Solicitor acted for Ekaterina Zatuliveter
Who? Tessa Gregory, 33, public law and human rights solicitor at Birmingham firm Public Interest Lawyers.
Why is she in the news? Acted for Ekaterina Zatuliveter, 26, who was arrested and served with a deportation order in December 2010 because, MI5 believed, she was a Russian spy. The case against her was given weight by her relationships with older men, including Mike Hancock MP, who has sat on the parliamentary defence select committee and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia.
The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled in Zatuliveter’s favour.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We are disappointed by the court's judgment and stand by our decision to pursue deportation on national security grounds [in future cases].’
Thoughts on the case: ‘It was a fascinating case to litigate and provided a rare insight into the workings of the Security Service. The case was conducted in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission which has a closed material procedure where special advocates (who cannot communicate with you) are appointed to deal with evidence that neither you nor your client sees. Although we won, the case brought home to me just how unfair a closed material procedure is. The government’s proposals to extend the use of such procedure, would, if carried out, have a truly chilling effect on British justice.’
Dealing with the media: ‘Some of our experts were offered cash to divulge information. We needed to be
very wary.’
Why become a lawyer? ‘I spent a few years in Japan and Cuba, which fuelled my interest in social justice. I wanted to practise what I preached and became a lawyer.’
Career high: ‘Being part of the legal team at the European Court of Human Rights on the extra-territorial application of the UK Human Rights Act in Iraq.’
Career low: ‘The hours I spent negotiating with the home secretary on whether my client could attend salsa classes. She was allowed to attend, but not dance.’
