Brenda Efurhievwe (Efu-rie-ve)
Brenda has a busy immigration and public law practice and is instructed in a wide range of matters on both a publicly and privately funded basis. She regularly represents individuals in the First-Tier and Upper Tribunal in asylum appeals, immigration appeals, deportation appeals, judicial reviews and bail applications. Brenda also advises on and acts in judicial reviews in the High Court.
Brenda is also particularly interested in matters at the intersection of civil and public law, with a focus on claims against public authorities. She represents Claimants in matters including claims for damages for unlawful detention, civil penalty notice appeals, data protection breaches, claims relating to personal injury and cross border matters.
Brenda regularly delivers seminars on matters relating to immigration law and asylum. Her recent webinar on “Afghan clients: quasi refugee routes and issues in contemporary asylum claims” can be accessed on Free Movement.
Prior to joining the Bar, Brenda gained diverse professional experience in immigration, international human rights and financial services. She was a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship and completed an LL.M. at Columbia Law School as a Human Rights Fellow.
As a Polish national, Brenda is also fluent in Polish, holds a Masters of Law (Magister Prawa) degree from the University of Wroclaw, and is happy to accept instructions in Polish.
Brenda also undertakes pro bono work with a number of organisations, including Bail for Immigration Detainees and Windrush Justice Clinic.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2019
Membership
- ILPA
- Human Rights Lawyers Association
- Inner Temple
Qualifications
- Pegasus Scholarship, Placement at Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej in Poland (2025)
- OISC Level 3 (now IAA) (2024)
- Human Rights Fellowship, Columbia Law School and the Human Rights Institute (2020/2021)
- Fulbright Scholarship, All Disciplines Award, Columbia University (2020/2021)
- BPTC (Outstanding), BPP University (2019)
- Princess Royal Scholarship, Inner Temple (2017)
- Magister Prawa (2017)
- LLB (First Class Honour) (2011)
Education
- Columbia Law School (2021)
- BPP University (2019)
- University of Wroclaw (2017)
- University of Surrey (2011)
1 Contributions by Brenda Efurhievwe (Efu-rie-ve)
PRACTICE NOTES
UK illegal working civil penalties: Home Office process, mitigation, objections and appeals, evidential issues, and consequences for sponsors, directors and reputation, with 2024 penalty increases and 2025–26 case law
This Practice Note
It explores the hands-on issues involved in handling an illegal working civil penalty for an employer. It addresses key triggers for a civil penalty and explains the process for issuing, paying, and contesting such penalties. It outlines what events can trigger enforcement action and sets out how notices are served, how liabilities are settled, and how objections or appeals can be pursued. It is intended for employers dealing with such matters in practice. Under section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (IANA 2006), employers can be fined for employing adults who are subject to immigration control unlawfully. Notably, on 13 February 2024 the cap for repeat offences was increased threefold from £20,000 to £60,000, and a revised associated statutory code of practice commenced the same day. At that point, the first-breach maximum also rose three times over, moving from £15,000 to £45,000. The explanatory memorandum to the instrument effecting the rise explained that earlier levels were seen as inadequate to deter those considering entering the UK unlawfully and did not capture the economic gains to those benefiting from illegal labour or the broader social costs. Where a contravention concerns ongoing employment on or after...
Immigration
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