Stephen practises across all of Chambers' main areas of civil and public law work, with particular experience of public law and human rights, national security, public inquiries and regulatory law. Stephen is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel. He is equally experienced acting for and against public bodies.
A significant part of Stephen’s practice lies at the intersection of immigration and asylum and public law. Stephen regularly acts in judicial review challenges to immigration decisions, age assessment disputes and judicial review claims concerning asylum accommodation and support. Stephen frequently appears as sole counsel in the High Court and Upper Tribunal on these matters.
Stephen is also developing a specialism in cases involving national security. He is currently instructed to represent the Secretary of State for the Home Department in a case brought by Apple Inc before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal which raises issues as to the Secretary of State’s powers to make Technical Capability Notices under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Stephen has also been instructed in litigation relating to TPIMs and claims for damages in connection with alleged torture.
Alongside this, Stephen regularly appears on behalf of Claimants in prison law challenges in the High Court against the Parole Board and/or Secretary of State for Justice. His prison law practice includes challenges to categorisation and refusals to grant oral hearings.
Stephen has wide-ranging inquiry experience. He is currently instructed for HM Government in the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and for the Royal Military Police (RMP) in the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan
Stephen’s public law practice straddles immigration, unlawful detention, migrant’s rights and prison law. He is regularly instructed in complex judicial review claims at all levels.
Prison Law
Stephen regularly appears on behalf of Claimants in prison law challenges in the High Court against the Parole Board and/or Secretary of State for Justice. His prison law practice includes challenges to categorisation and refusals to grant oral hearings. Stephen has also represented Claimants in the Country Court in Equality Act and/or human rights challenges against the prison service.
Notable cases include:
Immigration, Asylum and Unlawful Detention
Stephen acts in all areas of immigration and asylum. He appears regularly in appeals before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal on matters relating to: deportation; asylum; and human rights (articles 3 and 8 ECHR). Stephen regularly appears in the Upper Tribunal in judicial review challenges to decisions relating to certification, fresh claims and trafficking.
A significant part of Stephen’s practice lies at the intersection of immigration and asylum and public law. Stephen regularly acts in judicial review challenges to age assessment disputes and judicial review claims concerning asylum accommodation and support. Stephen has vast experience appearing in interim relief hearings on these matters.
Stephen is also experienced in unlawful detention claims, particularly claims relating to vulnerable individuals that engage the Adult at Risk policy. He has drafted pleadings in these matters and appeared in the County Court for hearings relating to false imprisonment claims (on transfer from the High Court).
Stephen has substantial experience in public inquiries and has experience working on behalf of inquiry legal teams and core participants.
Stephen is currently instructed on the Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan on behalf of the Royal Military Police, led by Paul Greany KC. He is also currently instructed for HM Government in the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, led by Kate Grange KC.
He was previously instructed on the Infected Blood Inquiry, led by Eleanor Grey KC. He also previously worked on the Post Office Horizon Inquiry, led by Jason Beer KC.
Stephen has an interest in all matters relating to regulatory and disciplinary law. Stephen acts for both regulatory bodies and regulated professionals.
Stephen continues to be instructed by numerous regulators, including the Health and Care Professions Council (‘HCPC’), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (‘NMC’) and General Pharmaceutical Council (‘GPC’). Stephen has extensive experience of interim order hearings, review hearings, and multi-day substantive hearings. Stephen also has experience in the handling of vulnerable witnesses.
Stephen’s recent cases include:
Stephen’s practice has a particular focus on asylum and human rights. He appears regularly in the First-tier Tribunal and has significant experience representing victims of torture and human trafficking.
Stephen’s work also extends to nationality law and deportation cases.
He is committed to access to justice and regularly accepts instructions from individuals on a legal aid basis.
Furthermore, Stephen has significant experience dealing with judicial review claims. He has represented clients in the Upper Tribunal in challenges to decisions relating to certification, fresh claims and trafficking. Stephen is developing a broad public law practice, building on his prior experience as a litigation caseworker, where he managed his own caseload of judicial review claims in the Upper Tribunal and Administrative Court.
(2020) LLM, University College London
(2014) Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), City University Law School
(2013) LLB Law, Coventry University
Stephen Tawiah is a self-employed barrister in independent practice. During the course of providing legal services as a barrister, Stephen collects and uses personal information. He is the data controller in respect of this information for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation ('GDPR').
33 Bedford Row is separate and has its own Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement', in respect to personal information collected, used and stored by or related to it. This covers personal information arising from, or related to, 33 Bedford Row providing services as a barristers chambers, as well as use of its website. This 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement' sets out what information they obtain about you, why and how they use it. This policy also sets out your rights.
You can view 33 Bedford Row's 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement' on 33 Bedford Row's website. Hard copies are available on request by contacting chambers directly.
Stephen Tawiah’s entry on the Barristers' Register can be viewed by clicking the link here.
The Legal Ombudsman's decision data website can be found here, and the Bar Standards Board who regulate Stephen have their website here.
Stephen can be instructed via his clerks at 33 Bedford Row by professional, licensed access and/or lay clients, in order to obtain a quotation for legal services. His clerks' contact details are at the bottom right of this webpage (please click on the image) and/or via clerks@33bedfordrow.co.uk or 0207 242 6476.
Stephen accepts, where appropriate, publicly funded work, Conditional Fee Agreements (including Partial CFAs).
Stephen’s most commonly used pricing models for privately funded work, are:
(a) for specific drafting work - a fixed fee;
(b) for specific hearings – a fixed fee;
(c) for other work - hourly rates.
Stephen’s fees are based on an hourly rate of £150-£250 plus VAT per hour. This is indicative only and may vary depending on various factors - please ask for a quotation.
Stephen is VAT registered and VAT is charged on his fees, where applicable. Stephen’s VAT Registration Number is: 331 1871 28
A website called Legal Choices is run by the frontline legal regulators. It can be a good source of information for those looking to instruct a lawyer.
Stephen has professional indemnity insurance cover for all types of legal services he supplies to the public and businesses.
Stephen is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): ZA503514