Christopher Desira Email & Phone Number

Founding director of Seraphus, a firm specialising in EU, human rights, asylum, immigration and British nationality law. Legal services partner to the www.freemovement.org.uk. Advisor to the European Commission Delegation to the UK and the EU27 embassies. Advisor and mentor to the charity sector. Trustee of Settled. IPPR’s Migration Policy Unit Advisory Group member. - Solicitor and IAAS Accredited Senior Caseworker and Supervisor specialising in the EU mobility law, UK immigration law, migration rights, border controls, human rights, future mobility, service and advice delivery provision, right to work and associated migration rights, and employment. - Manages delivery of associated legal services for clients including contracts, employment, and residency rights. - Responsible for the overall running of the firm, including the financial controller and regulatory officer, procurement manager, commercial operations, communications, advocacy and policy lead. - Responsible for training, management and support of the senior legal team, delivering opportunities to people with different experiences and perspectives. - Supervising appeals and reviews at all tribunal and court levels.- Social Media and Communications Director for the firm including social media delivery and design work (creation of infographics, videos, and other digital products), experience in Affinity design suite (Photo, Publisher, and Designer), iMovie, Canva, Procreate), and website development (Rapidweaver and WordPress).- Participant in external policy work, service delivery mentoring, and pro-bon advice for the not-for-profit sector. - Responsible for ensuring a values-driven approach to Seraphus, its cooperate responsibility and its support of the local community and advice sector. The firm continues to receive excellent and wide-ranging professional recognition.

Europe House 32 Smith Square London Sw1P 3Eu

Contracted by the European Union Delegation to the U.K. to advise on EU citizens’ rights, Brexit and future arrangements including delivery of (a) legal advice and support on EU citizens’ rights to the benefit of the Contracting Authority and the EU27 embassies in the UK (b) legal advice and information for EU citizens and local community information providers (c) social media content production and management.

Trustee to the charity settled, supporting the work of the charity to ensure that the rights and entitlements of vulnerable EU/EEA/Swiss nationals including the BME community, lower socio-economic groups, woman and children. Engaging with individuals at a local level across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island to ensure their communities are supported through Brexit. Providing legal advice at a local level, to ensure individuals protect their long term residence in the UK.

United Kingdom

The Migration Policy Unit works with organisations in the migrants’ rights sector to provide policy analysis and advice on issues related to immigration and integration. Through research, engagement and convening, the IPPR works in collaboration with others to deliver a fairer and more just immigration system. Advisory Group member helping to steer the IPPR policy unit. Take on a critical advisory role, bring your knowledge and skills of lived and learned experiences of migration to discuss and influence the work of the IPPR and help the IPPR to be as effective as possible in securing much needed change.

London, United Kingdom

Provide asylum and immigration advice to victims of torture and their clinicians on matters of asylum and immigration law including those who are detained or otherwise at risk of removal.

London, England, United Kingdom

Solicitor and IAAS Accredited Senior Caseworker and Supervisor. Providing asylum, immigration, detention, deportation and bail advice to those who are detained or otherwise at risk of removal. Providing supervision and training to volunteers.

Providing consultancy work to an independent national charity that promotes justice and fairness in immigration, nationality and asylum law and policy.Reported to, and works closely with, the Chief Executive and Legal and Policy Director on various policy projects concerning current and proposed changes to immigration law and oversaw a caseload of complex immigration matters. Identify policy issues and complimentary litigation.Co-ordinate work with colleagues, external lawyers and stakeholders.

Responsible for / contributed to the overall running of the firm including business planning, recruitment, human resources, appraisals, audits, quality control, complaints handling and training. Led a team of approximately legal advisors with various levels of experience, as well as the billing team.Responsible for ensuring effective team and departmental functionality, delivering high quality legal advice and achieving the firm's monthly financial targets. Participant in weekly meetings with the director.

Qualified as an accredited Senior Caseworker and awarded a training contract. Gained experience in immigration, human rights and asylum law with a caseload of approximately 150 matters per annum.Consistently achieved financial fee earning targets while completing the post graduate diploma part-time.

London, England, United Kingdom

Responsible for the day-to-day legal operations of the business including: - Working directly with the Chief Executive and, later, with an in-house solicitor to assist in any legal matters as required by the company - Contract management and procurement, including Home Office and service contracts, providing oversight, opinions, updates- Landlord and tenant, including drafting, updating, implementing contracts for private rentals, and inspection and service reports - Assisting in employment matters including providing regular updates, opinions, and advice - Liaising between the internal operations, policy, and legal team - Leasing between outside counsel and solicitors

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Human Rights, Merit

Legal Practice Course, Law

Bachelor'S Degree, Law

Secondary School