Olivia Halse

Senior Associate Solicitor

E: Olivia@goldjennings.co.uk

Olivia qualified as a solicitor in September 2018 after training with Gold Jennings (then Matthew Gold & Co) and working as a paralegal with the firm prior to her training contract.  

She was appointed to Associate Solicitor in October 2020 and has recently been promoted to Senior Associate Solicitor in October 2022.  

Olivia acts in both public law challenges and civil claims against public authorities and has developed a particular expertise in representing migrant families, migrant adults with care needs, vulnerable young people and victims of trafficking.  

Olivia was recognised as an “Associate to Watch” in Chambers and Partners 2023. She won the “Rising Star” Award at the 2023 Modern Law Awards.  

Olivia was a member of our public law team which won the Legal Aid Team of the Year Award at the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards. Her work on the successful litigation challenging the lawfulness of the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Napier Barracks directly contributed to the firm’s success at the 2021 Law Society’s Excellence Awards at which the firm was Highly Commended in the Access to Justice and Small Law Firm awards. 

Olivia was included as a “key lawyer” in the Legal 500 2020 edition for public law and administrative law. In 2021, Olivia was also appeared in the Law Society Gazette as the “lawyer in the news” for her work on the Healthy Start Scheme.  

Migrant rights 

Olivia acts in a variety of different challenges to government bodies securing the rights of migrants including: 

  •             Challenges to the exclusion of families with NRPF from access to other statutory support including the healthy starts scheme and pupil premium.
  •             Challenges to failures by local authorities to provide adequate support and accommodation to migrant families under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. 
  •             Failures by the Home Office to provide suitable section 95 accommodation to asylum seekers with special needs and victims of trafficking/torture. 
  •             Challenges to local authorities in providing suitable accommodation and support to vulnerable migrants with care and support needs under the Care Act 2014, in particular pregnant migrant women;
  •             Challenges to NHS charging decisions and to policies of NHS Trusts relating  to the application of charging exemptions toward asylum seekers, migrant women and victims of torture, trafficking, and domestic and sexual violence.
  •             Challenges to local authorities on behalf of age disputed asylum seekers for failure to provide support under the Children Act 1989;

 

General public law experience 

Olivia also has extensive experience representing vulnerable young people in other public law challenges. Examples include: 

  •             A challenge to the Secretary of State for the Department for Education in relation to the unlawfulness of the Adoption Support Fund eligibility criteria this resulted         in a review of the D of E’s policy;
  •             Challenges to local authorities in providing appropriate accommodation and support to care leavers;
  •             Rectification and deletion of police records of vulnerable young people under the Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR 2018;
  •             A challenge to the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the application of the Rwanda policy to age disputed minors.

 

Civil Claims 

Olivia has expertise in representing clients in civil claims against government bodies including claims arising out of police misconduct and breaches of the Human Rights Act. She has previously secured substantial damages for clients in claims in involving the false imprisonment, assault and battery and breaches of Article 8 and 3 of the HRA arising out of the police’s failure to investigate.  

Olivia is currently acting on behalf of a number of asylum seekers in civil claims for conversion and breaches of the HRA arising out of the unlawful seizure and retention of their belongings such as jewellery and other sentimental items by the Home Office upon entry into the UK. 

Pro Bono work 

Olivia is a founding member and current Trustee at the charity Care Rights Project which supports adults with No Recourse to Public funds and care needs in obtaining support from local authorities under the Care Act 2014.  

Olivia provides pro bono advice to various charities in relation to community care issues, as well as representing individuals in the Windrush compensation scheme and has obtained substantial settlements for her clients. 

Olivia joined Gold Jennings as a paralegal in 2016 following the completion of her Graduate Diploma in Law for which she received a Distinction.

She started her training contract with the firm in January 2017 working across both departments assisting fee earners in conducting civil claims, inquests and judicial reviews against public authorities.

During her training contract she completed her Legal Practice Course/LLM in Legal Practice part time for which she received a distinction.

She qualified as a solicitor in 2018 joining the public law and community care team and was appointed to Associate Solicitor in 2020.

Prior to working at Gold Jennings Olivia volunteered at Southwark Law Centre and gained experience working in a criminal law firm. She assisted in establishing the London Appeals Clinic at the University of Law which aided clients in preparing applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. She has also previously been a member of the Amicus ALJ charity which provides support and representation for those facing the death penalty in the United States.

Before beginning her legal career, Olivia worked in mental healthcare, community preventative healthcare and community outreach. She has a BA (Hons) in English Literature and History from Cardiff University.

Olivia has achieved a number of successful outcomes for her clients through judicial review challenges and civil claims.

Key Case Examples:  

  •              Olivia has recently successfully settled a challenge to the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s application of the Rwanda policy to an age disputed victim of trafficking, securing his removal from the Rwanda scheme.
  •             Olivia is currently representing a number of age disputed asylum seekers in challenges against age assessments by local authorities, one of which has been granted permission to proceed to a final fact finding hearing.
  •             Olivia recently acted, jointly with Clare Jennings, for the lead Claimant in the recent successful case of R(HM) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 695 (Admin) which challenged the Home Office’s policies of the seizing and extracting data from the mobile phones of migrants entering the UK by small boat. See below for more detail. She is now representing a number of asylum seekers who were subjected to the policies in civil claims;
  •             Olivia also jointly represented two of the lead Claimants in the recent high profile case of R(NB and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWHC 1489 (Admin) which challenged the use of Napier Barracks as asylum support accommodation (joint conduct with Clare Jennings);
  •             The successful challenge to the Healthy Start Scheme’s eligibility criteria which excluded families with no recourse to public funds (“NRPF”) on the basis that they are not eligible for mainstream benefits. As a result of the challenge the scheme was extended to NRPF families with British children regardless of the parents’ immigration status;
  •             A challenge to the provision of shared asylum support accommodation to a vulnerable young asylum seeker with autism. This challenge resulted in the client being moved to more suitable accommodation;
  •             A challenge to Greenwich Council’s policy relating to the provision of subsistence to families with no recourse to public funds which resulted in the increase of financial support to the client family and changes to the policy which will benefit other families as well;
  •             A challenge to the refusal of an NHS Trust to provide mental health care to an asylum seeker and victim of torture on the basis that he was chargeable for treatment. This case resulted in a change in the Trust’s policy and provision of care and support to the client;
  •             The case of R(OA) v London Borough of Bexley [2020] EWHC 1107 (Admin) which sought clarification as to whether local authorities are able to use their section17 powers to provide support to non-parent adult family members;  
  •             A challenge to the use of the “fraud approach” by local authorities in the context of section17 assessments and the scope of local authorities’ powers to investigate fraud under the Local Government Act;
  •             A challenge to the decision of an NHS Trust to charge a victim of domestic and sexual violence for maternity treatment. This case resulted in all charges being cancelled and a review of the Trust’s policies;
  •             X v Camden [2018]- as a trainee Olivia assisted Clare Jennings and Rachel Etheridge in a judicial review against a local authority’s policy on the way it determines what subsistence is paid to families which resulted in the increase of financial support to a family and changes to the policy which will benefit other families as well;
  •             R(OK & Others) v London Borough of Barking and Dagenham [2017] – as a trainee Olivia assisted Clare Jennings in a challenge to the refusal of a local authority to provide support and accommodation to a destitute migrant family of 5. This case was successful resulting to the provision of support to the family and a finding that the local authority had acted irrationally by refusing to assist. 

 Inquests 

Olivia also has experience in representing bereaved families in inquest proceedings.  In September 2019 she represented the family of Anthony Kostiw at the 4 day inquest touching upon his death. 

 Windrush 

 Olivia has represented numerous individuals in seeking compensation under the Windrush compensation scheme obtaining large settlements for all clients. 

 Press 

 

  • https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/25/home-office-accused-of-bullying-asylum-seekers-into-handing-over-phones     

Olivia Halse

Senior Associate Solicitor

E: Olivia@goldjennings.co.uk

Olivia qualified as a solicitor in September 2018 after training with Gold Jennings (then Matthew Gold & Co) and working as a paralegal with the firm prior to her training contract.  

She was appointed to Associate Solicitor in October 2020 and has recently been promoted to Senior Associate Solicitor in October 2022.  

Olivia acts in both public law challenges and civil claims against public authorities and has developed a particular expertise in representing migrant families, migrant adults with care needs, vulnerable young people and victims of trafficking.  

Olivia was recognised as an “Associate to Watch” in Chambers and Partners 2023. She won the “Rising Star” Award at the 2023 Modern Law Awards.  

Olivia was a member of our public law team which won the Legal Aid Team of the Year Award at the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards. Her work on the successful litigation challenging the lawfulness of the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Napier Barracks directly contributed to the firm’s success at the 2021 Law Society’s Excellence Awards at which the firm was Highly Commended in the Access to Justice and Small Law Firm awards. 

Olivia was included as a “key lawyer” in the Legal 500 2020 edition for public law and administrative law. In 2021, Olivia was also appeared in the Law Society Gazette as the “lawyer in the news” for her work on the Healthy Start Scheme.  

 Migrant rights 

Olivia acts in a variety of different challenges to government bodies securing the rights of migrants including: 

  •             Challenges to the exclusion of families with NRPF from access to other statutory support including the healthy starts scheme and pupil premium.
  •             Challenges to failures by local authorities to provide adequate support and accommodation to migrant families under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. 
  •             Failures by the Home Office to provide suitable section 95 accommodation to asylum seekers with special needs and victims of trafficking/torture. 
  •             Challenges to local authorities in providing suitable accommodation and support to vulnerable migrants with care and support needs under the Care Act 2014, in particular pregnant migrant women;
  •             Challenges to NHS charging decisions and to policies of NHS Trusts relating  to the application of charging exemptions toward asylum seekers, migrant women and victims of torture, trafficking, and domestic and sexual violence.
  •             Challenges to local authorities on behalf of age disputed asylum seekers for failure to provide support under the Children Act 1989;

 

General public law experience 

Olivia also has extensive experience representing vulnerable young people in other public law challenges. Examples include: 

  •             A challenge to the Secretary of State for the Department for Education in relation to the unlawfulness of the Adoption Support Fund eligibility criteria this resulted         in a review of the D of E’s policy;
  •             Challenges to local authorities in providing appropriate accommodation and support to care leavers;
  •             Rectification and deletion of police records of vulnerable young people under the Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR 2018;
  •             A challenge to the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the application of the Rwanda policy to age disputed minors.

 

Civil Claims 

Olivia has expertise in representing clients in civil claims against government bodies including claims arising out of police misconduct and breaches of the Human Rights Act. She has previously secured substantial damages for clients in claims in involving the false imprisonment, assault and battery and breaches of Article 8 and 3 of the HRA arising out of the police’s failure to investigate.  

Olivia is currently acting on behalf of a number of asylum seekers in civil claims for conversion and breaches of the HRA arising out of the unlawful seizure and retention of their belongings such as jewellery and other sentimental items by the Home Office upon entry into the UK. 

Pro Bono work 

Olivia is a founding member and current Trustee at the charity Care Rights Project which supports adults with No Recourse to Public funds and care needs in obtaining support from local authorities under the Care Act 2014.  

Olivia provides pro bono advice to various charities in relation to community care issues, as well as representing individuals in the Windrush compensation scheme and has obtained substantial settlements for her clients. 

Olivia joined Gold Jennings as a paralegal in 2016 following the completion of her Graduate Diploma in Law for which she received a Distinction. She started her training contract with the firm in January 2017 working across both departments assisting fee earners in conducting civil claims, inquests and judicial reviews against public authorities.

During her training contract she completed her Legal Practice Course/LLM in Legal Practice part time for which she received a distinction.

She qualified as a solicitor in 2018 joining the public law and community care team and was appointed to Associate Solicitor in 2020.

Prior to working at Gold Jennings Olivia volunteered at Southwark Law Centre and gained experience working in a criminal law firm. She assisted in establishing the London Appeals Clinic at the University of Law which aided clients in preparing applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. She has also previously been a member of the Amicus ALJ charity which provides support and representation for those facing the death penalty in the United States.

Before beginning her legal career, Olivia worked in mental healthcare, community preventative healthcare and community outreach. She has a BA (Hons) in English Literature and History from Cardiff University.

Olivia has achieved a number of successful outcomes for her clients through judicial review challenges and civil claims.

Key Case Examples:  

  •              Olivia has recently successfully settled a challenge to the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s application of the Rwanda policy to an age disputed victim of trafficking, securing his removal from the Rwanda scheme.
  •             Olivia is currently representing a number of age disputed asylum seekers in challenges against age assessments by local authorities, one of which has been granted permission to proceed to a final fact finding hearing.
  •             Olivia recently acted, jointly with Clare Jennings, for the lead Claimant in the recent successful case of R(HM) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 695 (Admin) which challenged the Home Office’s policies of the seizing and extracting data from the mobile phones of migrants entering the UK by small boat. See below for more detail. She is now representing a number of asylum seekers who were subjected to the policies in civil claims;
  •             Olivia also jointly represented two of the lead Claimants in the recent high profile case of R(NB and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWHC 1489 (Admin) which challenged the use of Napier Barracks as asylum support accommodation (joint conduct with Clare Jennings);
  •             The successful challenge to the Healthy Start Scheme’s eligibility criteria which excluded families with no recourse to public funds (“NRPF”) on the basis that they are not eligible for mainstream benefits. As a result of the challenge the scheme was extended to NRPF families with British children regardless of the parents’ immigration status;
  •             A challenge to the provision of shared asylum support accommodation to a vulnerable young asylum seeker with autism. This challenge resulted in the client being moved to more suitable accommodation;
  •             A challenge to Greenwich Council’s policy relating to the provision of subsistence to families with no recourse to public funds which resulted in the increase of financial support to the client family and changes to the policy which will benefit other families as well;
  •             A challenge to the refusal of an NHS Trust to provide mental health care to an asylum seeker and victim of torture on the basis that he was chargeable for treatment. This case resulted in a change in the Trust’s policy and provision of care and support to the client;
  •             The case of R(OA) v London Borough of Bexley [2020] EWHC 1107 (Admin) which sought clarification as to whether local authorities are able to use their section17 powers to provide support to non-parent adult family members;  
  •             A challenge to the use of the “fraud approach” by local authorities in the context of section17 assessments and the scope of local authorities’ powers to investigate fraud under the Local Government Act;
  •             A challenge to the decision of an NHS Trust to charge a victim of domestic and sexual violence for maternity treatment. This case resulted in all charges being cancelled and a review of the Trust’s policies;
  •             X v Camden [2018]- as a trainee Olivia assisted Clare Jennings and Rachel Etheridge in a judicial review against a local authority’s policy on the way it determines what subsistence is paid to families which resulted in the increase of financial support to a family and changes to the policy which will benefit other families as well;
  •             R(OK & Others) v London Borough of Barking and Dagenham [2017] – as a trainee Olivia assisted Clare Jennings in a challenge to the refusal of a local authority to provide support and accommodation to a destitute migrant family of 5. This case was successful resulting to the provision of support to the family and a finding that the local authority had acted irrationally by refusing to assist. 

 Inquests 

Olivia also has experience in representing bereaved families in inquest proceedings.  In September 2019 she represented the family of Anthony Kostiw at the 4 day inquest touching upon his death. 

 Windrush 

 Olivia has represented numerous individuals in seeking compensation under the Windrush compensation scheme obtaining large settlements for all clients. 

 Press 

 

  • https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/25/home-office-accused-of-bullying-asylum-seekers-into-handing-over-phones