Lawyer in the news

Who? Nadeem Malik, 32-year old sole principal at Bradford-based immigration and family firm The Malik Partnership.

Why is he in the news? Represents Tasawar Ali, a leading curry chef from Bradford who last week won a High Court battle to remain in the UK after his estranged wife tried to have him deported.

Mr Ali, who is illiterate, assumed that his British-born wife had filled in the necessary documentation to allow his visa to be extended in 1998.

Not only had his wife not filled in the forms, but she reported him to the authorities in 2000 and tried to have him deported back to India.

In quashing the deportation order, the judge said Mr Ali's application should be reheard because his wife's statement was 'unsatisfactory'.

Background: LLB at Wolverhampton University 1990-1993, followed by an LLM in international law at Staffordshire University.

He completed his legal practice course at Huddersfield University in 1995, and qualified with Manchester firm Maliks in 1997 before leaving to join Birchall Blackburn in 1998.

He set up his own practice in November 2000.

Route to the case: 'I was contacted by Mumtaz Foods, Mr Ali's employers, because of my reputation for immigration law.'

Thoughts on the case: 'Although he has not yet officially been granted a visa to stay in this country, my client is over the moon.

The judge said the home secretary had not taken account of the unusual circumstances of the case when he ordered his deportation, and praised his "outstanding work record and contribution to the community".

When he arrived in 1996, Mr Ali began work as a kitchen hand at Mumtaz Foods, but he has worked his way up to head chef, and now helps develop a range of curries which are sold at Asda and Sainsburys.'

Dealing with the media: 'I had a lot of dealings with the media in 1998, when I was involved with a high-profile immigration case at the Court of Appeal - Ahmad and Patel - where we challenged the government's position that illegal immigrants who marry nationals must still be deported.

I find dealing with the media a positive experience because you feel that the client's voice is being heard and acknowledged.'

Victoria MacCallum