Miranda Butler

Call: 2013

Miranda has a broad public law practice spanning immigration, human rights, detention and public inquiries.

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Practice summary

Public and Administrative

Cross-practice

Practice Summary

Miranda has a broad public law practice spanning immigration, human rights, detention and public inquiries.

Notable highlights of Miranda’s practice include:

  • Acting for Women for Refugee Women and a former detainee in the Court of Appeal, challenging the lack of in-person legal assistance at Derwentside IRC, led by Alex Goodman (R (Women for Refugee Women and SPM v SSHD [2023] EWCA Civ 764).
  • Acting for the Project for the Registration of Child as British Citizens in its Supreme Court challenge to the Home Secretary’s mandatory fee of £1,012 for children to register as British citizens (R (PRCBC & O) v SSHD [2022] UKSC 3).
  • Representing a victim of trafficking in her Court of Appeal challenge to a negative conclusive grounds decision (R (LM) v SSHD [2022] EWCA Civ 977).
  • Representing the claimant in a systemic claim concerning the arrangements made by the Home Secretary for the support of victims of trafficking (EOG and KTT v SSHD [2022] EWCA Civ 306).

Miranda is a Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge, sitting in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber on a part time basis alongside her practice. She is one of the youngest Deputy Upper Tribunal Judges ever appointed.

Prior to joining Landmark, Miranda worked as the Judicial Assistant to Lord Kerr JSC at the Supreme Court. She has also worked at the European Court of Human Rights.

She has worked on both the Infected Blood Inquiry and Covid Inquiry, led by Fiona Scolding KC.

Miranda is ranked in both public law and immigration:

  • In Legal 500 2023, Miranda is ranked in Band 3 for Administrative Law and Human Rights and Band 4 for immigration: “She is very intelligent, able to quickly analyse the strength and weaknesses of a case and gives expert guidance on the necessary case preparation groundwork. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of immigration law and she is an extremely skilled and talented advocate.”; “Miranda is brilliant. She is level headed and brings clarity to complex cases. A junior with excellent judgment.”
  • In Chambers and Partners 2024, Miranda is ranked in Band 4 for Administrative and Public law and in Band 3 for Immigration: “She will go far; she is very hard-working and smart”; “Miranda is determined, and good at drafting and exploring new areas, no matter how complex it is.”

Miranda was shortlisted for ‘Legal Aid Barrister of the Year’ at the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards. In 2023, she was also shortlisted for the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards ‘Immigration 'Junior of the Year' and for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year’s ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award in 2020. In 2022 Miranda co-founded the Ukraine Advice Project, which provides free legal advice for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The Ukraine Advice Project has won numerous awards including the Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at 2022 Advocate Awards.

Public and Administrative

Miranda works in a broad range of public law areas, including unlawful detention, community care, healthcare provision, trafficking, and prison law. Much of her work involves strategic claims and policy challenges. She is regularly instructed in complex judicial review claims at all levels. She was shortlisted as Immigration Junior of the Year in 2023 and is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2024 and Legal 500 for both Administrative Law and Immigration.

Miranda has particular expertise in policy challenges and cases with a strategic element. She was recently led by Alex Goodman KC in SPM v SSHD, a Court of Appeal challenge to the lack of in-person legal advice for immigration detainees and is working with him on a strategic challenge to the placement of asylum seekers at Wethersfield accommodation centre by the Home Office. In 2023 she successfully represented victims of trafficking in PM v SSHD, a challenge to the cessation of support for victims of trafficking during the pandemic, led by Samantha Knights KC.

Miranda has substantial experience in public inquiries. She has worked on the Covid Inquiry, led by Fiona Scolding KC. She previously represented a large number of infected and affected individuals in the Infected Blood Inquiry, working with Fiona Scolding KC and Hannah Gibbs. Miranda has a particular interest in medical law and for several years taught medical law at LSE University. She has written extensively on healthcare claims in the immigration context.

Some noteworthy cases include:

  • PRCBC and ors v SSHD: a Supreme Court challenge to the significant profit made by the Home Secretary on fees charged to children seeking to register or naturalise as British Citizens. Miranda was led by Richard Drabble KC.
  • SPM v SSHD: Court of Appeal challenge to the detention of women in a remote location preventing access to in-person legal representation. Miranda was led by Alex Goodman KC.
  • PM v SSHD: Successful challenge to the cessation of support for victims of trafficking during the pandemic, led by Samantha Knights KC
  • R (LM) v SSHD: Court of Appeal challenge concerning the identification of victims of trafficking.
  • EOG v SSHD: a Court of Appeal challenge to the Home Office policy prohibiting victims of trafficking from working or holding leave to remain whilst within the National Referral Mechanism. Miranda was led by Amanda Weston KC.

Civil Law

Miranda has an extensive background in a range of private law areas, including employment, commercial and negligence claims. She has worked across the spectrum of civil law proceedings both as a judicial assistant in the Supreme Court and in private practice.

This means that Miranda is particularly well-placed to advise on civil proceedings arising out of public law challenges, including false imprisonment and/or damages claims. She is regularly instructed on civil damages claims arising out of tortious acts in the prison and detention estate.

Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Miranda works on a broad range of human rights claims, including issues of unlawful detention, prisoners’ rights and freedom of expression litigation.

Miranda is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Counsel.

Miranda has experience in litigation before the European Court of Human Rights, having acted for individuals and institutions in the Court. 

She is currently instructed by a victim of trafficking challenging the UK’s failure to protect her in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights

Miranda acted for JCWI in its 2021 intervention in Otite v UK, challenging the application of s. 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and its impact on the private and family life rights of those facing deportation.

Miranda represented several freedom of expression NGOs intervening in the case of Khadija Ismayilova v Azerbaijan, led by Can Yeginsu. In its 2019 decision, the Strasbourg Court agreed with the interveners’ submissions that the state of Azerbaijan had failed in its obligations not only under Article 8 ECHR, but also under Article 10, in that it had failed to protect the privacy of Ms Ismayilova, a journalist, which had a potential ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression.

In 2020, Miranda, led by Ben Douglas-Jones KC, represented an appellant to the ECtHR challenging his conviction on the grounds that he had been deprived of a fair trial.

She also worked for the interveners on Big Brother Watch v UK, a successful challenge to the bulk interception and processing of metadata by the UK and its data sharing with foreign states.

She was awarded the 2017 Pegasus Scholarship and spent three months working as a stagiaire in the UK division of the Court.

Miranda has a particular interest in prisoners’ rights, having previously worked with Reprieve and the Howard League for Penal Reform. She regularly handles both public and private law challenges on behalf of prisoners.

Some noteworthy cases include:

  • Otite v UK: counsel for the intervener (JCWI), challenging the operation of the UK’s statutory framework for considering Article 8 in the context of deportation.
  • Roy Phillips v UK: counsel for the applicant, challenging his conviction under Article 6 ECHR.
  • Khadija Ismayilova v Azerbaijan: counsel for various freedom of expression NGOs supporting a successful claim by a jailed journalist challenging mistreatment and covert surveillance by the state. The European Court of Human Rights found violations of Article 8 and 10 ECHR.
  • Big Brother Watch v UK: a successful challenge to the bulk interception and processing of metadata by the UK and its data sharing with foreign states in the European Court of Human Rights. Miranda acted for several interveners specialising on freedom of expression in the US.

Immigration

Asylum and Human Rights

Miranda practices in all areas of immigration, with a particular focus on asylum and human rights. She is regularly instructed in matters before the High Court, Upper Tribunal and First Tier Tribunal, including judicial reviews and urgent applications for interim relief. She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 as a leading immigration junior.

Her practice encompasses asylum and human rights appeals with substantial experience of deportation, trafficking cases, the Points Based System and claims related to children. Miranda is regularly instructed in challenges to removal, including urgent injunctions. She has been involved in strategic and individual challenges to numerous charter flights.

In Miranda is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Counsel. She is also a contributor to Macdonald’s Immigration Law & Practice.

Miranda is regularly instructed on strategic litigation, often including challenges to Home Office policy.

Miranda is currently instructed on a strategic challenge to the level of fees for children seeking to register or naturalise as British Citizens, in PRCBC and ors v SSHD in the Supreme Court, led by Richard Drabble KC.

Miranda also undertakes advisory work on a broad range of immigration-related issues, including naturalisation and citizenship issues.

Some noteworthy cases include:

  • DS v SSHD: a challenge to the deportation of a long-term settled migrant. Miranda was led in the Court of Appeal by Irena Sabic KC.
  • DJ v SSHD: a challenge to the enforced deportation of a Jamaican citizen who had lived in the UK since the age of 11. Miranda was led by Sonali Naik KC in a strategic claim against the Home Office’s decision to remove Jamaican citizens who came to the UK at a young age despite an agreement with the Jamaican authorities not to do so.
  • PRCBC and ors v SSHD: a challenge to the over 60% profit made by the Home Secretary on fees charged to children seeking to register or naturalise as British Citizens. Miranda is led by Richard Drabble KC and the case is currently before the Court of Appeal.
  • EOG v SSHD: a challenge to the Home Office policy prohibiting victims of trafficking from working or holding leave to remain whilst within the National Referral Mechanism, currently before the Court of Appeal. Miranda is led by Amanda Weston KC.
  • YPG v SSHD: a successful challenge to the Home Office’s failure to provide sufficient financial support to victims of trafficking who are pregnant or new mothers. The Home Office conceded the claim and amended her policy.

Economic Migration

Miranda acts for individuals and institutions in relation to matters arising under the Points-Based System and other Immigration Rules routes. She also regularly advises economic migrants on administrative reviews and judicial reviews of Home Office decisions.

Miranda also has particular experience in representing Tier 4 visa holders. Miranda is a contributor to Macdonald’s Immigration Law & Practice (10th edition) and wrote the chapter on students. She is regularly instructed in matters affecting students, including challenges arising out of the English Testing Service scandal.

NHS, Health and Community Care

Miranda practices in community care law and accepts instructions in judicial review claims concerning community care provision, including support under the Children Act, Care Act, age assessment challenges and provision of accommodation and support to asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. She is highly experienced in handling urgent applications for interim relief.

Miranda has particular expertise in claims related to support and protection for victims of trafficking.

In 2021, Miranda appeared, led by Simon Cox, in a number of linked challenges to the Home Office’s failure to provide accommodation for failed asylum seekers during the pandemic, QBB et al v SSHD.

In 2020, Miranda appeared with Amanda Weston KC in EOG v SSHD [2020] EWHC 3310 (Admin), a successful challenge to the prohibition on working and lack of support for certain victims of trafficking. The High Court declared that the Home Office’s policy, which failed to provide any route to leave to remain or right to work for potential victims of trafficking, was unlawful.

Miranda has acted in a number of challenges that have led to beneficial changes in Home Office policy regarding the support given to victims of trafficking. She was instructed in NN & LP v SSHD, a successful challenge to the 45-day limit to support for recognised victims of trafficking. As a result of this litigation, the Home Secretary agreed to withdraw this challenge and remove the time limit which had previously been imposed on victims of trafficking seeking to access support. Miranda is currently led by Samantha Knights KC in a challenge to the level of financial support provided to victims of trafficking.

Miranda acted with Alex Goodman in YPG v SSHD, a challenge to the reduced levels of support available for victims of trafficking who are pregnant or have young children. The Home Office amended their policy as a result of this litigation, leading to higher rates of support for victims of trafficking.

Cross-practice

Landmark's barristers often work at the intersection of our core practice areas; bringing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to bear on a particular dispute or issue facing a client.

Our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for our client. By viewing the client's objectives in a holistic way - and not purely through the lens of one rigidly-defined legal area - we deliver the best possible advice and representation in complex matters that engage multiple specialist areas of law. 

Whether it's providing support as an individual cross-practice barrister or a cross-disciplinary team of Landmark counsel, we are able to draw on an outstanding array of complementary skillsets and knowledge bases. This often achieves a better result than instructing multiple barristers from different specialist sets. This also improves the quality of client care through increased levels of communication, quicker response times, and a coordinated approach to clerking and fees, made possible by our team-based cross-practice approach.

Please contact our practice management team for more information.

Public Interest Litigation

EU Law post-Brexit

Local Government

Specialisms

Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Immigration

NHS, Health and Community Care

Education

International

Judicial Review

Public Inquiries and Inquests

Social Security

Specialisms

Public Interest Litigation

EU Law post-Brexit

Local Government

"
A fantastic barrister, whose drafting is excellent and who really thinks of everything for her clients."

Chambers and Partners

Chambers Top Ranked UK Bar 2024 Uk leading juniors 2024 LALY Awards Logo FINAL Finalist LAPG Immigration Junior of the Year

Qualifications and achievements

Qualifications

  • Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent), Kaplan Law School
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction), City Law School
  • MPhil in Classics (Distinction), King’s College, University of Cambridge
  • MPhil Scholarship, Classics Department, Cambridge University (2010)
  • MA in Classics (First Class), King’s College, University of Cambridge

Awards

  • Shortlisted for the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2023 Immigration 'Junior of the Year'
  • Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at 2022 Advocate Awards (Ukraine Advice Project)
  • Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year – Newcomer of the Year finalist (2020)
  • Selected for Frank Knox Fellowship (not taken up) (2015)
  • Times Law Award Finalist (2014)
  • Inner Temple Exhibition (2011)
  • Henry Arthur Thomas Award, King’s College, Cambridge (2008)

Scholarships

  • Pegasus Scholarship (2017)
  • Administrative Law Bar Association Scholarship (2015)
  • Inner Temple Major Scholarship (2012)
  • King’s College Scholarship, King’s College, Cambridge (2009)

Memberships

Appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Panel of Counsel
  • Administrative Law Bar Association
  • Immigration Law Practitioners Association
  • London School of Economics (Visiting Tutor)
  • Public Law Project
  • Refugee Legal Support: Athens

Recommendations

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Ben Connor

Ben Connor

Practice Director

020 7421 2483

Zoe Bluck new

Zoe Bluck

Practice Manager

020 7421 1301

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Jamie Lal

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1309

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