Sima Najma

Sima Najma is a barrister specialising in family law, immigration and asylum and human rights on both a national and an international level. Given her dual practice areas, Sima is often instructed on cases that involve both family law and immigration issues. 

Known for her fearless and fiery approach to representing her clients, Sima does not shy away from heavy opposition. She gives realistic and practical advice from the outset but is not afraid to face a challenge and fight for her clients to the best of her ability.

Sima is qualified to accept Public Access work and be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor. She prefers to work on a fixed fee for her clients as she believes that her client’s affordability has to be respected as there is a need for them to have access to justice.

Areas of law

• Children Act Proceedings
• Divorce & Financial Remedy Proceedings
• Immigration, Nationality & Asylum
• Civil Disputes

Children Act Proceedings

Specialising in Children cases, Sima has extensive experience in proceedings at all levels up to the Court of Appeal with leading Counsel. She represents both applicants and respondents and is regularly instructed in fact finding hearings, trials and final hearings. A strong advocate, her submissions are often referred to as forceful and persuasive and put with a considerable degree of care and skill. 

Her expertise includes cases involving:

• Serious harm
• Domestic violence
• Sexual abuse allegations
• Radicalisation
• International abduction
• Relocation of children
• Matters relating to immigration

Divorce & Financial Remedy Proceedings

Sima is regularly instructed on financial remedy and contested divorce cases, including high net worth clients, which often involve complex legal arguments. Using her advocacy and negotiation skills, she often achieves a good outcome for her clients and provides realistic advice from the outset with an honest opinion. In trials, Sima takes a no-nonsense approach and cuts through to the heart of the issues in the case.

She accepts instructions in the following areas:

• Financial remedy/division of assets
• TOLATA cases
• Co-ownership claims between co-habiting partners
• Co-ownership claims involving third parties (typically parents) who contribute to the property’s acquisition or improvement
• Third-party interventions in divorce proceedings

Immigration, Nationality & Asylum

With a strong Immigration practice, Sima is instructed in cases involving asylum, immigration and nationality work ranging from first instance adjudication level right up to the Court of Appeal. She has experience in judicial review work and has drafted grounds for reconsideration to the Tribunal. She also has experience in applying for emergency injunctions to duty High Court Judges over the telephone and has drafted grounds.

Her expertise covers:

• Visa applications and immigration appeals involving the Points Based System applications
• Human rights
• EU free movement legislation
• Immigration detention
• Deportation
• Illegal working
• British citizenship

Able to speak a variety of languages fluently, such as Urdu and Punjabi, Sima regularly conducts client conferences and phone calls in these languages.

Civil Disputes

Sima is frequently instructed to advise and appear in a broad range of civil disputes in county courts and the High Court. She has experience in all stages of litigation, from drafting initial statements of case to appearing at interlocutory hearings, trials and appeals. She has 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.

Memberships

• Honourable Society of Inner Temple
• Human Rights Lawyers Association
• Midlands Asian Lawyers Association
• Family Law Bar Association

Education

• LLB Hons
• Chartered Legal Executive, 2016-2017

Languages

• Urdu
• Punjabi