maintains her composure and never loses her professional edge.””

“One source explained: “She inspires confidence – you know you can rely on her to deliver.””

The Times Law Panel 2009 (a list of the 100 most influential lawyers in the UK)

“Parosha Chandran is a barrister specialising in immigration and human rights whose work has led to several advances in the law governing the rights of victims of human trafficking”.

The Law Society Excellence Awards 2008, on presenting Parosha with the Barrister of the Year Award:

“…what a remarkable talent she is”

Trafficking in Persons Hero Award 2015, US Department of State, John Kerry:

Parosha Chandran is “one of the world’s leading practitioners” in trafficking and modern slavery law. She is honoured for “her unparalleled achievement in providing legal services to survivors of modern slavery.”

Education

Qualifications: LLB (Hons.) (University of London); Teacher-training course & certificate in
Human Rights (CIEDHU) from the International Centre for the Teaching of Human Rights in
Universities, Strasbourg; Diplome in International and Comparative Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg; LLM (University of London, UCL); Bar Vocational Course (Inns of Court School of Law). Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1997.

Internships & human rights work: Volunteer, British Institute of Human Rights (1993-5), Intern, AIRE Centre (1995-6), Intern, European Commission for Human Rights, Strasbourg (1996), UNHCR London (1997); Research Consultant in Human Rights, King’s College London (1997); an Independent Legal Advisor to the Lord Chancellor’s Department on the Human Rights Bill (1997); United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Office of the Prosecutor, The Hague (1999).

Professional Memberships

Member, Presidential Task Force on Human Trafficking (International Bar Association) (2015)
Member, Group of Experts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2012-2014)
Expert Consultant, Organisation of Co-Operation and Security in Europe (2012-2013)
Former Member of the Advisory Board of the British Institute of Human Rights (previous posts were as Vice Chair (2008-2010), Trustee (2000-2010), Governor (1998-2000) Volunteer (1993-5))
Co-founder of the Trafficking Law and Policy Forum (2007-); member of The Times Law Panel (2009-)
Member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Pro Bono Lawyers Panel (2003-)
Member of Lincoln’s Inn Euro Committee (2005-)

Awards

Trafficking in Persons Hero Award 2015 – Presented to Parosha Chandran by John Kerry, US Secretary of State, 27 July 2015 for her “unparalleled achievement in providing legal services to survivors of modern slavery”.

Woman of Achievement (Woman of the Year Awards 2009).

Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award 2009, Society of Asian Lawyers Annual Awards

Barrister of the Year Award 2008, the Law Society’s Excellence Awards

International Diploma in International and Comparative Human Rights and Humanitarian Law 1994 (International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, 3 competitive exams, youngest award-holder).