Vanessa Delgado

I joined Duncan Lewis Solicitors in October 2013 as an Immigration Solicitor and Supervisor, based in the Immigration department at the Cardiff Office.

I have worked in immigration and asylum law for 13 years. I worked as a Supervising Counsellor at the Immigration Advisory Service in Cardiff before helping set up and later head the Immigration Law Department at Ty Arian Solicitors in Swansea.

I conduct advocacy work both at First and Upper Tribunal Levels. I have also been instructed on Court of Appeal matters where permission has been given. I am highly experienced in dealing with all aspects of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality cases through to Judicial Review. I have had successful conduct of very complex cases involving:

• Asylum matters;
• EEA regulations;
• Victims of trafficking; and
• Cases under the Points Based System.

I have frequently identified arguments in cases that were deemed to be without merit by other legal representatives, going on to achieve successful outcomes for clients. Furthermore, I have succeeded in seeking permission to appeal First Tier Tribunal Decisions to the Upper Tribunal and I also represent clients at Error of law hearings.

I have also had key involvement in a reported case on the risks on return for Iranian Asylum seekers who have been critical of the regime through social media activities, and on a trafficking case which led to a change in policy as to the amount of leave given to those who were granted residence permits.

I am accredited through the Law Society Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) as a Senior Immigration Caseworker, and also accredited to Supervisory Level. Additionally, I am ranked as a Rising Star and a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK for my immigration work.

In 2019 I was appointed to the appointed to the Legal Aid Agency’s Review Panel as the following;

• Independent Funding Adjudicator
• Independent Costs Assessor
• Special Controls Review Panel Member
• Very High Cost Cases Panel Member

I am fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and I can also understand French.

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) – Cardiff University
• BA Law and Sociology – Warwick University

• Joined Duncan Lewis, October 2013
• Helped set up and later head the Immigration Law Department at Ty Arian Solicitors in Swansea
• Supervising Counsellor at the Immigration Advisory Service in Cardiff

From clients:

"Words cannot even begin to explain the joy and happiness that you have brought to our lives. You fought for us when we had given up hope. You gave us hope when we had lost faith and most of all, you gave us a fighting chance in times when we felt weak. Thank you!"

"Just a quick note to say thank you. The way you handled our case (as complicated as it was) was outstanding, you were professional and patient."

"All thanks to you for all your hardwork and support."

"Thank you very much for your great support and help today at hearing time. Thank you very much for your all support to my family. Really, we are believed that you are one of the Angel from God,that's why we got you. God Bless you always. Many thanks."

"We will never stop thanking you."

"Please continue doing what you do because you do it well. My family and I are very grateful."

"Words cannot express our gratitude. Thanks to you for guiding us through our most difficult time during the application process. We found you extremely professional in all matters but more importantly, we felt that you had a genuine interest in helping us and putting us at ease. You filled us with hope and confidence. A massive heartfelt Thank You. YOU ARE AMAZING AND A GODSEND!"

From Counsel:

"You have prepared this very well indeed Vanessa."

"Excellent skeleton argument."

"First of all let me say that I think your grounds are excellent and that the permission was thoroughly deserved."

• Rising Star - The Legal 500, (2024 - 2021)
• Recommended Lawyer- The Legal 500, (2024 - 2017)

Civil Court

HAA (s.72: overseas conviction) Somalia [2012] UKUT 366 (IAC)

Rajbhandari (PBS: funds - available) Nepal [2012] UKUT 364 (IAC)

MI (Paragraph 298 (iii): "independent life") Pakistan [2007] UKAIT 00052

• Legal Aid Agency's Review Panel
• Level 2 and supervisor level of Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme
• ILPA
• International Crisis Group

• Music
• Film
• Travelling

• The Results are in: Duncan Lewis Solicitors Triumphs in The Legal 500 2023 (29 September 2022)
• The Legal 500 2022 Success (30 September 2021)
• The Legal 500 2021 results are here – continued success for Duncan Lewis Solicitors (30 September 2020)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Wales-based public law team shortlisted for Public Law Team of the Year at Wales Legal Awards 2020 (24 June 2020)
• Duncan Lewis shortlisted for Private Client Team of the Year at the inaugural Wales Legal Awards (26 February 2019)
• Duncan Lewis recognised in Legal 500 2015 as a Top Tier Firm for its Immigration Practice in Wales with two Leading Lawyers recommended (21 September 2015)