Profile description
Family Law (divorce and financial settlement)
Sima specialises in engaging in all areas of divorce and financial remedy applications and represents both applicants and respondents in FDA (First Hearings) hearings, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings and Final Hearings. She has dealt with a range of cases including high net worth divorces. She deals frequently and confidently with financial-remedies cases involving high-value assets, complex business structures, family trusts, and assets outside of the jurisdiction and frequently deals with cases involving multiple parties and interveners and cases involving complex issues of conduct. In addition to financial remedies cases, Sima regularly undertakes cases relating to non-matrimonial finances such as TOLATA applications, cohabitation cases, civil-partnership issues, and Schedule-1 claims.
She is a strong advocate and her submissions are often referred to as forceful and persuasive. She gives realistic and practical advice from the outset but it not afraid to face a challenge. She has extensive experience of proceedings at all levels up to the Court of Appeal with leading Counsel.
Family Law (children)
Sima specialises in all areas of children act proceedings, divorce and financial remedy applications with particular emphasis on cases involving serious domestic violence and abuse (including allegations of 'honour-based' violence and intimidation) and alcohol and substance abuse with significant social services involvement. She represents both applicants and respondents.
Sima's private law family (children) practice involves the following areas:
- Child Arrangement Orders
- Prohibited Steps Order
- Specific Issue Order
- Enforcement Applications
- Local Authority involvement
- Allegations of domestic violence
- Allegations of substance abuse
- Allegations of child abuse
- Parental responsibility
- Shared Residence Orders
- Breach Allegations
In addition to these areas, Sima is experienced when it comes to advising and representing clients in relation to injunctive proceedings such as applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders. Sima represents both applicants and respondents throughout these proceedings from ex parte (without notice) applications to final hearing.
Immigration, Nationality & Asylum
Sima has a strong specialist Immigration law practice involving asylum, immigration and nationality work ranging from first instance adjudication level right up to the Court of Appeal. Her expertise covers both visa applications and immigration appeals involving the Points Based System applications. Her field of expertise also covers human rights, EU free movement legislation, immigration detention, deportation, illegal working and British citizenship. She has experience of judicial review work and has drafted grounds for reconsideration to the Tribunal. She also has experience of applying for emergency injunctions to duty High Court Judges over the telephone and has drafted grounds. Sima is able to speak a variety of languages fluently such as Urdu and Punjabi. She is able to conduct client conferences and phone calls in these languages and regularly does so.
Civil litigation
Sima is frequently instructed to advise and appear in a broad range of civil disputes in county courts and High Court. The lion's share of Sima's civil practice lies within the following areas:
- Breach of Contract
- Debt Recovery
- Bankruptcy & Insolvency
- Landlord and Tenant (Commercial and Residential)
- Possession and repossession
- Personal Injury
She has experience in all stages of litigation, from drafting initial statements of case to appearing at interlocutory hearings, trials and appeal. She has also continued to develop a practice in fast track and multi-track trials. With vast advocacy experience, Sima is able to deal with more complex litigation where her thorough preparation is always an asset.
