AG: an appeal after 39 years
LawWorks records a successful deportation appeal for AG, a disabled Nigerian man who had lived in the UK for 39 years.
LawWorks 2025 programmePublished outcome
Appeal won
PUBLIC LAW & HUMAN RIGHTS
A voice for
access to justice.
The cases, public service and professional recognition
of Naga Kandiah, solicitor at MTC Solicitors.
Naga Kandiah
Immigration · Asylum · Public law · Human rights
PROFILE · CASES · AWARDS · PUBLIC SERVICEDiscover the profile
01 / PROFILEA practice rooted
Portrait published in the Law Society Gazette, 2019.
A practice rooted
in helping people.
From banking and voluntary service
to public law and human rights.
Naga Kandiah
Naga is a London-based solicitor at MTC Solicitors. His practice includes immigration, asylum, nationality, detention and challenges to decisions by public authorities.
In his Law Society Gazette interview, he describes growing up during Sri Lanka’s civil war, moving to the UK and working in banking. Volunteering with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Rotary Club helped shape his decision to pursue law. Training in a small high-street firm gave him early responsibility and broad experience.
Chambers highlights his work for people with limited means, including Windrush clients. Its 2026 profile also describes his support for students and junior lawyers through mentoring, internships and work opportunities.
Professional biography · Chambers profile- Core practice
- Immigration, asylum & human rights
- Public law
- Judicial review & detention
- Firm
- MTC Solicitors, London
02 / SELECTED WORK
Cases that tell the story.
Published outcomes, with sources
and the contribution of legal teams.
COO: restoring the right to remain
An 82-year-old grandmother, identified as COO in the awards programme, regained her right to remain following decades of separation from her family.
LawWorks 2025 programmePublished outcome
Right to remain reinstated
Samuel: recognition after almost 50 years
In his published account, Naga reports that the Home Office confirmed Samuel’s settled status under the Windrush policy, ending decades of uncertainty.
Naga’s published accountPublished outcome
Settled status confirmed
Dennis Henry: permission to stay
After decades of uncertainty, Henry received leave to remain in June 2024 following representation by MTC. The permission was on a route requiring further renewals.
Jamaica Gleaner reportPublished outcome
Leave to remain
Malwattege Peiris: a decision reversed
Naga’s public account records the Home Office reversing its position, allowing his client to remain with her Italian husband and son after a dispute over implementing a tribunal decision.
Naga’s published accountPublished outcome
Home Office decision reversed
Charles Yeo: release on bail
MTC reported bail on 12 December 2024. Naga and Samir Pasha led the firm’s extradition team, with advocacy by Ben Cooper KC and Matei Clej.
MTC’s dated case updatePublished outcome
Bail granted; proceedings continued
An early Windrush case
His firm records representation of an early Windrush client, securing permanent residence.
MTC case accountPublished outcome
Permanent residence secured
A route to British citizenship
Applied the five-year rule to obtain British citizenship for UK-born children of Sri Lankan parents.
UK Diversity Legal Awards profilePublished outcome
Citizenship obtained
Representation across borders
Acted pro bono for a refugee detained on Manus Island. His firm reports a successful human rights appeal.
MTC case accountPublished outcome
Appeal allowed
MF v SSHD
Secured permission for judicial review; the Home Office agreed to reconsider rejection of further submissions.
MTC case accountPublished outcome
Reconsideration agreed
Jamaica50: urgent injunctions and bail
LawWorks records his intervention for two Jamaican clients facing imminent removal: an injunction stopped removal and bail secured their release.
LawWorks published accountPublished outcome
Removal halted; bail secured
Challenging remote immigration hearings
LawWorks describes his role in the legal team challenging a digital pilot for remote hearings, reporting that the challenge halted hearings on fairness grounds.
LawWorks published accountPublished outcome
Hearing scheme challenged
Further tribunal and judicial review matters 4 case accounts
SP v SSHD
Two judicial-review permissions; the Home Office agreed to reconsider both decisions and pay the applicant’s costs.
MTC case accountTA v SSHD
Permission for judicial review granted at an oral hearing involving an LGBT client.
MTC case accountSSHD v HH
Refugee-status revocation appeal succeeded; the Home Secretary was refused permission to appeal.
MTC case accountSSHD v KM
The Home Office’s appeal concerning an Article 3 claim was dismissed.
MTC case accountDates and outcomes reflect the linked reports; later proceedings may not be captured. These selected public accounts are not a complete list of private client work.
03 / AWARDS & RECOGNITIONHonours earned.
Honours earned.
Service recognised.
Award wins, directory recognition
and finalist places across his career.
DIRECTORY RECOGNITION
DEI Champions
Chambers UK · UK-wide
The 2026 directory records four years ranked.
Chambers listingRECOGNITION LIST
Pro Bono Recognition List
England & Wales
Listed in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The list recognises at least 25 hours of legal pro bono work in the preceding year.
2026 listWINNER
Stephen Denyer Award
Best Contribution by an Individual · LawWorks Pro Bono Awards
Named as the winner in the organiser’s official results.
Official award resultsREPORTED WIN
Solicitor of the Year
Black Solicitors Network · 30th Anniversary Ball
Announced publicly by Naga and MTC colleague Ane Soghomonyan.
Published LinkedIn announcementsWINNER
Best Contribution by an Individual
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards
Recognised in the official 2023 winners announcement.
Official award resultsWINNER
Access to Justice
UK Diversity Legal Awards
Awarded to MTC Solicitors (Naga Kandiah).
Official award resultsFINALIST
Best Contribution by an Individual
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards
Named in the 2020 shortlist and the 2021 and 2022 finalists’ programmes.
2020 source ↗ · 2021 source ↗ · 2022 source ↗FINALIST
Male Diversity Champion of the Year
Women in Law Awards
Listed among the category’s finalists.
Official finalists list04 / PHOTOGRAPHS
Moments of recognition.
Portrait and ceremony photographs
from identified public sources.
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards · 2025
Naga Kandiah with the Stephen Denyer Award for Best Contribution by an Individual.
Christina Blacklaws, via LinkedIn
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards · 2023
Naga Kandiah pictured with his Best Contribution by an Individual award.
The Law Society, via LinkedIn05 / PUBLIC SERVICE
Beyond the case file.
People assisted during the pandemic
LawWorks’ 2020 programme describes remote pro bono support with furlough, benefits, access to GPs, and communication with employers and schools. It also records food parcels and phone credit for people facing isolation.
LawWorks 2020 programmeRepresentation for vulnerable people
The 2025 LawWorks programme highlights his support for survivors of domestic violence and long-term residents facing immigration difficulties, alongside his work encouraging young people to enter law.
LawWorks 2025 programmeMentoring the next generation
Chambers describes mentoring and opportunities for aspiring lawyers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. MTC has also documented his engagement with students at Westminster Law School’s career fair.
MTC’s career-fair account06 / WRITING & TALKS
Ideas, advocacy & conversation.
Published commentary and
professional speaking engagements.
How Sri Lanka’s Animal Emblems Exacerbate Ethnic Tension
With Samir Pasha. Commentary on national symbols, identity and ethnic division.
Read the articleErasing Tamil Legacy in Sri Lanka
With Samir Pasha. Commentary on cultural heritage, post-war accountability and Tamil identity.
Read the articleJamaican Deportation Action and the UK Home Office
With Samir Pasha. Analysis of deportation and its effects on families.
Read the articleSri Lanka: when is a political opinion a crime?
With Samir Pasha. Commentary on political speech and freedom of expression.
Read the articleBarriers to a fairer immigration system
With Samir Pasha. A published analysis of immigration policy, long residence and the treatment of global talent.
Read the articleRemote Hearings Detrimental to Immigration Clients
With Samir Pasha. A discussion of access to justice and procedural fairness during the shift to remote hearings.
Read the articleTalks, interviews & appearances
Pro bono happiness
PILS’ To Be Fair NI shares his Belfast keynote and reflections on the motivation behind pro bono work.
Listen via PILSEuropean Pro Bono Week
Keynote speaker at Public Interest Litigation Support’s seminar on the power of pro bono.
Event programmeImmigration Summit
Featured speaker in the summit programme, which profiles his immigration, asylum and human rights practice.
Read the programmeSupporting & Empowering Clients in Distress
Listed speaker for the National Pro Bono Centre event on supporting vulnerable clients and trauma-informed practice.
Event detailsTHE LAW SOCIETY GAZETTE · SEPTEMBER 2019
In his own words: a career in public law
A personal account of his route into law, the value of high-street training, and his motivation to help people.
Read “My legal life”07 / IN THE NEWSWork in the
Work in the
public record.
Reporting on matters in which Naga
has been identified as a representative.
These links include live disputes and difficult outcomes, as reported at publication.
- 2026 · The GuardianCare-worker families facing separation
- 2026 · Black Current NewsRobert White and barriers to digital immigration status
- 2025 · The GuardianA child stranded after Hurricane Melissa
- 2024 · The GuardianUK-born man’s deportation ruled unlawful; challenge possible
- 2024 · The GuardianChallenge to rejection of a late EU settlement application
- 2019 · The GuardianThe Home Office’s incorrect criminal-record allegation
- 2019 · The GuardianA Jamaican client and an incorrect reference to Iraq
- 2023 · The IndependentA Jamaican ex-banker secures permission to remain