Charles Burnett

Charles is a leading practitioner in the field of complex and politically sensitive cases. His practice encompasses international refugee law, human rights, public and administrative law, and immigration. He has particular expertise in cases involving political persecution.

Charles leads most of the firm’s asylum and human rights cases, including a broad range of discretionary immigration claims, appeals, judicial reviews against Government decisions and complex human rights and removals cases. Over the years, he has helped countless individuals to obtain protection from harm in some of the most difficult and atypical cases, both at first instance and on appeal. He has represented clients in a wide number of complex protection cases in the UK and abroad, and before international institutions.

With over 10 years’ experience, Charles has developed an unmatched expertise in running factually complicated, multi-jurisdictional cases. He brings extensive and varied experience to bear on each case in which he is instructed, which allows him to adopt an inter-disciplinary approach and to work alongside other practitioners within the firm or externally, as part of a team. Through his extensive experience, Charles has built strong relationships with leading Counsel and country experts at leading universities and think tanks, enabling him to quickly assemble the strongest possible team for his clients.

Charles is consistently praised by leading Counsel and clients alike for the quality of his work and his commitment to the cases he takes on, setting standards both within the firm and the wider field. Charles has been consistently ranked by Legal 500 as an industry leader in cases involving political persecution. Charles has been a Partner at Gherson since 2022, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his clients and to the firm.

Charles is fluent in French. He is qualified to practice within the European Union and regularly works out of our Brussels office.